5 Ways Busy Moms
Can Train For Marathons
by Sarah Jacobs
We all know
that being a mother entails a lot of responsibilities. It is not just about
‘taking care of the kids,’ but it also includes house chores, doing the
groceries, running errands, cooking, and taking/getting the kids to/from
school. Most moms also have to work to earn a living. And as if that’s not
enough, some moms even join social gatherings and activities like parties, PTA
meetings, a fun run or marathon.
The
question now is, how do they even do it? Well, moms really have time management
skills - and they are very productive than most people in a given day. But when
it comes to fun runs and marathons, how can a mom possibly train for it while
running daily errands, chores, and other responsibilities? Below are a few
training tips for every busy mom:
1.
Come up with a marathon training plan.
The first
step in marathon training is to come up with a plan or schedule. This is very
important especially for busy moms who have to attend to other responsibilities
and errands during the day. First of all, you don’t have to beat yourself up.
Who has the luxury to run or train five or six times a week, anyway? You can
just do it 3 times a week or every other day.
To not add
up to the pressure, you don’t have to set up the actual days for training. You
can simply chalk in your Day 1 on a Sunday (or Monday, or whichever day is
convenient for you), and start from there. For moms who feel more comfortable
to label those days, you may also do so.
Your
training plan should allot at least 30 minutes per session. If possible, you
have to gradually increase those minutes until your sessions can last up to an
hour or so. It is also important to put in time for warm-ups and cool downs.
You have to start lightly with a brisk walk, then accelerate into jogs and
runs. If you can, you may also consult a professional personal trainer to help
you with this.
2.
Schedule trainings during your kid’s sleep/school time.
A crucial
consideration when you make a marathon plan is the free time you get each day.
You have to factor in the times that your kids are usually asleep, or the time
when they are out at school. If there isn’t really much time, you can opt to
delegate some of your daily responsibilities to your partner or a baby/house
sitter. If you have older kids, you can assign them chores on a certain time of
day so you can clear up those times for your marathon training.
3.
Do cross trainings.
Cross
trainings are stretching and strengthening exercises that can help build up
endurance for your upcoming marathon. Unlike jogs and practice runs, cross
training can be done at home, so it is a great alternative workout on days when
you can’t go to the park or if the weather is not exactly cooperating with your
plans. You can come up with your own mix of cross trainings, watch guide
videos, or do a 30-minute elliptical workout.
4.
Help yourself with an app.
Apps can
help track your progress and remind you of the days that you need to go on a
workout. They also serve as excellent guides and timers. Apps like Couch to 5K
and fitness trackers can help you develop a gradually increasing jog/run time
and routine. It can even help you track the distance and minutes that you spent
for the session.
5.
Don’t forget to take a good rest.
Rest is
also an essential part of your training. Burning yourself out or feeling
constantly fatigued will not do you good. First of all, it can lower your
immune system, and will even cause more body pains and health problems. Second,
it will be hard for you to reach your maximum potential when your body feels
overworked. Remember that your training sessions have to be gradually
increasing (in terms of time and covered distance), and it will be hard to
achieve these if you feel strained.
As a busy
mom, it is easy to get distracted from a planned marathon training schedule.
The rule you should always remember is, don’t be too hard on yourself! Allow
your schedule to be flexible as possible. Remember, slow progress is still
progress!
Author Bio:
Sarah
Jacobs is an experienced writer who loves creating articles that can benefit
others. She has worked as a freelance writer in the past making informative
articles and fascinating stories. She has extensive knowledge in a variety of
fields such as technology, business, finance, marketing, personal development,
and more.
Check
out her company here: Giftninjas.co
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