Yet, it’s easier talking about why running is good than actually doing it. Many parents already feel parental guilt for not spending enough time with their child. And if one parent finds more time to exercise than the other, this can lead to marital conflict as well. But there is hope. There are a number of different ways you can find time to run. The methods that will work best for you may differ from those another parent, so we offer a number of different suggestions. Some of these ideas include ways of making sure your child is cared for while you run, while others share ways in which you can run with your child. At first, the price of jogging strollers may seem high, but compared to your freedom to run, they can be well worth it. You may also be able to find a relatively new and gently used stroller on a site such as Craigslist. Even though these strollers can feel like lifesavers if you have young children, kids usually outgrow them before they are worn out. While some parents have feared that running with a jogging stroller could lead to changes in kinematics (the mechanics of motion of the body), this does not appear to be the case, and these strollers do not affect knee and ankle kinematics. For those who are serious runners, however, working with the flexibility of your spine, pelvis, and hips may be helpful. Not only may it be a cheaper option than hiring a babysitter, but you will have the ride to and from the gym with your children. And many children actually enjoy playing with other kids while mom or dad gets a workout. Plus, a final advantage is that you can check on your child visibly at any time. Of course, there are factors other than babysitting that are important in choosing a gym. Learn more about what you should know when joining a gym, in addition to babysitting options. As long as you do the segments on the same day, your body is basically getting the same benefits as if you ran all the miles in one workout. Learning to split up long runs is one way that many parents have found the time to train for distance running such as marathons. It may require some creativity to take advantage of opportunities to run. For example, if you’re watching your kid’s soccer game, run some laps around the field before or even during the game. If you want to take the most advantage of downtime, it helps to have an extra set of running clothes and running shoes in your car so you’re prepared if you have some unexpected downtime. From planning your runs at the beginning of the week, to taking a look for wasted moments in your day, check out our tips for busy runners. If you have trouble finding the motivation to work out in the early hours of the day, get motivated to run in the morning. We know that regular exercise such as running is beneficial to both parents and their children, but it may feel almost impossible to find the time. Yet by making running a priority and following some of our tips above, even the busiest of parents should be able to increase the miles they run each week.
