5 time-management lessons for runners
“If something matters enough to you, you can usually find time for it.”
The general population uses the excuse “I Don’t have time” as an excuse for everything, whether it’s to skip a gym session, grab a Mc Donald’s meal or wear yesterday’s clothes. What they should say is “It’s less of a priority”. The fact of the matter is most of the time if something matters to you, you can usually make time for it.
David Roche interviewed his wife Megan Roche (a top trail runner who won the 2016 U.S. 30K and 50K national championships, the North American Mountain Running Championship and the Way Too Cool 50K.) about how she manages to make time between being a Medical student, life and sleep.
1. Decide how much time it takes each day to reach your goals, and compartmentalize your days.
Ask yourself, how long does my run take? Add a warm up, a few stretches, a shower and travel time. Subtract that total time from her start time at work. This might mean a 3am start but that’s what it may take. Once you have the time set aside, stay focused and committed.
2. Never snooze your alarm—stick to a routine.
It’s much easier to do something if it’s part of a routine. The same way you get up, shower and brush your teeth make getting up and exercising part of the routine. Some days will be harder than others, on those days run more slowly for a shorter distance but never compromise the waking up when your alarm goes off. “It’s a slippery slope from snoozing once to snoozing like it’s your job” says Megan.
Your routine can encompass more than just your exercise time, organise your food and clothes the night before. Minimise the decisions you have to make in that early morning stretch.
3. Don’t practice self-criticism.
“It’s easy to be judgmental about yourself,” Megan says. “So I try to not start the cycle. My motto with work and running is ‘Don’t Judge.’” Don’t spend time worrying or judging yourself, let your body tell you when it’s tired and listen to it.
4. Make training and work fun.
Not every day can be the best day ever or no day would be the best day but enjoy what are doing and remind yourself to love the moment even when you don’t achieve your goal.
5. Be a camel when it comes to sleep, nutrition and adventure.
“Megan describes her Theory of Life, with its Camel Corollary: “Each day, I make sure I get enough nutrition to stay in an energy surplus. I also try to average eight or nine hours of sleep and one or two hours of nature time. Sometimes, the sleep and the nature are not possible during the week, so I get my fill on my day off, like a camel before crossing the desert.”
The daily nutrition leaves less margin for error, so she applies a simple rule. “When I have a spare moment, I eat and drink as much as I can. No break-room sandwich is safe.”
With sleep, she gets to bed as soon as she can each day. If she gets off at 7 p.m., she is asleep by 8. Then, on her days off, she sleeps in and naps to eliminate the deficit.” says Roche.
For the full article written by David Roche for Trail Runner Mag click here.