What do you sacrifice?
This morning my alarm went off at 5:30. I promptly turned it off, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
I had a date with my goggles for a 6 a.m. swimming session. I slept right through it. Sometimes sleep > exercise.
(source)
Since I’m not technically training for anything, it’s hard to get motivated to get out of my warm bed and workout. (I’m running a marathon in March but I’m not going to officially train until the new year.)
My Ironman husband is fighting the same battle right now. The same guy who logged at least 15 hours a week of exercise all summer and fall is now clocking a third of that amount.
It’s not that we’re not exercising at all, it’s just that we’re working out less. Slacking a bit on the exercise right now is fine with us because we’re not training for anything.
An addendum to how to get faster
There’s one minor detail I left out of my how to get speedy post. But this small trick can make or break your race performance.
Ready for this hugely insightful tip? Here it is:
Do your workouts.
Let down a bit? Don’t be. I guarantee you that during training, you’re going to want to skip or cut short workouts.
I’ve made plenty of the common excuses myself:
- “To run before work, I’d have to get up at 4:30!” You poor thing. Sleep in then, and don’t whine about your performance come race day.
- “I don’t want to run during my lunch break. Then I’d miss out on eating with my coworkers.” Wow, what a travesty. I could see how difficult it would be to miss a couple of lunches a week with people you only see everyday.
- “I can’t workout during my lunch break because I wouldn’t have time to dry my hair.” It’s called dry shampoo and a pony-tail.
- “All of my friends are hanging out tonight and I don’t want to be left out, so I’ll skip my run.” Your friends will be there when you’re training is over. Hang out with them then.
- “I have no time to run tonight. I have to cook my husband dinner.” Traditional gender roles were meant to be broken. Tell him to cook for you.
- “I’m too tired to exercise.” Like I said earlier, sometimes sleep is more important than a sweat session. But 9 times out of 10, my tiredness is actually laziness.
- “It’s too dark/cold/hot/windy to run outside and I hate the treadmill.” We all do. But the treadmill is a valuable tool.
- “I can’t workout. I have no one to watch the kids.” Ok, valid excuse! I’m not a parent and have no clue what I’d do in this situation
It’s perfectly acceptable to miss a workout every now and then, especially if you’re sick or injured. But if you make it a weekly habit, don’t expect to get faster and reach PR’s.
Next time you want to sleep in, remind yourself of this: You’ll almost always regret skipping a workout, but you’ll never regret doing one.
And training plans don’t last forever, but the pride of doing awesome in a race does. You just need to follow your training plan to get there.
What do you sacrifice during training? I definitely skimp on sleep, time with my husband, and time with friends. Luckily, they all understand 
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December 17th, 2010 - 10:57
Haha I have no idea how people with kids find time to work out often!
I haven’t been exercising as much the last few weeks, but when I do, I skimp on walking the puppy. Cue the guilt.
December 17th, 2010 - 10:57
I think you missed your calling as a drill sargent.
December 17th, 2010 - 11:13
Haha. Me too
December 17th, 2010 - 10:59
Thanks for that! I totally needed it today. You’ve convinced me that I can and SHOULD go out and run on my lunch break today. Good thing I brought all my stuff with me.
December 17th, 2010 - 11:04
I would love to actually say these responses to people.
I have skipped a workout or two, but I also believe that if you want to perform better, you have to put in the time. It does not just happen.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.
December 17th, 2010 - 11:14
LOVE that quote! Thanks for sharing.
December 17th, 2010 - 11:31
Yikes, you are a tough one! haha I love your comebacks, and I agree with Nicole — I think you missed your calling.
Anyway, I think it’s completely acceptable to skip workouts for sleep when you’re not training. In fact, I would argue that it’s pretty important to do it (as long as you’re not giving up exercise altogether!). You put your body through a LOT when you’re actively training for something, and so I think getting enough rest and lightening up on the exercise is pretty important when you’re in the “off” season. It helps restore you so that you’re ready to go when the new training cycle starts!!
That being said, when it does start, you definitely need to be prepared to make sacrifices. I mean, you don’t need to give up on living life in order to train (obviously things come up and missing one workout isn’t going to make or break you), but I totally agree — in order to get faster, you’ve got to put in the time!
December 17th, 2010 - 11:33
This is my personal favorite:
“I have no time to run tonight. I have to cook my husband dinner.” Traditional gender roles were meant to be broken. Tell him to cook for you.”
You are awesome.
I am a little on the opposite end of the spectrum though. I fear that sometimes I sacrifice TOO much not to miss scheduled workouts and sometimes I need to be less rigid.
December 17th, 2010 - 12:26
You’re right. If you want to do something (run faster, get stronger, beat a PR), you actually have to do it. Setting goals and doing nothing to achieve them is pointless. Getting up and going is the one factor we have absolute control over.
My husband is an Army guy and his favorite saying is ‘suck it up and drive on.’ It’s hard to hear that when you’re whining and want sympathy, but he’s right.
Weather seems to be my biggest enemy right now. We were supposed to run 20 miles today, but snow yesterday, an icy trail and a kid whose school was delayed 2 hours this morning messed with those plans.
I was never so happy when my daughter started full time, all day school. It is so nice to go to the gym without time restraints…..or guilt.
December 17th, 2010 - 12:40
I def sacrifice sleeping in on weekends. I am not an early bird and like to wake up naturally, but not while training, must get up early and run! But then I usually take a nap later
December 17th, 2010 - 13:44
I am a new reader to your blog and have really enjoyed it. I struggle big time with the kid excuse. Two ways I have tried to get rid of that excuse is to take him with me in a jogger or in a bike trailer. It’s hard when you’re not used to the extra weight. Mine is still small enough to come along, but they get bigger! I appreciated Alison’s comment because I sorta can’t wait until mine starts school so I have that time to myself again!
December 17th, 2010 - 13:48
yes yes yes on all of the above.
i have skipped a run or two lately since i am not “in training” and will be very soon. i figure now is the time to give myself a break and enjoy the free time a bit, because won’t be long until i am back engulfed into another training cycle
we have to cut ourselves a break every so often, helps avoid burnout too.
December 17th, 2010 - 14:27
Love your sarcasm! I often think those things in my head when people list off their excuses – to me it just seems to be about priorities. If you complain about being too tired/stressed/busy/social to do your training workouts, then don’t do it! Obviously it’s not important enough to you to sacrifice some things here and there.
I know I need to work out in the mornings – it’s the only time my stomach totally cooperates and I’m not really tired – so I wake up at 5 or 6 and just do it, because exactly what you said, I want to be fast! Only way to do that is to be disciplined.
December 17th, 2010 - 15:23
I’ve missed out on sleep, husband time, tv time and friend time…but I get my runs in…usually!
This morning my alarm was set for 5:03am. I had to set the time and everything last night (not just turn it on) so I know for a fact my alarm was set. I didn’t wake up until The Husband’s alarm went off at 6am. My alarm was turned off. I have no recollection of turning my alarm off…apparently I needed my sleep!
December 17th, 2010 - 18:25
I have lost SO much sleep while training for this half- marathon. I was doing fine in the beginning but since I injured my IT bands, I can’t sleep! I am getting more and more nervous about the race in 21 days!
I skipped my 2.5 miles this morning. I was EXHAUSTED, there is snow on the ground (I’m from Florida visiting DC and I was afraid I would slip), and I had a full day of walking ahead of me. I also have a 10k (plus 2 miles) tomorrow morning.
December 18th, 2010 - 09:01
Oh, Jen! You’re the best! My mom coached high school sports for 25 years. I’ve been told to “suck it up” a few times. Usually, she speaks the truth. Sometimes we just need to “suck it up” and do what we need to do. I sacrifice late nights. I don’t like giving up sleep, so I end up being the first in bed – but my switch to afternoon workouts has made this a little less of an issue.
December 18th, 2010 - 12:26
I love the dry shampoo idea for lunch workouts! I never thought of that. Kids make it harder but its still possible; I either go early, go with the jogging stroller, use child care at the gym or go during lunch at work. Strangely I’ve been more consistent working out after having a baby. You value your scarce time more and getting up at 5:30 to run seems easy compared to all those middle of the night feedings.
December 18th, 2010 - 18:38
I’m pretty good at finding a way to fit it all in. I just sort of plan my workouts around my other plans. If I have dinner plans with a friend, for example, I’ll workout at lunch. Even the night before long runs on the weekends, I’ll still go out with friends, I just won’t drink.
December 18th, 2010 - 23:52
I definitely sacrifice on sleep. And I can answer for the last one (since I have an 18 mo. old), we can still make it happen (unless it’s a single parent situation, of course)! I get up at 4:30 or 5:00 to make sure I’m back by the time my hubby has to leave and my son gets up at 7:30. As anything, if we want it badly enough we can make it happen!! I totally agree w/ you – I NEVER regret doing a workout. I almost always regret when I don’t do it. Loved this post.
December 19th, 2010 - 18:33
GREAT GREAT GREAT post. I so hear you and I roll my eyes at the excuses people make, and then they whine about being fat or overweight or not making their times or whatever…you either want it or you don’t. And if you DO, you do the work. Period.
Love your blog girl!!
December 19th, 2010 - 20:44
I love your posts and all the topics you come up with! I gave up lots of Friday night social events and happy hours to train for a marathon. When I got tempted I would always just tell myself – when I look back on my life, do I want to remember that I drank at this random happy hour or that I ran a marathon. It’s funny because non runners just completely don’t get it and were always pressuring me to stay out and drink. Luckily I have an incredibly supportive husband, and I didn’t really miss out on time with him because he’d usually just be waking up when I got back from my run!
December 20th, 2010 - 14:45
Haha, this made me laugh! I actually have a lot of these issues/excuses for why I don’t work out at certain times (early morning and lunch break!), BUT, I do figure out alternatives and get it done. I suck it up and run after work in the cold/darkness. I move plans around to fit it in. I get it done, I just might not do it at the times other people do. I agree, you have to get it done, but you can be creative and do what works for you as long as you do it!
December 20th, 2010 - 22:16
I definitely make sacrifices but I have to say that it is MUCH harder to find balance when you have kids. I have realized that I’m a better mom when I’ve exercised (can you say stress relief) but there are definitely times when I’d much rather sit on the couch after they’ve gone to bed! I usually find that on days like that I can commit to a shorter workout (LOVE On Demand and workout DVDs for that) and it isn’t often that I feel worse after having finished.
I often have to make deals with my husband over watching the kids and when I am training for races (which is probably less than I’d like to) I try and plan my runs around naptime (or bedtime in the summer). I’ve also learned that there’s no way I can even think about a full marathon again until my kids are older – just too much of a time commitment on the weekends.
Also… Selfish question here – If you know of any “Healthy Living Bloggers” that have kids could you point me in that direction? Because I feel like an “old lady” sitting by watching all of the young single people with endless time… It’d be nice to see how someone with kids is balancing their time.