Summer holidays

any ideas for training whilst looking after kids

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ftm42
22/07/2009 at 13:57
I want to keep up my training this year, during the school holidays, as in previous years I virtually give up running whilst kids are around, then have to start all over again come September! I also now have a dog who needs daily walking, so even more complicated this year.

I did take the kids + dog to a local park after school last week. There's a playground right in the middle of the park and it takes about 7 minutes to run round the main field. I ended up doing one lap with the dog [he's only 6 months old so won't go much further than that while he's young]; one circuit with my 6 year old, and 2 circuits on my own, while the older 2 boys took it in turns to walk the dog around. I figured that if there was any 'crisis', I could easily get back to the playground as it's effectively the centre of a circular route.

I'd like to get the boysinto running, so hopefully one of them will decide to do some circuits with me if I can get out regularly to the park?!

Any other ideas would be very welcome!
kittenkat    pirate
22/07/2009 at 14:03
Is there another adult at home, if so train when he/she is about. If you are on your own with the kids, can't they go and play at friend's houses so you can get a run in?
bedshaped
22/07/2009 at 16:26
Can you in the evening when they're in bed? Get a friend/neighbour to sit for an hour or so if possible. That's what I do come holiday season.
Astaire
22/07/2009 at 17:11
I find running whilst they cycle works ok, or use scooters. You do have to be prepared to break your run to buy them an icecream half way as a bribe though!
ftm42
22/07/2009 at 17:28
In response to some of the suggestions above -

I do have an 'other half' but his working hours are very long and unpredictable so I can't rely on him coming home at a reasonable hour.

Most of my friends work so aren't around for a regular babysit swap.

My eldest is 11 going on 12, so doesn't want to go to bed until we do.

I thought about bikes but with three to transport [we live in the middle of a busy town so not easy for us all to cycle somewhere - youngest is only 6] it's not practical really.

When we're away on holiday [as opposed to being on school hols, but at home] I often run before breakfast at about 8am, but that doesn't work when hubby's going to the office in the mornings.

Might stick to going to the park during the day at least for now. I packed a bag full of chocolate bars and drinks when I tried it last week . Just means I can't build up any distance as they can only manage watching Mum run for about half an hour tops! Still, that's enough to keep me ticking over I guess.
Diggle
22/07/2009 at 23:24

Could you not go early in the morning before anyone is up and before hubby needs to go to work? Or invest in a treadmill?

I am a single mum of a 3 year old, so I know how difficult it is to get out and fit in runs when there is no one else around to look after the kids. I bought a treadmill and even though it is not ideal and alittle boring it comes in handy when I need a run and have my lil' one at home. He sits happily infront of me 'encouraging' me or else I jump on before he is up or after he is in bed.

Dustboy    pirate
22/07/2009 at 23:31

I go down the canal and my boys follow me on their bikes. They get to keep fit, get fresh air without potential impact injuries.

Eldest 9, youngets 6, so 5 miles for the littlun and ten for the biggun, they seem fine. And can waste all their mates on the bike!

3 year olds go into rear seat carriers

Wilkie
23/07/2009 at 09:54

Holy cow, AB - I wasn't allowed to stay up that late when I was 12!

Sent to bed at a reasonable time - what I WANTED didn't come into it.

danowat
23/07/2009 at 10:10

I was just thinking that too!!!!, my 11 year old (12 next month) goes to bed at 8:30pm weekdays and 9pm weekends!, regardless of what she wants to do!.

I would suggest...

Up early before other half goes to work / kids get up

Take the kids swimming and do lengths.

My daughter comes with me on her bike when I do long runs on sunday, could your kids come with you on their bikes?.

Astaire
23/07/2009 at 10:42
Absolutely agree about bedtimes, my 12 yr old goes to bed at 8.45pm weekdays and weekends, during the holidays he might get an extra half an hour!
ftm42
23/07/2009 at 11:22
Oh dear, it's turning into a parenting class now!! The 11 year old doesn't go to bed 'when we do' - it just feels like that! The 2 younger go up between 8 and 8.30, and the eldest at 9. They don't always go straight to sleep, but they're 'up'.

Don't mean to sound ungrateful re all the suggestions, just that having taken the boys out on bikes a couple of times and been terrified at the lack of respect from car drivers [despite yellow jackets and me 'riding high' to force them to pass wide] I can't face asking them to cycle while I run. We live in town so have to negotiate busy streets before getting to the park, and I can't get 3 bikes in the car. Actually, does anyone know the rules re cycling on the pavement? Hubby gets boys to cycle on pavement if he takes them out [one at a time usually] but they then get dirty looks from the pedestrians [not surprisingly]. My 6 year old was knocked flying by a pavement-riding cyclist, who told me to 'f' off when I complained, when he was 4 so I'm a bit wary of that too.

[Gosh, I do sound negative don't I?!]

I do actually have a treadmill, awaiting a repair on Tuesday [it is rather old - to quote JR Hartley] so hopefully can just use that. I can cope with half an hour without getting bored. We had breakfast quite late today [1st day of school hols] so it's possible I could run early-ish while they watch breakfast TV, then have breakfast? Then it wouldn't matter what time hubby goes in to work either.
danowat
23/07/2009 at 11:36

Unfortunately, when you have family and work commitments, you just have to run when you can, if thats early in the morning before the kids get up, and husband goes to work, then you have to make do with that, likewise, in the evening when husband gets in, or when kids go to bed.

You don't have to run at the same time, so its just a case of being flexible with your running and fit it in when you can.

Its like last weekend, I had a long run to do on Sunday, because of family commitments, the only way to fit it in was to get up at 6am and get out for 7:30am, otherwise, I just wouldn't have been able to do it, getting up at 6am on a sunday, when you get up at 5am all week is a horrible thing to do, but needs must and all that rubbish

PloddingOn    pirate
23/07/2009 at 11:43
  We're all going onnnnaaa summmmer holeeeddaaaayy 
Gazmanmeister
23/07/2009 at 11:49

How about giving Grandparents a treat and letting them have the kids for a week - NIce for them, nice for you and plenty of you time.
Thats what grandparents are for, we'll be having ours in a couple of weeks for a week - looking forward to it.

Go on, just ask.....

ftm42
23/07/2009 at 11:56
Grandparents - hmmm...I'm in Basingstoke, they're in Glasgow, and also they are of the old school 'your children are your responsibility' attitude. They have never even offered to babysit so that hubby and I could go out for a romantic dinner when they are down for a visit!!
ftm42
23/07/2009 at 12:02
Can you see where I get my cynicism from...?
danowat
23/07/2009 at 12:04

Nice!, my daughter is currently at her nans for the week, don't think its got anything to do with responsablity of the children, surely its just nice for them to see them for a bit, and also for the kids and parents to have a bit of a break from each other.

Distance is a bit of a problem, I guess I am lucky in the fact that its only 100 mile each way trip for me, Glasgow is a bit farer!.

Gazmanmeister
23/07/2009 at 12:16

Wow - sorry to hear that.
We were pleased as punch when our kids had babies, we would nick them all the time for weekends and as they grew up they've always been with both sets of grandparents.
We're about 90 miles away, not quite the distance you have but even so can't believe the attitude of some parents who think that all they have to do is get their kids to 18 and then wipe their hands as if to say 'Job Done'

Sadly as we have 4 (grandkids) not quite in the market for more (just yet) - lol

ftm42
23/07/2009 at 12:23
Oh dear, it's turning into a parenting class now!! The 11 year old doesn't go to bed 'when we do' - it just feels like that! The 2 younger go up between 8 and 8.30, and the eldest at 9. They don't always go straight to sleep, but they're 'up'.

Don't mean to sound ungrateful re all the suggestions, just that having taken the boys out on bikes a couple of times and been terrified at the lack of respect from car drivers [despite yellow jackets and me 'riding high' to force them to pass wide] I can't face asking them to cycle while I run. We live in town so have to negotiate busy streets before getting to the park, and I can't get 3 bikes in the car. Actually, does anyone know the rules re cycling on the pavement? Hubby gets boys to cycle on pavement if he takes them out [one at a time usually] but they then get dirty looks from the pedestrians [not surprisingly]. My 6 year old was knocked flying by a pavement-riding cyclist, who told me to 'f' off when I complained, when he was 4 so I'm a bit wary of that too.

[Gosh, I do sound negative don't I?!]

I do actually have a treadmill, awaiting a repair on Tuesday [it is rather old - to quote JR Hartley] so hopefully can just use that. I can cope with half an hour without getting bored. We had breakfast quite late today [1st day of school hols] so it's possible I could run early-ish while they watch breakfast TV, then have breakfast? Then it wouldn't matter what time hubby goes in to work either.
ftm42
23/07/2009 at 12:25
don't know where that repeated entry came from...
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