Peeling myself out of bed at 4:30 has been especially difficult lately. It could be because I’m still sick, or perhaps a good ol’ fashioned case of exhaustion. I know without a doubt that I’ve been having a difficult time with balancing life lately. Between work, commuting, training, blogging, moving, trying to decorate, planning a wedding and trying to be a good fiancé/have a social life – there are literally not enough hours in the day.
I am trying to find ways for more balance this thing we call “life” – my boss has been gracious enough to allow me to work from home once a week, I multi-task on my Bart ride and Chicken Face is the best man I know as he always has a load of laundry running and dinner started by the time I get home. My propensity for list-making is at its highest and my friends accept that I’m a bit too swamped to hang out. But as much as I’m trying, I still feel like there is more I could do. What do you do to ensure balance in your life?
When you have little time to workout, the best thing to do is to still get your sweat on, but turn up the intensity. Nelly on the Run recently posted about a killer incline treadmill workout that should take about a half an hour – which is exactly all the time I had this morning. The oh-my-god-I-might-puke workout went a little like this:
OMGIMP Treadmill Hill Climb
– Start with a five minute warm up at an easy pace
– Run 1 minute intervals with the following incline changes:
1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6-1-7-1-8-1-9-1-10-try not to die-cool down
– If you’re a real bad ass (and have time), repeat twice (I only did it once)
– Because it’s a short workout, I’d recommend running at your half marathon pace
At first, I thought it was a breeze and I was some sort of hill superhero. HA! By the time I got into the 6 percent and higher intervals, I swear there was a moment that my dripping sweat would either blind me or mix with the chunks I was about to blow. I don’t know if it was because I ate a Jammy Sammy to close to the run or because my energy isn’t back yet. Either way, it was a great workout. Try it out and let me know how it goes! Thanks for the workout reco, Nelly!
And finally, because I hate blog posts without photos, here’s a photo that always makes me smile when I’m going through stressful times like this:
Happy Running!
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Day 70: The interval workout above (forgot to record my mileage)
Hey! I’m already training on the mill for some hills, and I will definitely try that one…
One thing though…. do you run downhill too?? I tried putting the treadmill at -3% incline, and my gluteal muscles are sore… a whole different ordeal!!!
Thanks for always posting stuff!
Cheers
Sounds like a tough workout! Thanks for sharing! I think the highest incline I’ve done on the TM is 5%. How did you not fall off??
I feel you on the not enough hours in the day thing. I still haven’t managed juggling school (junior in college), training, blogging, work, oh and that thing some people call a social life! Great job fitting a workout in this morning still–that’ll be one I have to try when I’m short on time. =)
I am right there with you girl, there is not enough time in the day for me to get everything done and then have time to de-stress and relax! UGG! Wedding planning is fun but it is time consuming! That treadmill workout sounds like a very sweaty workout.
Oh balance. How I long for thee…
Man, if you figure out how to do it all, let me know! It’s so tough to fit it all in. I definitely have to get creative with working out (running to/from places I need to be, biking at lunch). Also, my social life pretty much revolves around other people who like to sweat.
Oooh, I need to try this work out, it will be good training for SF!!! I also want to try your shred mill workout too! Girl, you have a CRAZY life! I hope you have an amazing vacation planned where you two can truly relax, you deserve it!
Balancing everything is REALLY hard, but you just have to prioritize things and multitask, and also learn to say no (which is really hard!). We can’t do everything all the time.
Rest is just as (if not more) important than a lot of things during training and its so important for our bodies to recover. I also use my running in conjunction with my social life 🙂 so I catch up with friends while running!
yoinks that sounds tough!!!!
i can’t seem to find your email address – email me and i’ll give you the C&B tale. 🙂 katiemingram at gmail dot com !
That sounds wicked hard!
Balancing does get really hard sometimes. I struggle between, work, running, frisbee, friends and boyfriend. And i dont even have a wedding to plan or a super long commute. Some days I just want to crawl back in bed. But I find when I’m working out regularly I’m so much happier that I could never cut out my workouts
I’ve been avoiding hills on the treadmill for too long, but this workout seems manageable (in the sense that it is only 30 minutes, not in the sense that it isn’t hard).
I think the thing that has helped my schedule/balance the most is working out in the mornings, but you already do that, so I’m not much help!
Hah, my balance is more like balancing all of my running with other sports, stretching, sleeping and eating. Friends, work, and personal hygene tend to get pushed aside…. Balance for me is usuall on a cycle of training only, then being social only and no real balance day to day. If you figure it out, let me know!
Thanks a lot for the shoutout! Glad you got a chance to try to workout!
With how well you’re running recently, I was actually guessing that you might try this workout at 7:00 to 7:30 pace! Though doing the 10% incline at 7:00 pace would be brutal! haha
That is a bummer about almost puking, the workout does really push your body, haha
And I have to confess, I actually completely come up with this workout, I got it online from Runners World, haha
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263–608-2-1-2,00.html
In their workout, you are supposed to do 2 minute intervals, and they have you maxing out at 7% incline. I thought it might be better to do 1 minute intervals at higher % incline. But I might try the runners world one, it would take longer, which might be a good thing…
and good luck with everything else, sounds like you’re super busy!
WHAT that workout looks INSANE!! 10% incline?! I HAVE to do that soon!! 😀
I’m definitely finding balance hard too at the mo! But I’m trying to learn to prioritise, and put the most important things to me first 🙂
I literally went “aww” out loud when I saw your pic!!
Hope you find your balance and how cool that you can work from home once a week! 🙂
I feel the same way right now. I think my next post is actually going to be on the same topic. Something tells me you’re having more success than I am at getting your workouts in. Hang in there! And super cute dog!
my life has been crazy too…. training for marathons, wedding planning, working, blogging, social life, sleep… um eating? no time for that! life is crazy, blogging will probably be the 1st on my list to go!
I was where you’re at right now back in 2009. Was planning a wedding, moved across the country (here to SF), had a new job role at my company (read: more stress) — GAH! That said, from where I sit, it seems like you’re handling everything pretty darn well! As a mantra just repeat: MUST TAKE CARE OF SELF!
Get it girl!!!
Ummm, that treadmill workout scares me! One thing that helps me stay balanced is to have an hour of quietness (usually before bed), with no tv, phone or computer. Most of the time I spend it reading, or meditating. It’s been helping me sleep better and is just a nice way to end the day. (If I can have an hour of this in the morning too, its even better, but doesn’t always happen.)