Finding Time To Run Ep 45 - a podcast by Eat Clean, Run Dirty Podcast

Here are a few tips on fitting your marathon or ultra-marathon training into your hectic life. The trick is to make every moment count and to have a clear plan. It’s easy to fall into the mindset that you are too busy to run. Training for a marathon takes a lot of time. Training for an ultra takes even longer. You may have already given up television, books, and video games but it can still be tough to find the time to sneak training into a busy day or week. Here are a few tricks to help you make space for running in your busy life.
Start early. Get your run in as early in the day as you can. Life can be unpredictable, things come up , and the day slips away. If at all possible get your run in first thing in the morning. Run before you check email, before the kids wake up, before breakfast…..you get the picture. The longer you wait to do your work out the greater the chance something will throw you off coarse.
Keep It Social. There is no need to separate your social life from your training plan! Run with your friends. Big races are typically in the spring and fall so odds are that one of your running friends is training for something too. Team up and do your long runs together. Create a ritual or adventure surrounding your runs. Plan a road trip for that 30 mile training run or just have a set day that you always meet up for a run and go have brunch.
Group runs.  Most cities and towns have running groups that have free and regular  group runs. Run clubs across the country have weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly runs to suit almost any type of runner.  Join a group and make the meet-up a “must-do” item on your calendar. Many race directors are organizing training runs to amp up excitement. Check the website of the race you’re training for for more info.  To find a run club and group runs in your area check with your local running specialty store, ask friends, or reach out to a run group on Facebook. In northeastern Ohio there is at least one running club meeting every day.

Early Miles! No, not necessarily early in the day. If you’re planning on joining in on a group run it’s totally likely runners will be meeting up prior to the event to mark the course or just to get in a few extra miles before the official run starts. This can turn a 5 mile run into 10 or more depending on how early you go.
Every bit Counts. A short run is better than no run. If you are having  particularly crazy week at work, you’re on a family vacation, whatever, sneak in any miles you can. A quick 3 miles between getting off work and dinner will put some miles on Strava without putting a dent in your busy schedule.
Have a Plan. Schedule your runs. Are you following a training plan? Most people’s lives don’t perfectly fit into a Monday thru Sunday format so it’s easy to get side tracked and miss some of your runs. At the beginning of each week, say Sunday night, sit down with your training plan and your calendar. Depending on your job and what else is going on in your life you may find you need to flex your long runs and rest days. Do your long run Thursday if that’s your day off. Remember that you’re not stuck with having to run five days every week. You can make it happen running three to six days if you need to2, just re-arange the miles to make it work for you.
Date Run. Is your spouse or significant other a runner too? It can be hard finding time to spend together doing traditional date things like concerts and movies. Plan a run date night. You could share an evening long run under a full moon out on the trails and pack tasty snacks to share, run through downtown past all the hip clubs and people out on the town and end your run at a favorite bar for a drink, or do a morning tour of the waterfalls in your area before brunch.
Stop Cooking. Home made meals are over rated. They take up so much time and usually cost more then their restaurant counterparts. Try a meal service, and no,

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