Seems like every so often a thread like this pops up that insists it's not possible for a working husband and father to run twice a day. It's all about time management, priorities, and communication with your wife. Think of it this way, how is getting in a second 30 min run after work any more selfish than watching tv for 30 min after work? Most people spend much more time watching tv than I do running.
Playing devil's advocate, do working husbands with multiple young children have time to sit there on the couch with their wife for 30 minutes and watch TV on a weeknight? And a 30 minute run + getting dressed + stretching + another shower, is more than 30 minutes.
Yes. Growing up, my dad/mom typically watched the 7pm 1/2-hour local news/variety show during dinner, often the 8pm prime time TV show (Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, etc.) , and usually the hour-long 10-o'clock news and or the 11-o'clock news. My dad also watched all the NBA games on broadcast TV.
When I was working singles was all I could manage, now that I'm retired I double 7 days a week. I'm not even training for anything in particular right now, I just like doubling.
Outside of pro elites who do 2x per day because it's their job, never met a normal guy with family doing this. It's always the fanatical hobby jogger type. At best running 2:40 marathon.
You must not know any sub 2:40 runners then. Nearly every sub 2:40 runner is running 80-100 miles a week, which requires multiple doubles per week.
Nah. That’s totally wrong.
I ran 15:50’s, 1:12:high, 2:33 on 55 mpw in my early 30’s. Singles. Usually one day off per week. 17-22 mile long run during marathon season.
was tired and hungry all the time. Super slim and didn’t look great but was very fit. Stopped hiking and doing a bunch of fun stuff near big races. Wife was supportive but wasn’t a fan of my lesser participation in the marriage. I think she felt lonely.
When I stopped competing my life got better. I remembered how many other hobbies and interests I had- it was fun. I was happy, I did more stuff. Saw more friends. I looked more attractive. I really got to commit to running a few years in college and get the real work and suffering in as an experience, so I’m thankful for that. Road racing as an amateur is fun, but good to keep in perspective that we’re just hobby jogging.
You must not know any sub 2:40 runners then. Nearly every sub 2:40 runner is running 80-100 miles a week, which requires multiple doubles per week.
Nah. That’s totally wrong.
I ran 15:50’s, 1:12:high, 2:33 on 55 mpw in my early 30’s. Singles. Usually one day off per week. 17-22 mile long run during marathon season.
was tired and hungry all the time. Super slim and didn’t look great but was very fit. Stopped hiking and doing a bunch of fun stuff near big races. Wife was supportive but wasn’t a fan of my lesser participation in the marriage. I think she felt lonely.
When I stopped competing my life got better. I remembered how many other hobbies and interests I had- it was fun. I was happy, I did more stuff. Saw more friends. I looked more attractive. I really got to commit to running a few years in college and get the real work and suffering in as an experience, so I’m thankful for that. Road racing as an amateur is fun, but good to keep in perspective that we’re just hobby jogging.
No. That’s right. It took me 80mpw to run 16:25 and 2:42. Most of us don’t have the talent to run 55mpw and go sub 2:40. I know a guy who ran at the Big 10 level and ran 2:35 on 35mpw. Some people are just talented and I’m not one of them.
So I am a stay at home dad, but I started running competitive again at 34 when my daughter was 2 and son 4(when they both slept through the night) my daughter is not in school so I essentially was on kid duty from 8-5 and other than a stroller jog, I had no free time. I would get up between 4 and 5 and train from 1-2hrs depending on day. I would be back by 7am most days and my family was still in bed. So I missed nothing. In the afternoons if I doubled I would do it on the treadmill and that was the kids TV time. Again not missing anything. I ended up running a 2:17 marathon the next year and I don’t feel like I missed anytime from family. I did get up to 85 miles a week before I started doubling, so for almost all my training leading up to my last marathon my family was still asleep.
Seems like every so often a thread like this pops up that insists it's not possible for a working husband and father to run twice a day. It's all about time management, priorities, and communication with your wife. Think of it this way, how is getting in a second 30 min run after work any more selfish than watching tv for 30 min after work? Most people spend much more time watching tv than I do running.
Playing devil's advocate, do working husbands with multiple young children have time to sit there on the couch with their wife for 30 minutes and watch TV on a weeknight? And a 30 minute run + getting dressed + stretching + another shower, is more than 30 minutes.
Getting dressed and showering can be done in five minutes if you push it. I rarely stretched but if someone thinks it's necessary they can do it while they're home and hanging out with their family.
don't have kids yet but run with people that do and steady relationship for 4 plus years... would it be hard: yes would it be impossible without missing family time: no. def easier than working ~30 hours school for 14-18 hours + homework + plus travel to meets + training and doubling in that I did in college.
Growing up we would ride bikes in the evening when my dad and sister ran (equivalent of a double). it was good family time and everyone got exercise. My sister and Dad's main workout time was mornings... 3/4 of us went on to do some sport on college and I have continued to be competitive and double almost everyday.
It's pretty simple running is my hobby find a wife/husband/gf/bf/SO who is not only ok with that but loves you for that. do the same for them hobby. do I have loads of free time: No. but is there still 1-2 hours each night for eachother plus the entire weekend: yes. also it would be possible for one of us to quit work to take care of kids because we financially planned for this. if I have kids they will be active unless severely handicapped purely because it's healthy for them. Not going to make them choose running or anything but their training time will be lead by example and likely fit in perfectly with a double
What do you think I'm doing in the meantime, sitting around pining for Stinky Man to come back and grace me with 3 minutes of missionary and some wildly overstated domestic contributions?
I'm pouring myself a glass of wine, blasting Mariah Carey, inviting the girls around for spa night. GTFO my hair.
For decades during the pre-work from home era I did 70mpw (or more before Western States) by commuting to work on foot. I would do 4 miles to work and 8 miles coming home. As a law firm partner, I worked full (but not excessive) days. I would not get home until 7:00pm. However, this was not an issue as my wife (a physician) would get home the same time that I did. The lawyer/doctor combo meant that we had the money for in home child care. PRs: 5K-15:46, marathon-2:27.
So I am a stay at home dad, but I started running competitive again at 34 when my daughter was 2 and son 4(when they both slept through the night) my daughter is not in school so I essentially was on kid duty from 8-5 and other than a stroller jog, I had no free time. I would get up between 4 and 5 and train from 1-2hrs depending on day. I would be back by 7am most days and my family was still in bed. So I missed nothing. In the afternoons if I doubled I would do it on the treadmill and that was the kids TV time. Again not missing anything. I ended up running a 2:17 marathon the next year and I don’t feel like I missed anytime from family. I did get up to 85 miles a week before I started doubling, so for almost all my training leading up to my last marathon my family was still asleep.
yep, I am more tired at night tho than everyone else but my kids didn't even know I ran because whenever I did they were sleeping. I get up pretty early and then I was also able to have no problems getting on the hs track if I needed to do intervals or something because it was early. I like to sleep so that was hard at first to get use to but once I got use to it, it isn't that bad. If I needed more miles I could run while my kids are at soccer practice or whatever in the evenings.
I run twice a day. I work from home while my wife has an office job. I’m the breadwinner too.
Wife runs at 5:00am, I bring the kid to school at 7:30, I run at 8:00am for an hour. First meeting of the day is usually 9:30am.
Second run is at noon during lunch, 30 minutes tops.
I pick up the kid at school at 4pm. Then work until 6pm.
I run a 10-15 miler Saturday morning with a running group.
I don’t run on Sundays. That’s a family day.
It’s roughly 70-73 miles per week.
Job? Sounds like the perfect setup.
I work in IT for a west coast company. Some of my co-workers are in mountain time and central time hence the 9:30 meetings.
Also, since my wife is up running at 5am, I’m up around that time working and getting a head start on projects. Kid doesn’t get up until 6:30am. It’s a nice setup!
So I am a stay at home dad, but I started running competitive again at 34 when my daughter was 2 and son 4(when they both slept through the night) my daughter is not in school so I essentially was on kid duty from 8-5 and other than a stroller jog, I had no free time. I would get up between 4 and 5 and train from 1-2hrs depending on day. I would be back by 7am most days and my family was still in bed. So I missed nothing. In the afternoons if I doubled I would do it on the treadmill and that was the kids TV time. Again not missing anything. I ended up running a 2:17 marathon the next year and I don’t feel like I missed anytime from family. I did get up to 85 miles a week before I started doubling, so for almost all my training leading up to my last marathon my family was still asleep.
yep, I am more tired at night tho than everyone else but my kids didn't even know I ran because whenever I did they were sleeping. I get up pretty early and then I was also able to have no problems getting on the hs track if I needed to do intervals or something because it was early. I like to sleep so that was hard at first to get use to but once I got use to it, it isn't that bad. If I needed more miles I could run while my kids are at soccer practice or whatever in the evenings.
100% more tired in the evenings, but I also think most people try to have too many hobbies. Running is my hobby and I am very aware that adding in more hobbies would start taking time away from family. I think most people that say “it’s too much to double” with a family probably waste a lot of time on social media or this message board or sitting in front of the tv. It’s all about time management and cutting out things that waste time. Just my option.
For decades during the pre-work from home era I did 70mpw (or more before Western States) by commuting to work on foot. I would do 4 miles to work and 8 miles coming home. As a law firm partner, I worked full (but not excessive) days. I would not get home until 7:00pm. However, this was not an issue as my wife (a physician) would get home the same time that I did. The lawyer/doctor combo meant that we had the money for in home child care. PRs: 5K-15:46, marathon-2:27.
My two cents…I am married and a father of two with a full time job as an attorney. I generally double 4 times a week when training for a marathon. This requires me to be out the door at around 6:00 a.m for the first hour run so I am ready to take my kids to school at 8:30. I usually start my work day around 9 unless I need to be in court for some reason. I take about 30 minutes at lunch and I am back on my computer working by 1:00. I generally pick my kids up at 3 and then work till about 6:30. I can get 90 miles a week pretty routinely with this schedule. Training like this doesn’t leave much room for a lot of other hobbies during the week, but you prioritize the things you love and it’s about sacrifice. You certainly do not need to sacrifice being a stable father/husband with a full time job to get the miles in. Also, long runs on the weekend usually start at 6:30 so I’m usually home by around 9:15. Sure, those Sundays you are a bit tired from the run, but I still have enough energy to do whatever activities the family has planned for the day. Not sure if the OP was trolling but this is my honest answer on how to make it work.
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