Every night Sofia asks me what the highlight of my day is. I told her: I did checkmate for a task I’ve been planning for months. Now that she’s into chess, she understands what it means so I told her each step along the way.
I don’t play chess but finding workplace requires chess playing skills. It requires determination for a desirable outcome, patience to find the right timing and opportunity, and confidence to execute it when it is time. The last move is usually the easiest. 🙂
It made me happy because the objective is to help a good friend. I personally don’t benefit from it, but it derives me so much joy to help the friend, who is in the Philippines 🙂
Running thoughts on my mind:
- What marathon should/can I run in 2024? I know I haven’t even done the 2023 one and already planning for 2024. This is because the big marathons have early sign up. I already forgot about entering into London. So now I’m thinking New York, Shanghai, Beijing, or New Zealand if I don’t get to NY.
- My running coach is super cool. He runs a lot, participates a lot of races, and organizes races. He is not micro-managing; he’s not always checking on me. Yet he knows my pace very well when he set the workouts. I want to participate in one of his races and meet in person. I’ve worked with him for over a year. I hope he helps me to get to the goal in the next few years (BQ).
- Running is not an inclusive sport. Between running, physio, mobility, strength training, I spend 2-3 hrs in average per day. I know it’s a luxury to have the time to do it and I’m deeply grateful. That’s why running is not an inclusive sport if one wants to do it seriously. By inclusive I mean to have the means to do it properly, both money and time.
Our New Journey 
I’d be curious to know when you dedicate 2-3 hours a day to running and other components. I know you do a 5:30 run but what about other elements? When does that happen? Thank you!
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I run 5:30-6:30/7am depending on the distance. Then I’ll do Physio or strength right after at the gym. In the afternoon/evening while the girls are doing homework, I do mobility and stretching. So quite time consuming but I enjoy the whole thing so I don’t mind. 🙂
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I think whether or not running is inclusive depends on your goal. If you aren’t striving for a really challenging goal, I think it is inclusive. I think if you are striving to really improve yourself in any sort of activities, chances are it will take a huge time commitment. Like I am thinking back to the CFA exams I took. I studied 20 hours/week – 2 hours/week on 4 weeknights and then 6 hours/day on Sat and Sun. I did it before I had kids – otherwise I don’t know HOW a person could pass those exams. They have incredibly low pass rates. When I was taking them, the pass rate for the first level was around 40% and then the next 2 exams also had pass rates of 35-40%. So they really weed people out!
I’m definitely in a stage of life where I don’t have much time to devote to things outside of work and caring for my kids. I seem to need more sleep than the average person, probably because I have RA. So I have had to accept that this is not the stage of life to really go after a race goal or anything like that. I’m definitely done running marathons but I hope to be able to work on my 10k or 10 mile time in 5-10 years when my kids are at more manageable stages. Plus my work schedule is not very flexible. I need to start working by 7:45 most days so that would require a very early wake up call for me to do workouts before work! But I really admire you and SHU – you are both going after your goals and I’m cheering you on from afar!
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Well, yes, I agree that all those hours training is really not inclusive or feasible for probably a majority of fulltime working people. I mean, most working people work at least 8 hours per day, so that usually ends up being 8-4:30 at least, or 9-5:30, or 7-4, etc, depending on how long of a lunch they get. So I would say you are very lucky compared to most if you don’t have to work 8+ hour days yet still get paid for full time work! That helps a ton. I agree with Lisa above that lower key running (or whatever exercise) is way more inclusive- I feel like many/most people can fit 30-60 minutes of exercise in probably at least several days per week without too much trouble, and with some strategy. (I suppose there are exceptions though!)
I usually spend no more than 1 hour in the gym, but also often walk about 20-30 minutes per day. So in total I’d say I don’t spend more than 1.5 hours, but some days if I only do cardio plus a walk, it may be only 45 minutes total that day, or if I only do the gym, then less, etc. I find it works best for me to vary the days a little bit, since some days I can make more time than others for exercise.
It’s great that you really like your running coach! That seems like something that is really important to have the right personality mix, or to “click”.
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I agree with others that running can be inclusive depending on your goals. I’d argue most amateur runners, who only do it for their own personal fitness and to be moving regularly, only have to find the time to get out there (like with everything else people do for leisure). Things change of course when you’re taking it more seriously and if you are going after goals. I’d run a lot more races if they weren’t so expensive. I do have the luxury of making decisions about my own time (since I don’t have kids), but there are limitations in other regards.
It’s all about what we prioritize.
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