Marathon training is hard. There’s no question about that. Covering 26.2 miles on your own two feet is an endeavor and that effort deserves respect. But I just need to say… marathon training I did in the past was much easier. I took it for granted how much simpler it could be.

Let’s take a look at the differences:

Pre-Kid, Pre-Supervising, Pre-Dog Marathon Training

(When I did marathon training before, I did not have a child. I did not own a dog. I was not a supervisor to 4 people.)

• I could do my training in the morning and get to work on time. If I didn’t feel like getting up in the morning, I could do it after work because my husband was going to be gone working long hours anyway.
• I could do long runs every weekend with a group of friends. I could run on Saturdays, the spouse was at work anyway so it was something to entertain me.
• After the run I would joke around with my friends, maybe go out to get food, and then drive myself home to get cleaned up.
• Post-long-run I could eat at leisure, take an ice bath, take a shower, sit down and rest, read a book, maybe take a nap, relax with my legs up the wall, etc. If I didn’t feel like cooking anything, I could just tell my husband to fend for himself whenever he gets around to eating.

Need food NOW! #shoeselfie #runselfie #teamstonyfield #longrun

A photo posted by Jill (@jillwillrun) on Feb 22, 2015 at 9:22am PST

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Kid, Supervisor, Dog and more Marathon Training

(Now I have a 2.5-year-old child, I have a 4-year-0ld dog, I have a lot more duties at work and my husband is in the midst of his busy season as a CPA in public accounting so I don’t have backup at home.)

• I run early in the morning, after I’ve woke the dog by coming downstairs and letting her out and getting her some breakfast. I get home, usually in time to hear the kid whining that she’s awake and wants me. She always seems to wake early whenever I’m hoping and counting on her to stay asleeep for me to get cleaned up. I get her dressed and try to get her to consume some food while my husband gets ready for his work so he can drive her to school. Realize that I’m late for starting work and I still stink from my run and haven’t yet eaten anything. Decide to eat something at my desk and take a break at about the time my co-workers would be going on break so I can get in a shower. Sit back down at the desk with soaking hair.
• Every run is by myself because I run from the house. Going somewhere to meet friends will add an extra 60+ minutes to the overall run time and most of the time it would be at a time when I have to be “on” for parenting duty.
• Long runs have to happen on Sunday as that is the only day of the week my husband doesn’t work during busy season. I usually have to go into my daughter’s room at 4:30AM and put her blankets back on her or take her potty or something that has roused her at this time. I think she just senses that I’m up and planning to do something.
• When I get home from my run, I immediately have my daughter asking me to do something with her. As I try to get something to refuel myself, she wants to eat it too. My husband decides to do chores, so I get my daughter setup to watch a show on the iPad in my bedroom while I take a shower. One minute into a super fast shower, she’s yelling to me she needs help because she’s  switched into a different app and wants Dora back on.
• Do chores all day after the long-run. The kid needs clean clothes, clean bedding, we need dinner and I can’t tell her to fend for herself. Resting? Nope. I tried convincing my daughter to take a nap with me one day but that was apparently a game we were “playing together” more than an actual rest time.

I finished 17 miles on Sunday feeling good and excited to tackle this week’s training, yet today life has thrown me for a loop. I started feeling sick last night and when I woke up this morning, I knew I didn’t feel well enough to run. Sore throat, throbbing head… so I went back to sleep and vowed to see how I felt by my lunch break to run. But just 20 minutes after my kid had been dropped off at school, I got a call saying she started to throw up. So I’m hanging at home with a kiddo who is puking and that means no run today. It’s cold, it’s windy and she’s sick… it doesn’t matter if I get feeling better, I’m not forcing her into the stroller to be uncomfortable today just so I can run. So I adapt… that’s the name of the game for a mommy marathoner.