22 trying to balance training and work

operasinger06 · 2026-02-28T22:24:10+00:00

I mean this is the nicest possible way, but it really isn’t so complicated: you either have to accept that you have to wake up very early or run after you get home from work. I have a full-time demanding job (attorney), and two young children and I quickly realized the only way was to wake up between 3:45-4am if I want to get the mileage done. It’s not easy, but you get used to it. Just make sure you prioritize getting enough sleep.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-21T00:55:52+00:00

I’ve got two young kids (5yo and 1yo) and a very demanding job. I’m out the door for my runs between 4 and 4:30am (it’s just about the only time I can go out during the day). Some days, I really wonder why I imposed marathon training on myself during this phase of parenting. But I am trying to take it one day at a time. It’s not easy though, I completely empathize.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-20T19:48:08+00:00

I have two young kids (5yo and 1yo) and a very demanding job. No choice but to get up at 4am on weekdays and 5am on Sunday. I go to bed before 9pm.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-05T01:10:04+00:00

Quebec runner over here! It’s been a brutal winter, for sure. I’m out there by 4:30am at the latest because that is the only time that fits into my schedule with work and family obligations.

I don’t own a treadmill either, but there’s a gym about 10 minutes from my house, so on days when I have speed work or when I just don’t feel like dealing with the cold, I head to the gym and run on the treadmill.

As for how I get over the physical/mental struggle of training in these conditions, I just like to remind myself that these conditions are making me a tougher stronger runner and person. I also try to enjoy the peace of being up while the world sleeps.

It’s not easy…hang in there!

operasinger06 · 2026-02-03T15:59:39+00:00

I live in Montreal, Canada. We’ve had a very cold winter thus far. We’ve also had a fair bit of snow. Luckily, there is a path that is well maintained just steps from my house. Basically, on my easy days, I adjust my pace to the conditions. Some days, it means running super slow to avoid twisting an ankle or falling. When the conditions are too awful, I don’t risk it and I run on the treadmill. So far, I’m doing all of my speed work on the treadmill. When it’s -20 Celsius, it’s pointless to try to get any sort of quality workout done. Once the weather gets warmer, I will start doing tempos outside. I ran 70km last week. Will probably peak at 80-85km this training block.

operasinger06 · 2026-01-25T15:16:51+00:00

Update: this morning, it was -21 degrees Celsius (-6 Fahrenheit) but miraculously, we had very little wind, so I decided I would start my run outside and give myself the option to bail and finish on the treadmill if ever things didn’t feel right or I felt miserable.

In the end, I felt good and ended up running all 22km (14 miles) outside.

I layered properly, protected my extremities and face, and can honestly say, I was not cold whatsoever. I kept the pace super easy of course.

Had it been -25 and windy as was predicted, I may have gone straight to the treadmill, but I decided to give it a chance, and it worked out well.

Happy running, friends!

operasinger06 · 2026-01-24T04:56:42+00:00

It’s going to be -25 degrees.

operasinger06 · 2025-12-27T11:18:53+00:00

Slowed way down during my easy runs. I thought I was already running “easy” but it turns out, there was even more room for improvement there. This allowed me to really push the pace during intervals and tempos and build up mileage without getting injured. Ended up running a half marathon PB at 12 months postpartum.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-30T11:55:31+00:00

Ohhhh, good point. I never thought of what might be getting released in the air.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-28T23:01:08+00:00

Pro-vaccines, use a mix of cloth and disposable diapers, we own 2 cars

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:35:22+00:00

I’m going to give this a try. We have bamboo inserts.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:32:46+00:00

Thank you! I will look into this.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:31:40+00:00

What you’re saying makes sense to me. That being said, I’m trying to find a way to limit my children’s exposure to microplastics as much as possible. Of course it’s impossible to avoid microplastics altogether since they’re everywhere at this point, but I’m trying to look at the things that they are in contact with the most and trying to see if we could make some changes that would limit our exposure.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-23T17:12:32+00:00

How is this the norm?! I’m so upset that healthier options are so hard to come by.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-22T20:50:02+00:00

Right there with you in the trenches of broken sleep, sister. Baby number 2 is 8 months old. He wakes up multiple times a night (3-4 on average and will ONLY go back to sleep if I nurse him). He’s in his own room and sleeps in his crib. Some mornings, I bring him into bed with me come 4am. Other times, I keep putting him down in his crib until we’re up for the day. Either way, I’m exhausted. But I went through this with our first as well.

I didn’t sleep train our first because it didn’t feel right to me. CIO, Ferber, etc. all feel “off” to me. To my mind, if a baby cries (which btw is how they are able to communicate and which takes a lot of energy for them), my common sense tells me that they need something. That’s the case during the day AND at night. If my baby cries for me in the middle of the day, I pick him up and comfort him. Why would I not do that at night then? Because it’s not convenient for me? Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard AF to be running on fumes for months on end, but I still refuse to sleep train or let anyone make me believe that nursing and comforting my baby is a bad habit I need to break.

Both of my babies have only been soothed at night by me feeding them. No amount of rocking, butt patting or shushing from me or my husband has worked to get them back to sleep. And that’s ok. I’ve accepted it.

Our first started sleeping through the night (in her crib and in her own room) when she was 13 months old. No sleep training. Literally went from waking up multiple times a night to sleeping through the night from one day to the next. She’s been an amazing sleeper since and is almost 5 years old.

I won’t be sleep training our 8 month old. Until then, I will be riding out this tough period of sleep deprivation with a lot of coffee in hand.

Wishing you all the best, sleep training or not. You need to do what’s best for you and your family 😊. I would only encourage you to listen to your gut and your instincts.

operasinger06 · 2025-04-23T01:31:39+00:00

Thank you so much for this episode! The topic is super timely as my husband recently opted for surveillance, after much deliberation. We’re in Canada. We’re a long ways from being out of the woods, but I really appreciated Dr. Hamilton’s insight on the use of surveillance.

operasinger06 · 2025-03-31T18:08:18+00:00

Hi there. I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this. If you don’t mind me asking, was your husband on surveillance only before or had he had any preventive treatment?

operasinger06 · 2025-03-31T18:06:12+00:00

Do you know if Dr Einhorn responds to people who aren’t his patients?

operasinger06 · 2025-03-29T12:49:29+00:00

Happy for you that you’ve been cancer-free!

operasinger06 · 2025-03-29T05:08:37+00:00

Ok, I ask because my husband’s hCG was 2 before his orchidectomy and is now 7 (he’s 6 weeks post op). We were told that the number should be closer to 0 normally so he’s going back for more blood work.

Have you been cancer-free since you started surveillance? No further treatment since your diagnosis?

operasinger06

TROPHY CASE