Does anyone have any tips on how to train around shift work!? I need help!
Jan2920109:34 p.m.
So, last week I ended up going for one more run, Friday 22nd, a 3 mile run taking me 28 minutes. Not bad. The rest of the week, however, I missed my Saturday run and my long run on Sunday. Its been really tough balancing the runs around a busy work schedule. Today is Friday of Week 4 and I've been in work every day since Thursday of Week 3. I'm in again over the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. I'm exhausted!
Shift work is making things difficult. 12 hour days, 12 hour nights, working all of my days off... I'm not going to let it faze me. This week, I did a 4.82mile run (47 minutes) and today, despite being shattered post a morning of meetings and REALLY wanting just to go to bed, I went for an 8.5mile run to Richmond Park and back. No music. Just me and the road! It felt great. I won't get chance to go for a run this weekend, other than perhaps a short run tomorrow evening, so I'm really short on the mileage this week. Next week is a new week.
On the plus side, I've started to fundraise for my chosen charity, Charlie Waller Memorial Fund. If anyone would like to support me my page can be found at www.justgiving.com/helen-runs-london. CWMF is a charity all about raising awareness of depression, breaking the taboo and helping to improve support for those in need of it. I have seen friends and colleagues suffer through this traumatic and difficult experience, either directly or through support of sufferers of depression. I have seen how destructive this can be on the lives of all those involved. Charlie Waller Memorial Trust is a charity very close to their heart, as such to mine too, so I would like to do what I can to support them.
Anyway, its now bed time, must be up at 5am for work and I need to catch up on some sleep! Night all
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Comments (2)
Mister_Padge 'I too do shift work (evenings, nights, weekends). I've found going to bed at different times doesn't help the general energy levels ! It can be hard fitting in running around this kind of work, particularly if you have other people competing for your time (partner, kids etc.) The only way I got round the problem of shift working, was to accept I couldn't stick to any of the recommended "training plans" that litter websites and running magazines. I decided to create my own mini-targets each week, (distance for long run, total weekly mileage). Which days in the week I ran on, had to factor in my changing rota pattern. Essentially I aim to run 4 times a week. If I am doing a night shift, the next day will either be a rest day, or I will limit myself to a short speed run (i.e. 2.5 - 3.5 miles). If it is an evening shift, I will get up after 7 hours or so sleep and go straight out for a run without any breakfast (usually doing a maximum of 7-8 miles). When I get a break in my shift pattern (i.e. a normal night's sleep), I try to do a long run the following day. Hope this helps !' added 29th Jan 2010
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nooby2shoes 'i agree, you need to invent your own running plan on a week-to-week basis and just do what you can do, you cant do more than that. i have to fit my running in around long shifts and looking after our twins and so far it seems to be working, i run to and from work so that clocks up the miles without getting in the way of my family time. i know someone who did a marathon and trained just twice a week, one short run and one long run?? sub 4hrs too....git!!!! :o)' added 30th Jan 2010
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