How can I be a morning runner and still get my kids ready for school on time?

Q: I’m a morning runner. The problem isn’t getting myself up and ready, it’s my kids! How can I keep up my morning running routine while still getting them out on time for school? 

A: This is a struggle felt by many runners who are also parents. You need your morning time to get out for your run but you return home to find your household in mayhem. You need to get your kids to understand that the morning routine and what time they wake up is not optional. That might mean establishing a consequence for ignoring you when you wake them up. Some of us need a little incentive to get out of bed early. For a lot of us, that incentive is coffee but for your kids, that could be their favourite breakfast (maybe not so much that sugary cereal they love but more their favourite flavour of yogurt or granola bars).

Assign morning chores to each child to make the morning for more smoothly. For example, while you’re running, maybe the oldest son is in charge of clearing the table or maybe the older daughter helps younger ones with getting dressed. Whatever chores you assign, have them understand exactly what needs to be done by the time you get home from running.

And of course, preparing as much as possible the night before is always a huge help for morning runner parents. Have lunches packed and backpacks lined up at the door ready to go! If these things don’t work, sometimes moving the run just a little bit earlier will give you enough time to run and have the kids’ routine in check.