Parents on the run

How busy parents can find time for running, and why we can’t afford not to. 

We all know that running is good for us. And as parents we recognize that being active is an important part of being role models for our kids. But between meal preparation, diapers, laundry and kids’ activities, we’re lucky to have a few minutes a day to ourselves, let alone time to run.

New parents, particularly mothers, are significantly less active than women without young children, according to research by Dr. Ryan Rhodes and colleagues at the behavioural medicine laboratory at the University of Victoria. That trend puts moms at increased risk for many conditions associated with sedentary behaviour, such as depression, heart disease, stroke, several cancers, osteoporosis and type II diabetes.

“About 50 per cent of mothers who were active prior to motherhood do not resume regular activity even after several years. This large drop off is very concerning,” says Rhodes.

Dr. Angie Kolen-Thompson, associate professor of human kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, explains, “we manage stress better when we are regularly physically active” so that “when we do encounter stress, our body physically handles it better.”

How can we, as a society, help to increase physical activity amongst parents with young children? Thompson thinks our societal norms need to change. “Physical activity needs to be the accepted and expected way of life.”

So, how can busy parents juggle running with the demands of children? Both moms and dads can reap the health benefits of being active. Here are some time-saving tips:

Find something active to do with your children

Doing things together is “healthy, active family time,” says Thompson. Playing tag is running, too. Try hide and seek or turn a family walk into an adventure.

Use your time more effectively

Run or walk around the field where your child is playing sports. Fields are oval, making it easy to watch on the run. Once active watching becomes a habit you may find other parents decide to join you. Got kids at swimming lessons or hockey? Use the facility’s gym or run laps around the block.

Rise and shine

Want to exercise on your own? Try getting up early to run, walk or work out so that it doesn’t interfere with family time. Your partner can take a turn the next morning. Or leave early so you can walk, run or cycle instead of driving to work.

Go with gadgets

Running strollers make running with your child a fantastic cardiovascular workout. If a new one is not within your budget, find used ones at sites like Craigslist and Kijiji.
Social networking With parent-and-tot running, walking, pilates, yoga or hiking groups, the possibilities are vast. Don’t have one in your neighbourhood? Start your own! Social media is a great place to spread the word and create a new parent-and-tot exercise opportunity.

Tag team creativity

If you and your partner both need a run, or have bulky equipment to carry when ferrying children to activities, make it a swap. One parent drives kids to their activity while the other runs there. Once the runner arrives – swap. The first runner drives home with the kids while your partner takes their turn running home.

Make running together a “date”

Couple time is a rare event for most parents. Rather than trying to find time for both exercise and a kid-free excursion, why not combine the two? Spending time with your partner going for a run, hike, bike ride, or trip to the gym is a great, guilt-free date that’s inexpensive too. Or expand your cross-training horizons by trying something new together like sailing, indoor rock climbing, salsa dancing or kick-boxing. Opportunities for getting active are limited only by your imagination. It’s easy to find excuses to be sedentary. Your kids don’t need to be one of them.

– Lesley Evans Ogden