How to Run 100 Miles While Working Full-time

A few of of you asked to reveal my super secret schedule as to how I fit running 100 miles into a working girl’s schedule.

Well, as much as I wish I wish I had a big secret, I don’t. I literally run–> work –> run –> sleep. Oh, and throw in there lots of eating! Seriously, I thought I was a bottomless pit before. I don’t think I’ve been full for the past two weeks. While it is kind of nice, it is also kind of annoying. I feel like I need a disclaimer at my desk as to why I am eating again.

I really, honestly, do not have time for much else besides working and running. I do not watch TV in the evenings. I do not cook dinner. (Craig and I fend for ourselves.) I do not blog during the week. I hardly read any blogs and rarely make comments on posts. I only spend a mere 20-30 minutes on the Internet in the evening. I really don’t spend any time with my husband in the evenings. We don’t have kids. And I do all my errand running, laundry, and cleaning on the weekends, which means I have no life on the weekends either. But, hey, I did run 100 miles. 😛

But since you asked, here’s what a typical day looks like for me.

4:30/5:00 a.m. Alarm goes off

[If I am running 10 miles or less, I get to “sleep in” until 5 a.m. If I’m running more than 10 miles, I get up at 4:30 a.m.]

5:00/5:30 a.m. Out the door to start running

[I give myself a half an hour to get out the door. Yes, I could get out the door in less time, but I don’t like feeling rushed. During this half an hour, I change into my running clothes, put my contacts in, brush my teeth, redo my ponytail, sometimes check my e-mail/Facebook, put dry dishes away, and most importantly: go to the bathroom. Right before going out the door, I eat about 100 calories of some type of energy chews. (I have the chews instead of an energy gel because they are cheaper.) When I was running less than an hour, I wouldn’t eat anything beforehand, but now that I’m running 90 minutes or more most mornings, I need something to get me through the run. I often bring an energy gel along as well just in case I need another boost of energy.]

5:00/5:30 a.m. – 6:45/7:00 a.m. Run

6:45/ 7:00 a.m. Return from my run

[Ideally, I like to get back from running around 6:45 a.m. to give myself some time to stretch and/or foam roll, but I usually end up getting back closer to 7 a.m.]

7:05 – 8:15 a.m. Get ready for work

[This also includes making and eating breakfast. I try to prep my breakfast the night before—if I know what I want. I’ll put all the ingredients for a smoothie into the blender and then stick the blender in the fridge. For oatmeal, I will mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and then mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. This way all I have to do is dump the two together in the morning.]

8:15 – 8:30 a.m. Drive to work

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Work

[This gives me an 8 hour work day with 30 minutes for lunch.]

If I am running after work:

5:00 – 5:05 p.m. Change at work

5:10 -5:50 p.m. Run

[I don’t really care to run from work, but if I go home first, I know I will get distracted by things at home, so it saves me a lot of time.]

6:00 p.m. Arrive home

[I’m sure my very short commute helps my schedule.]

If I am going to the gym after work:

5:10 p.m. Arrive at the gym

5:10 – 5:20 p.m. Change, go to the bathroom

5:20 – 6:00 p.m. Lift weights

6:00/6:15 p.m. Arrive at home

6:15 – 7:00 p.m. Eat, unpack lunch, make next day’s lunch, repack lunch, clean up the kitchen

7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Use the Internet

7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Get my running clothes and work clothes picked out for the next day, pick up around the apartment

8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Foam roll, stretch

8:30/9:00 p.m. Go to bed

It is a tight schedule, but it usually works out pretty well. I really have to plan ahead and make sure all my ducks are in a row each day!

~~~~~~~

Well, I was not planning on running 105 miles this week, but sometimes these things just happen. Ha! A friend invited me to run Sunday afternoon, and I couldn’t say no, so I tacked on another 5 miles for the week and ran a new weekly high of 105 miles. Go ahead, call me crazy. My mom already did! 😉

Monday

AM – 9 miles/1:16

PM – 5 miles/39:00

Tuesday

AM – 10 miles/1:23 (track workout: 6 x 1600 meters)

PM – 5 miles/40:13

Wednesday

AM – 14 miles/1:54

PM – 30 minutes weight lifting

Thursday

AM – 12 miles/1:31 (tempo workout: 20 minute tempo run, 15 minute tempo run, 10 minute tempo run)

PM – 5 miles/ ? – forgot watch

Friday

10 miles/1:24

Saturday

22 miles/2:54

Sunday

AM – 8 miles/1:10

PM – 5 miles/43:00

Total: 105 miles

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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21 Comments

  1. 9.17.12
    Sarah said:

    wow, i am so impressed! you have an awesome level of commitment, girl. i think you pretty much do all my busy schedule tricks with making breakfast/lunch etc ahead of time. my biggest challenge is getting distracted by things (i.e. our cats, husband, laundry, fun baking etc.).

    • 9.18.12
      Michelle said:

      ooo. . . .getting distracted by your husband isn’t a bad thing. 😉

  2. 9.17.12

    That is amazing! I am sorry if you have brought this up already, but are you training for a big race or just racking up the miles right now? I am very inspired by your mileage! Awesome job! 🙂

    • 9.18.12
      Michelle said:

      Sorry, I know it isn’t always very clear why I’m doing such high mileage. I’m training for the Twin Cities Marathon, which is in a couple of weeks.

      • 9.18.12

        Oh awesome! I have a friend coming up from TX to run that one. You are going to crush it 🙂

  3. 9.17.12

    Impressive indeed! Is it dark when you run in the morning? I am so scared of running in the dark. I live in rural SD, so I’m afraid of skunks badgers, and other creatures of the night! Do you wear a light? And BTW, congrats on Boston! Very excited to read about it!

    • 9.18.12
      Michelle said:

      Yes, it is dark when I run. I think I would be pretty scared to run in the dark in the country too. In town in it pretty light with all the street lamps, so it isn’t too bad. I definitely try to be strategic on which routes I take though. I don’t wear a light. I’m not a fan of it strapped to my head and didn’t think it helped that much the couple of times I tried it–but then again maybe it was the brand/type of headlamp I was using.

      • 5.8.20

        Try wearing the headlamp around your waist. I find when I run and it’s dark and need a headlamp it’s more stable around my waist and you can barely feel it. It also better lights the ground you are running on. What is your goal marathon time?

        • 5.8.20
          Michelle said:

          I hadn’t thought about wearing the headlamp around my waist, but I know there is a belt light by One80 that my friend really likes. Plus it is way brighter than my headlamp. I am going for a sub-3 marathon.

  4. 9.17.12
    Jamie said:

    Where in SD?! Me too!

    • 9.20.12
      Michelle said:

      Sad, Jamie. Your comments always go to my spam folder. I’m glad I found this though.

    • 9.21.12

      I’m near Gettysburg, which is in north-central SD between Pierre and Mobridge. Where are you in SD??

      • 9.26.12
        Jamie said:

        Rapid City! My friend April Beringer is from Gettysburg!

  5. 9.20.12
    SJC said:

    so your “secret” is to get up early and get the bulk of the miles done before work, then spend <1 hr after work runing as well. Getting up daily at 4/4:30 takes DEDICATION! I'm impressed!

    • 9.21.12
      Michelle said:

      Yes, I do get up early to get the majority of my miles in before work, and then about 40 minutes running after work. (It wasn’t really a “secret”–just what I do. 😉 ) I’ve never gotten up at 4 a.m., but yes, 4:30 a.m. usually 2-3 times a week. It does take dedication, but I love it so that helps. 🙂

  6. 3.5.16
    Brian Whitworth said:

    Wow, I’m late to the party but wow, so impressive! I’m curious, what do you eat to fual all this? Does your husband run? What’s your goal for the marathon?

    Brian

    • 3.5.16
      Michelle said:

      Same type of foods I usually do: lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats. . . just more servings. Craig is a fair-weather runner. He’ll do a couple races each year. My goal for the marathon is a sub-3 hour marathon!!

      • 3.5.16
        Brian Whitworth said:

        Do you run 100 miles a week every week? Sorry for the questions, I was lookng at my schedule and trying to work 100 miles in, just wow.. Im not as fast as you, so it’s a little more complex to fit the 100 in.. So impressed! And diet is always a puzzle for me..