Where does Running come in your life priorities?

Itziger

I hope this doesn't become too controversial but the idea of the thread just came to me out of the blue. I was thinking about my plans for tomorrow and next week - running plans I mean. Then I thought, what takes precedence, what comes before running? The only things I could think of are the obvious two …. family and work. If I could afford to dump the latter I would. So I guess that only takes precedence out of necessity. Friends would be another but I'm at an age and in a country where I don't actually have that many friends tbh and I've turned down quite a few social events cos they clashed with races, training or even perhaps came the evening before one of the two. How do people feel about this? What would you sacrifice and what would you give up?

Where, in other words, does running come?

ThePiedPiper

Just got invited to stag party of one of the lads I was friends with in school and college, but haven't been part of the group really for a few years now.. I've already declined the wedding, and as it happens, the cork marathon is on same weekend as stag party!!

Moral dilemma.. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do the marathon.. It'll be the second of the stag parties I'll have missed, putting further distance between myself and old friends but that's the way things have gone for me...

I'm with the OP.. Family, job, and I would probably put my health in there too, but that's it..

Finnt

I think you have it spot on with family, job, and running with most other things coming after.

In the 2 years I have only drank a handful of times so I tend to avoid any social events except the most important ones. Most of my friends have no interest in running so that drops them down a bit on the list!

robinph

You need better running related social events and find running things to work around the non-running buddies when possible. It probably helps that most of my local friends are through running, but there is certainly no lack of socialising, and I've managed to fit a few races in around non-running buddies stags and weddings even... usually without major incident.

cianc

Nice idea for a thread.

One thing that has become more clear to me over the years is how important running is to my mental health.
We all joke about climbing the walls and making our families crazy when we can't run, but it's pretty spot on IME.
I know when I can't run for long periods of time I'm far less happy, calm, and pleasant to be around. Numerous studies show that regular exercise is effective in treating mild to medium depression.

So yeah, I'd really lump running in with "health", both physical and mental, and probably family too, since I'm not sure mine would hang around if I was in a grump all the time

WRT social things taking a back seat, as I get older and busier, being sociable seems to fall further and further in priority, not just behind running, which is a shame.

PDCAT

cianc wrote: »

Nice idea for a thread.

One thing that has become more clear to me over the years is how important running is to my mental health.
We all joke about climbing the walls and making our families crazy when we can't run, but it's pretty spot on IME.
I know when I can't run for long periods of time I'm far less happy, calm, and pleasant to be around. Numerous studies show that regular exercise is effective in treating mild to medium depression.

So yeah, I'd really lump running in with "health", both physical and mental, and probably family too, since I'm not sure mine would hang around if I was in a grump all the time

WRT social things taking a back seat, as I get older and busier, being sociable seems to fall further and further in priority, not just behind running, which is a shame.

Great thread. Yeah i agree with above. Definitely family, health & work (reluctantly). If i didn't need to work, it would be way down the list. I agree with cianc regarding runnings affect on mental health. I would never have described myself as depressed or anything, but my self esteem, feel good factor and happiness seems to have increased greatly since i started running.

The amount of drinking i do is about 10% of what i used to. I used to go at the beer fairly hard at the weekends alright. Also my smoking is virtually non existent save for a few when i'm having a pint.
I do plan to go on a stag next month, three weeks before connemara marathon. I'ts a three day session in liverpool. They'll be my first pints since Christmas and probably my last for a few months after.

Its a a hard one to answer.

On the evening before a marathon, it's way up there. If someone in the family is sick, it kinda plummets. Not sure that it's set, or I could say "it's the 5th most important things after W, X, Y and Z". Even in the world of sports, any time I get out on the hills and do some hiking and climbing, I kinda think I miss them a lot and spend too much time running.

PDCAT

Deleted User wrote: »

Its a a hard one to answer.

On the evening before a marathon, it's way up there. If someone in the family is sick, it kinda plummets. Not sure that it's set, or I could say "it's the 5th most important things after W, X, Y and Z". Even in the world of sports, any time I get out on the hills and do some hiking and climbing, I kinda think I miss them a lot and spend too much time running.

Yeah, i've cut down on the amount of hiking that i've been doing since i started running. The few days, i do get out during the year, brings it home, how much i miss it.

I try to get out as much as i can. Plan this year is to head over to the Lake District and summit Scafell pike. Might try and get a few climbs done after Connemara.

PDCAT

PDCAT wrote: »

Yeah, i've cut down on the amount of hiking that i've been doing since i started running. The few days, i do get out during the year, brings it home, how much i miss it.

I try to get out as much as i can. Plan this year is to head over to the Lake District and summit Scafell pike. Might try and get a few climbs done after Connemara.

Went for a 22 mile trail run along Kerry Way Saturday, then climbed Carrauntoohil with crampons and ice axes Sunday, just to the north of Howling Ridge so fairly serious exposure. Saturday was great, really nice outing, good run. Sunday was just one of the days I'll remember for years.

On the other hand, the running is much easier to access, so you get a nice payoff for less effort, the climbing takes more gear, hike into the foot of the mountain, a full day out etc. etc.

PDCAT

Deleted User wrote: »

Went for a 22 mile trail run along Kerry Way Saturday, then climbed Carrauntoohil with crampons and ice axes Sunday, just to the north of Howling Ridge so fairly serious exposure. Saturday was great, really nice outing, good run. Sunday was just one of the days I'll remember for years.

On the other hand, the running is much easier to access, so you get a nice payoff for less effort, the climbing takes more gear, hike into the foot of the mountain, a full day out etc. etc.

Sounds like a great weekend conor. Really jealous of the that climb on Sunday. Had a great weekend climbing in the reeks a couple of years ago. Think we covered 8/9 peaks the first day. Probably as tough a day, that i've ever put in.

It's tough, but not as intense as running, and the scenery usually makes it worthwhile.

I find them kinda interesting, such a contrast. If I had to drop one, it would be the running. Running, particularly road running, can be very focussed on pace and time and competition, maybe too much so, you can almost block out the environment you run in. Climbing, on the other hand, is just about the climber and not about beating anyone, it's rarely competitive or time driven, it can be dangerous, you may be forced to turn back. And you can do it with a hangover! I like to think hillwalking and climbing contribute to mountain running, you are getting in vertical metres after all.

MrCreosote

Deleted User wrote: »

I find them kinda interesting, such a contrast. If I had to drop one, it would be the running. Running, particularly road running, can be very focussed on pace and time and competition, maybe too much so, you can almost block out the environment you run in. Climbing, on the other hand, is just about the climber and not about beating anyone, it's rarely competitive or time driven, it can be dangerous, you may be forced to turn back. And you can do it with a hangover! I like to think hillwalking and climbing contribute to mountain running, you are getting in vertical metres after all.

I'd agree with this. There's still an exploration element to hillwalking and climbing, even on fairly well-worn routes, that running lacks. In a race it's all about the clock, even if you don't finish it's not a big deal, whereas on a tricky route on a hill getting into difficulty can turn into a right old epic.

Where did you go on Sunday?! A good day in the Reeks is the job, all the more so because they're so rare.

Krusty_Clown

Deleted User wrote: »

I find them kinda interesting, such a contrast. If I had to drop one, it would be the running. Running, particularly road running, can be very focussed on pace and time and competition, maybe too much so, you can almost block out the environment you run in. Climbing, on the other hand, is just about the climber and not about beating anyone, it's rarely competitive or time driven, it can be dangerous, you may be forced to turn back. And you can do it with a hangover! I like to think hillwalking and climbing contribute to mountain running, you are getting in vertical metres after all.

I do a good chunk of climbing (2-3 times a week), but just indoors. Ironically, I find that running is a perfect cure for a hangover (and in fact, running helps me prevent hangovers as I prioritize running over drinking most of the time), while I find it very tough to climb with a hangover (I develop height anxiety!). I would hate to have to give up either. I have only been climbing for the last 12-16 months, and it's such a good feeling to make good progress, whereas with running I have to work really damn hard to make any progress.

MrCreosote wrote:

There's still an exploration element to hillwalking and climbing, even on fairly well-worn routes, that running lacks.

I cannot think of any better form of exploration than running. Cycling requires equipment, as does climbing. Walking/hiking is great, but requires a significant investment in time. Running by contrast requires little investment in time and equipment. All you need to do is leave your regular routes and go somewhere else. Maybe you're tied to specific routes because of where you live or your situation, but those are personal choices. When travelling, running has allowed me to explore foreign cities, sights and areas that I would never otherwise have seen. Walking, I'd never have covered the same ground. Cycling, I'd need a bicycle (try hire a bike at 7pm on a Sunday evening in most European cities!), and driving routes typically needs to be pre-planned.

Getting slightly back on topic, my priorities are the same as everyone else's: Family, work, running, friends, beer. I'd be lying to say that it always falls in that order. On high mileage weeks it's got to encroach on one of the other priorities. Work always has to be done (as the other priorities depend on it), so family time takes a hit. The kids always get dropped to their sporting events, the OH gets to go out and do her runs and enjoy the occasional night out, but sometimes, I just don't get to sit down at the dinner-table at the same time, as I have to go out and do another run.

MrCreosote

MrCreosote wrote: »

Where did you go on Sunday?! A good day in the Reeks is the job, all the more so because they're so rare.

Between Curved Gully and Howling Ridge, I believe it's called The Lick...long way down to Cummeenoughter!

Krusty_Clown

Deleted User wrote: »

Between Curved Gully and Howling Ridge, I believe it's called The Lick...long way down to Cummeenoughter!

Yeah, I think I'll just shut the hell up about my climbing! Scary looking photos.

average_runner

I think the only way you know really where running comes in your life priorities is to ask your loves one and see what their answer would be!!!

inigo

average_runner wrote: »

I think the only way you know really where running comes in your life priorities is to ask your loves one and see what their answer would be!!!

But that wouldn't be fair!! My life priorities and my wife's are different for sure: if I go running once during the weekend I'm not spending enough time with the family... So I try to go only twice or once for a longish one in the hills.

average_runner

inigo wrote: »

But that wouldn't be fair!! My life priorities and my wife's are different for sure: if I go running once during the weekend I'm not spending enough time with the family... So I try to go only twice or once for a longish one in the hills.

Only way i found around that was heading out at 6am for the run while they are in bed and then i get up early with the kids on sunday and let her sleep in a bit.

inigo

average_runner wrote: »

Only way i found around that was heading out at 6am for the run while they are in bed and then i get up early with the kids on sunday and let her sleep in a bit.

My boys can be up by 6... And I already do that on Sundays, plus I make pancakes, plus I leave dinner ready before heading to the mountains...

I forgot to say that so far I've always been back before 2pm...

average_runner

Just no pleasing them:D

RubyK

For me, running is a very high priority, not the highest, but it is up there. Like lots of people, I find running is such a great way to de-stress and escape from real-life problems for just a little while. As a family, we are going through a very stressful time at the moment, and I actually had to promise my Dad and husband that I wouldn't give up running. I guess they, and I, see it as a must, for my sanity (and theirs)

Krusty_Clown

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Yeah, I think I'll just shut the hell up about my climbing! Scary looking photos.

It was pretty out there for me too. Was with a very good climber so was trusting him and the rope!

inigo

average_runner wrote: »

Just no pleasing them:D

Of course not... :rolleyes:

tHE vAGGABOND

Used to be very high priority and no its waaay down

Finding myself skipping runs for crazy reasons like meeting people, hanging out with family, doing stuff which involves more than running around Irishtown or the Phoenix Park - madness I know

MrCreosote

Deleted User wrote: »

Between Curved Gully and Howling Ridge, I believe it's called The Lick...long way down to Cummeenoughter!

The famous Lick! Nice work dude- great looking photos too.

BeepBeep67

Very similar to most here running is one of the big rocks in my life jar. It gets carefully placed in there alongside family, work and friends at the beginning of each week, other activities and requests (little rocks) need to fit in around the big rocks.

The challenge is to stop the jar from overflowing!

PaulieC

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Very similar to most here running is one of the big rocks in my life jar. It gets carefully placed in there alongside family, work and friends at the beginning of each week, other activities and requests (little rocks) need to fit in around the big rocks.

The challenge is to stop the jar from overflowing!

Jars ? Rocks ? What are you on about, going forward ?

cosmic

Hmmmm, well the OH is out drinking with some of our buddies but I'm having a quiet night in and hitting the sack in a few minutes - so that I can get up nice and early and have a lovely run. I'd be in bed a while ago actually but I've been looking up new runners and capris to buy myself. That says it all for me really!