Everyone knows that there are a lot of good health benefits to running. It is a type of exercise that tones, shapes, and strengthens, but it is also an aerobic workout that helps improve your heart’s health. These things can be even more important after you have a child, but therein the catch. Its difficult for most parents to find the time to train for a marathon after they have a child. We are here to tell you that it can be achievable if you want to give it a try, but first, you need to know about family safety while running, even indoors on a treadmill.
The Trouble with Babies
New moms and dads often get caught up in their baby’s world. Its kind of hard not to. Little ones are a 24/7 type of job. They wake you up, they allow you to go to sleep, they make you laugh, they keep you chasing them, etc. Some days you may feel as though you have run a marathon before you even really have time to get out of bed. Its all worth it, but unfortunately, it doesn’t do much to get you into shape. Moms especially have a difficult time shedding the baby weight to reach their ideal, pre-baby size, but who has the time to go to the gym? Instead of putting it off until your child starts school; you should consider new ways to train if running is something you want to get into.
Marathons for Parents
When you have a curios toddler, you have to think about them before you do anything. Are they going to be safe, can they be with you, etc. When we think of marathon training, we often imagine running long distances on a sidewalk or around a track. Toddlers simply cannot keep up. If you go inside to train, you will have weights and other things that may cause them to get hurt. This is not ideal either. The “what ifs” are endless inside of a gym where people are constantly coming and going as well. At the gym, you don’t have the option to lock the door because you are inside with your toddler. You can lock up if you are at home training, though. In this case, a viable option to have door handle safety covers on the door to the area you are working out in. You will still have to watch them, but you can do so while running on the treadmill or riding on the bicycle to build up your endurance. Then on days when you have a baby sitter available, you can take to the sidewalks and the track to get yourself in shape through actual “marathons”.
Is It Worth It?
Running when you have a baby to deal with may seem challenging, but most runners say that it is absolutely worth it. They are the ones who get back down to their pre-baby weight the fastest. They can live longer and keep up with their rowdy toddler easier and they are more able to encourage their child to live healthy and active lifestyles rather than sit on the computer or tablets that so many children prefer in today’s world. This alone makes it well worth the effort.