someone who is busier than you is running right now
I’ve spent two nights back on night shift, and let’s just say it’s been a bit rough! The first night back wasn’t too terrible and actually went pretty quick due to the fact that we had five (yes, five!) admissions overnight…guess it was burn night? Anyway, that kept me busy which makes time go fast, and I had breakfast plans to look forward to so that sped me through the night. Yay for other people who work night shift. 
Post-breakfast I passed out and woke up at 5:45pm, which is pretty impressive since I used to wake up every one-two hours during my last stint on nights…let’s hope it stays this way.
Night two seemed like the shift that would never end and I was exhausted…a 12:30am coffee run helped a little bit, but the night just seemed to drag on and by 7am I thought I was going to fall asleep. That last half hour was excruciating! Running is a popular topic for us to talk about on nights because a fair amount of nurses run and they like to ask questions…last night they asked when I usually run, and I mentioned that I had a morning run planned after work!
As the Sweat Squad was mapping out their morning last night, I mentioned that if anyone wanted to run a little later, I could use some company after work. Meggie has a bit more of a flexible schedule (and she happens to like sleep…I like her even more than before!), so she said she’d be up for meeting me after work. Hooray! With plans to meet someone in place, I knew I’d actually get out for a run instead of crawling back toward my pillow like I really wanted to do.
I stumbled home in a zombie-like mindset this morning and put on my running clothes, not allowing myself to sit down, not even to send Meggie an email to let her know I was on my way! Quick turnaround is important to not magically passing out in bed. We met up and ran along the East River Path, and as we chatted it up, my tiredness seemed to dissipate a bit. I think I made sense the entire run, although I’ll let Meggie be the judge of that.
As we were running along, we started talking about fitting running into our lives, both with my wacky night schedule and her being in medical school. It would be very easy for either of us to say we’re way too busy to run, but the fact of the matter is that if something is important to you, you’ll make room for it. No one would ever tell me that I’m nuts for going to bed instead of running after a 12 hour shift. I have no experience with medical school, but if Meggie said she was too busy studying to train for a marathon, no one would ever doubt her.
But I run after work and Meggie ran a marathon during her third year of medical school. If something is important to you, whether it’s running, your family, writing, cooking, or whatever it may be, you’ll make time for it. Everyone is busy in their own way, and while we may like to think we’re busier or more stressed out than everyone else (don’t we all think that at times??), the truth is you’ll make room for what is important to you and for what you want to do. It’s our choice to sit on the couch or to get out the door…and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a marathon to train for.
It just so happens it’s much easier to get out the door when you have a running buddy waiting for you! Thanks for the run, Meggie! (We represented the second shift of the sweat squad, hooray!)
Wednesday, August 17
10.74 miles in 1:27:36, avg pace of 8:10
Now pardon me while I pass out until this evening.
How do you fit in running amidst the craziness of life?
Like you, I find that the best way to make sure I run is to commit to it. I make plans with a running buddy, or even just myself! Once I schedule the workout in my calendar, I’m much more likely to do it!
Currently, I get up at the beginning of the day and get out for a run/workout first thing in the morning! It seems to work better than waiting until the end of the day when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and go to bed! lol. I will be interested to find out what my clinical schedule is like this semester to figure out a schedule that works the best for me!
Awesome run! I can’t imagine running after working for so long so late at night but as a fellow runner I would never discourage it! Just keep doing what you love and ignore the people who don’t understand.
Don’t forget to vote for me to become a member of the Refuel With Chocolate Milk team! I would really appreciate your support!
So true!
I run after my 4 kids finally go to bed. I am usually heading out around 9 pm. People say I am crazy to run/workout so late (well, and for other reasons) but that’s when I can fit it in. And for me, it is important enough to fit it in
I love the title of this post. And our sweat squad shifts.
I think you are awesome for running after work like that – you must be exhausted and it takes a lot of dedication to get out there! I definitely think we make time for things we love, no matter how busy we are. The fact that I love early morning running really allows me to fit it into my schedule even when days/nights are packed. It’s all about prioritizing! And running is always up there at the top
Agreed. It’s awesome/hilarious that we’re creating time options for Sweat Squadding. And you’re a rock star for getting your run in and keeping a stellar pace. You’re my hero.
Yes, you definitely made sense the entire run! I hope I did, too
Morning running is new for me but I love getting it out of the way for sure! Helps wake me up, too.
I think you said it best (or we said it best this am?), if you want to do something, you WILL find the time for it. If there’s a will, there’s a way.
See you out there for sweat squad sometimes again soon!
I always say, if there is a will, there is a way. If you want to run, you will find the time to run!
I get up and get it done first thing in the morning…before anything else can interfere!
so .. this is an awesome post ! and totally something i need to remember. i need to be better about transitioning between activities. i have a tendency to get totally derailed when i take an “hour workout break” and somehow it turns into 5 hours later.. and then it’s dinner time.. and then it’s bed time.. but i am getting better about this ! and i need to remember that someone busier than me (cough cough susan) is running right now.
ps – i am also happy to find another med student’s blog ! yay
You are my hero! I am not sure I could get myself to run after a long overnight shift like that. I share your belief that if something is truly important to you, you will make time for it. And knowing that you and Meggie make it happen despite your crazy busy schedules make me hopeful for my running life in grad school! I know I won’t have time for all of the things that I have time for now, but I’d like to think that I will be able to prioritize and keep up with the things that are most important to me.
I just found your blog and I love it! It’s really inspiring.
Yay a new blog to read! Your recipes sound great too.
So true! I know things come up and you can’t always control the stresses you’ll face in one day, but ultimately you’ll make time for the things that are important – however you can fit it in. I do admire you for running after such a long shift. It shows your passion and dedication for this crazy sport! Glad you have a running buddy you helps get you out the door in the mornings!
FANTASTIC post! (And, wow, you aren’t going to have any problems at HTC!)
Awesome dedication I don’t know how you stay up! But I get you. It is something you care about and are committed to so you make it work. I love runners because they get that!
I loved this post. As a fellow nurse who has to rotate, is in graduate school and attempting to train for a half marathon, I find the training runs get put on the back burner when I have school stuff due. This came at the perfect time with the start of the new semester!
i think I need to print this out and hang it up at my desk @ work. I get “whaaaaat” faces when I say I’m working out instead of going to happy hour almost EVERY DAY.
ps, can you tell I’m sticking to the wine and ordering food plan… HAHA