Trying to fit running in...

Part of the reason I gave up running when I went back to work was that I couldn't seem to find a time of day to fit it in. When I was on mat leave, I'd drop the kids at school and take Gavin in the jogging stroller. I've always preferred to run first thing in the morning if possible. Unfortunately, Dave's job requires that he leave at 5:30 am (which he just LOOOVES - ha!), and I am just not getting up at 4:30 am to go before he leaves! Afterschool gets swept away with kids's activities, dinner prep, dinner cleanup, homework, bedtime, and before you know it, it's 9:30 or so and I'm wiped out. I suppose I could go work out at that time of night; I have tried but it just doesn't work for me very well. 

I think I finally figured something out, tried it this morning and it worked beautifully. It seems so obvious I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! I don't have a treadmill, but I do have a cul de sac (as an aside, this word has always sounded faintly pornographic) right outside my door. I go out there at 6:00 am and do laps up and down the street, around and around. The kids are usually asleep until at least 7:00, but they're old enough now that if they do wake up they can get themselves some breakfast or help Gavin if he wakes up. And if they do need me urgently, I'm just outside on the street.

Here's my little workout spot:

I really hope this will work! Week 2 of Learn to Run 10k starts on Sunday.