Outside joggers.. how do you find enough daylight?

strickland8052

I love jogging in the park near my house, but don't particularly feel safe jogging when there is no daylight.

I work normal business hours, meaning I leave the house at 8 am and get home at 6 pm. Jogging before work is out... completely not enough time between sunrise and time to leave for work. Jogging during lunch break is out too... my schedule is just too inconsistent and I am on the road sometimes.

Jogging after work provides plenty of time, but I feel like dinner gets in the way. I currently jog as soon as I get home for about 45 minutes then spend about 30 to 45 minutes cooking. This puts me eating at 8 pm, which I know is bad. I'd like to increase the time I spend jogging, but I feel like that would really be pushing dinner back too late. Also, I feel like cooking/eating after jog is bad because I dread cooking the entire time I jog. I'd rather have everything out of the way so I can just enjoy my jog.

What do all of you joggers, cooks, and 9 to 5'ers do to avoid this dilemma? I'm also dealing with a fiancé who is helpless in the kitchen, doesn't like crockpot food, and would be pretty sad if I just stopped cooking/eating dinner.

melissafawnw

I have the same dilemma. I work 8-6, and get home close to 7. And I hate running right when I get home because I'm hungry! I've decided to run 30-45 minutes on weekdays and try to run longer on weekends. As long as you're consistently running, it's okay to have short runs.

lsmsrbls

I go out before the sun comes up and just wear reflective and bright clothing.

I don't really see what options you have (other than a treadmill) if you can't do it before work or at lunch and don't feel like you have enough time after work before dinner, either.

katrwal

have to admit, i'm a morning jogger... sunrise in the Detroit area is around 6:30 am - so i go from 6:30-7 every morning during the week, then have a longer run on the weekends...

other option - since your fiance is hopeless at cooking - you cook, you both eat dinner, then you go for a run while he does the dishes

good luck and congratulations on making it a priority.

belgerian

I am fortunate enought to be able to get my run in during my lunch hour at work.

nytius

I had this issue until I started cooking ahead of time. Sunday afternoons I usually cook up dinner for a couple of nights. Wed my husband cooks, Thursday morning I wake up early and cook before I get dressed for work. Friday is free for all. I know its a strange schedule but I had the same issue. I don't run at night and cooking in the morning or on weekends has been working so far. Good luck!

belgerian

I love jogging in the park near my house, but don't particularly feel safe jogging when there is no daylight.

I work normal business hours, meaning I leave the house at 8 am and get home at 6 pm. Jogging before work is out... completely not enough time between sunrise and time to leave for work. Jogging during lunch break is out too... my schedule is just too inconsistent and I am on the road sometimes.

Jogging after work provides plenty of time, but I feel like dinner gets in the way. I currently jog as soon as I get home for about 45 minutes then spend about 30 to 45 minutes cooking. This puts me eating at 8 pm, which I know is bad. I'd like to increase the time I spend jogging, but I feel like that would really be pushing dinner back too late. Also, I feel like cooking/eating after jog is bad because I dread cooking the entire time I jog. I'd rather have everything out of the way so I can just enjoy my jog.

What do all of you joggers, cooks, and 9 to 5'ers do to avoid this dilemma? I'm also dealing with a fiancé who is helpless in the kitchen, doesn't like crockpot food, and would be pretty sad if I just stopped cooking/eating dinner.

Why is eating after 8pm bad??

jsickman12

I am in the same boat as you, except I run around my neighbor hood in the bike lane. I sometimes don't eat until 9 pm, it isn't as bad if you have a couple hours to let it digest, they say 3 hours or more before bed time is good, but I haven't seen any ill effects with my 2 hour window, especially if you are eating a healthy meal.

bannedword

I run at 5:00 am, and it's dark. I don't mind. It's usually the coolest part of the day.

Cr01502

I steal mine from the smiles of children.

ZenInTexas

I run early in the morning before the sun comes up. If you don't feel safe how about a running buddy?

strickland8052

Cooking in the morning is a fantastic idea! Any suggestions on healthy recipes that are good "left over" like that? (You know how some foods taste awful reheated and others taste even better)

I had this issue until I started cooking ahead of time. Sunday afternoons I usually cook up dinner for a couple of nights. Wed my husband cooks, Thursday morning I wake up early and cook before I get dressed for work. Friday is free for all. I know its a strange schedule but I had the same issue. I don't run at night and cooking in the morning or on weekends has been working so far. Good luck!

camibadman

I'm in your same boat! Unfortunately, not enough daylight is a problem that can't be avoided if the only time you're able to run is after work (me too!). I am a HUGE fan of Crock Pot dinners so I either start that before work or at lunch if I have enough time to go home. I go running AS SOON as I get home for 60-75 minutes, come home, eat, shower, relax, go to bed and repeat! It can be done as long as you find a routine that works for you. :drinker:

hottamolly00

I prefer to jog in the dark because I hate having to put on sunscreen. :P

astrampe

I have an hour lunch time - a park and beach close by, and a locker room/shower in the building, so I go for a quick 40 min run, shower at the speed of light and eat at my desk.....Longer runs on weekends....
And eating after 8 is not bad......

TimeForMe99

Stick something in the oven, a chicken or roast, and then go run. Fix salad and prep dinner the previous evening. Brown rice pilaf would be done just about the time your run is finished.

Better yet, ask the fiance to grill up some steaks or fish. Get him in the kitchen so you won't always be the one doing the cooking. Otherwise, add a baby or two and your running days are over.

Heaven71

Maybe try cooking for the week and have it ready in containers to heat up. You could make a couple of casseroles and soups on Sunday. Then possible sign your fiance up for a cooking class.

pastryari

This puts me eating at 8 pm, which I know is bad.

There is no special magical time that you need to stop eating at. I work out as soon as I get home and then I start cooking dinner. I usually eat around 7:30-8:30pm most evenings. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I'm also dealing with a fiancé who is helpless in the kitchen, doesn't like crockpot food,

I doubt he doesn't like any crock pot food. There are endless possibilities of food you can make in a crock pot.

SatchGallamax

I prefer to jog in the dark because I hate having to put on sunscreen. :P

YES!

I routinely run between 9 and 10pm...but, that's when I have the time to do it.

hottamolly00

What about jogging to/from work?

I love jogging in the park near my house, but don't particularly feel safe jogging when there is no daylight.

I work normal business hours, meaning I leave the house at 8 am and get home at 6 pm. Jogging before work is out... completely not enough time between sunrise and time to leave for work. Jogging during lunch break is out too... my schedule is just too inconsistent and I am on the road sometimes.

Jogging after work provides plenty of time, but I feel like dinner gets in the way. I currently jog as soon as I get home for about 45 minutes then spend about 30 to 45 minutes cooking. This puts me eating at 8 pm, which I know is bad. I'd like to increase the time I spend jogging, but I feel like that would really be pushing dinner back too late. Also, I feel like cooking/eating after jog is bad because I dread cooking the entire time I jog. I'd rather have everything out of the way so I can just enjoy my jog.

What do all of you joggers, cooks, and 9 to 5'ers do to avoid this dilemma? I'm also dealing with a fiancé who is helpless in the kitchen, doesn't like crockpot food, and would be pretty sad if I just stopped cooking/eating dinner.

MaryinBflo

I don't know how long you run but I run outside from about 6:30-7 and it's light out by then. They days are getting longer so at least your window will open up soon.

Capt_Apollo

if you wait for everything to be perfect, you'll be waiting for a long time.

make time to run in the early morning hours. short, 20-30 minute runs are great. on the weekend, that is when you can have a long distance later in the morning run.

DavidMartinez2

http://www.knucklelights.com/
This is what I use in the mornings. The only real drawback is I don't find them very comfortable when I run without gloves. The provide enough illumination for me to see what is in front of me and becuase it is not a headlamp I can point them elsewhere without having to turn my head.

maegmez

I love jogging in the park near my house, but don't particularly feel safe jogging when there is no daylight.

I work normal business hours, meaning I leave the house at 8 am and get home at 6 pm. Jogging before work is out... completely not enough time between sunrise and time to leave for work. Jogging during lunch break is out too... my schedule is just too inconsistent and I am on the road sometimes.

Jogging after work provides plenty of time, but I feel like dinner gets in the way. I currently jog as soon as I get home for about 45 minutes then spend about 30 to 45 minutes cooking. This puts me eating at 8 pm, which I know is bad. I'd like to increase the time I spend jogging, but I feel like that would really be pushing dinner back too late. Also, I feel like cooking/eating after jog is bad because I dread cooking the entire time I jog. I'd rather have everything out of the way so I can just enjoy my jog.

What do all of you joggers, cooks, and 9 to 5'ers do to avoid this dilemma? I'm also dealing with a fiancé who is helpless in the kitchen, doesn't like crockpot food, and would be pretty sad if I just stopped cooking/eating dinner.

Why is eating after 8pm bad??

That was my first thought. You're actually in a good position to eat at 8 if you have just gone for a run....you got your metabolism going to burn calories.

iWaffle

Headlamp. I do most of my weekly runs starting at around 5:30 am. I even did one last night close to 10:00 pm. There is no window of opportunity when you use your own light. Any time is running time.

cwolfman13

I usually run in the morning during the summer months when it's cool and I run at lunch or after work in the spring, summer, fall. If I run after work, I get home at 6...I can be on the road by 6:10. I don't go any longer than 45 minutes so I'm home before 7. I'm also the cook in the house and most of what I prepare during the work week takes about 30 minutes.

Also, eating after 8 is no biggie...that's just an old wives tale. My wife an I routinely eat dinner around 8:30/9:00 PM. On my lifting nights I don't even get home until 7:30ish

dougii

Have to admit most of my running takes place before the sun comes up. If your safety issue is being seen there is plenty of reflective gear and running lights available that work wonders. If on the other hand your issue is personal safety all I can recommend is running with a faithful partner like my own, Haley the 85 pound German Shepherd. Enjoy your runs!

morningmud

I do just what you do, run when I get home at 6:00pm, then come home and cook. Although, I do take a few minutes to cool off before getting into the kitchen. Am I very new to cooking, just cooked for the 1st time in Jan '12, so I keep meals very simple but I also don't care that it is often around 8:00 when I have dinner.

capnrus789

I never run in the daylight during the week. I also live in a decent neighborhood, I guess I'm lucky.

nytius

Cooking in the morning is a fantastic idea! Any suggestions on healthy recipes that are good "left over" like that? (You know how some foods taste awful reheated and others taste even better)

I had this issue until I started cooking ahead of time. Sunday afternoons I usually cook up dinner for a couple of nights. Wed my husband cooks, Thursday morning I wake up early and cook before I get dressed for work. Friday is free for all. I know its a strange schedule but I had the same issue. I don't run at night and cooking in the morning or on weekends has been working so far. Good luck!

Absolutely...All different kinds of salads, you can really have fun with ingredients and all it means is cutting up your ingredients in advance...then you just have to cook whatever protein you may want to go along with it (I LOVE no shell taco salad with pico de gallo, I use turkey or lean ground beef and it gets better as the seasoning sets during the day). I love goulashes as well. I call them southern stir fry LOL. You can get creative here ...if you like food from the gulf you can do quick gumbo with no roux by letting the okra cook down until it becomes its own gravy...if you like Italian you can mix tomatoes, onions, garlic and almost any protein, combinations are endless. You can always add couscous or a fiber rich starch (brown rice or whole wheat pasta) to any of those and they will be soaking up the flavors while you are at work. I love to cook so I could go on forever

billsica

I run as soon as I get home, usually I don't even go home. I just change in the car or at work.

as for food its for a family of 4, so:
crock pot
Take out
have the wife cook something