Citizen of Night Vale

@Neist Yes, I've thought about doing a duathlon but they don't seem as popular as a tri. I like races with a ton of people and I don't think many people do duathlons.

@Neist I've only ever used a rowing machine and I am kind of afraid of water, but rowing is such a good workout! If I did run, I would probably take up some other outdoors exercise like cycling. If I was a faster runner, I would probably like to do 5k races. I'm kind of slow and building distance than speed is easier for me. I actually hope to start training for my first triathlon next year. I just need to get over my dislike of water.

@runjackrun I'm training for my 1st spring marathon and have found winter training is just SO weird. My runs have been in all kinds of weather. Snow, rain, sleet, 10 degrees, 60 degrees, -20 windchill.. I've always kept a race on my calendar to keep me accountable. I don't know if I would continue keeping up my weekly mileage if I didn't have a goal to work towards. Even though I'm always training for something, I do find running very meditative. I love spending a few hours Saturday morning doing a long run and not thinking about anything.

@runjackrun My mental health also largely depends on my weekly mileage! It may be unhealthy, but I get disappointed in myself if I don't hit that mileage or don't follow my training schedule. I've been living the Midwest for a few years now and I run outside year-round. 90-degree long runs - doing it. Below-freezing runs with snow - doing that too! My running schedule has been the same for a few years now - after-work midweek runs and early morning Saturday long runs. I'm not sure I'm going to like having to adjust my runs depending on my weekly schedule, but I would much rather run than not run. I actually prefer running alone than with a group, but as you may already know, there are benefits of group running. Also, I don't feel obligated to hang out with friends outside of running if I just run with them once or twice a week. @TakeruK I'll be moving to Texas for grad school so I'm excited for the many races that are down there that I would have otherwise missed out on! It's probably not going to happen but I would love to meet a professor in my program who shares some interests outside of our field. I'm not sure how but I also hope to meet grad students (even outside my program) who also have some similar running/fitness goals.

@Neist I used to listen to audio books and podcasts while running but I've taught myself to run without any headphones so I can be more aware of my surroundings. When I belonged to a gym, I would sometimes read a book or play my 3DS while on a stationary bike or the stair climber. That was great because I was really distracted and would end up working out longer than expected!

I don't have any kids, but if I were in your situation, I would defer for a year or reapply again in a year or two. With a child on the way, I would have to put the family's needs before grad school and make sure that my partner is on the same page. Some questions I would ask myself are: Would my husband and I still be able to live apart? How difficult would it be living in different cities with a newborn? How important is it that I attend this Masters program in NYC and he attend this MFA program in Chicago? Instead of living in different cities, would we be able to attend grad school programs in the same city so we can live and care for this child together?

@rising_star Fortunately, running is usually my social time too. It's how I've met friends since I left undergrad and it's usually when I see people. I'm hoping I can join a running club when I move to meet people outside of my program. @Need Coffee in an IV I binge watch the Food Network and I absolutely count that as a hobby. An unhealthy one, but still a hobby.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! @HopefulPHD14 and @CBclone I never really considered my hobbies as priorities before, but I guess they have been since I have revolved most of my spare time around running. Being physically active and outside really helps with my mental health. For the past 2 years, I've always trained for something and have found that training for a race also keeps me motivated in other aspects of my life and hopefully, that will continue when I start my grad program. @TakeruK, I liked your tip on starting off grad school by doing everything I want to do. You're probably right, if I completely stopped taking the time to do all of my hobbies and just immersed myself in school, I might not actually return to doing activities I really enjoy.

I have been out of school for a few years now and am so excited to return this fall. While working FT since undergrad, I picked up a few hobbies to be more active in my spare time, like long distance running and volunteering at non-profits. I don't want to completely stop doing what I enjoy when I return to school and worry about balancing my grad life with my time-consuming hobbies. Wise grad students, how have you balanced grad school and your hobbies? Also, is there anyone on this site who is both a grad student and marathoner or triathlete?