Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: Sweating through summer

As the school year comes to an end and children embark on summer break, it can be challenging for parents to carve out time to exercise. Many families are juggling child care, work schedules, limited summer camp hours, and a host of other daily responsibilities while their children are home from school. Yikes. Even the thought is quite overwhelming.

Routines and schedules are quickly thrown to the wind, and chaos hits even the most well-intentioned, color-coded, organized homes. One of the most common priorities to hit the skids during the summertime madness is personal fitness and exercise. Parents often take care of everyone else before taking care of themselves, which can be a recipe for personal burnout and disaster before the 4th of July hot dogs hit the grill.

Making time to train while children are home for summer break can be tricky, but it is certainly not impossible. It takes flexibility, creativity, and a little grace. The first step is realizing that Plan A might not always happen. Your tried-and-true lunchtime fitness class may not be a thing once summer break hits, but that’s OK. It’s an opportunity to embrace something new.

One of my favorite ways to train in the summertime is the outdoor workout. I haul a handful of weights and bands outside to the patio and get in my workout while my children play outside. Sunny skies, morning breeze, natural light – what a treat! At first, I felt a little silly lifting weights outside. There I was clipping my physiobands to my back door and tossing 30-pound weights in the air while my neighbors mowed their lawns. (Oh hey, Sue and Tom!) But then I realized, who cares? We all do what we gotta do.

As my children grow, more possibilities emerge to mix parenting and fitness. One of my favorite activities is to run while my son, Carter, rides his bike alongside me. We chat about his day, his friends, soccer, or the latest creation he is building in Minecraft. It is amazing how fast the miles tick by when you have great company by your side. At the end of our runs/bike rides, Carter likes to know how far we traveled and how long it took us. Soon he will be calculating our mile splits.

My daughter enjoys field hockey and golf. I love practicing with her in the backyard and hitting balls back and forth. It is great one on one time and it is so fun to see her improve and excel in an activity she loves. And bonus – playing sports with your children is good cardio for parents. Kicking a soccer ball, playing tag, or throwing a ball back and forth gets us moving around and activating various muscle groups. Good for the body, good for the soul.

A trip to the local playground is also a great option for fitness and play. Bring a kettlebell and a jump rope and smash out a quick workout while your children run around. Walk or run laps around the area. Get competitive and see how many pull-ups you can complete on the monkey bars! Playgrounds provide an opportunity for adults to engage in functional fitness opportunities, which become more important as we age.

I recently saw a dad wearing a weighted vest while walking behind his two young children, who were riding their bikes. Way to go! Weighted vests have become quite popular in recent years. They are a great tool for increasing muscle and overall strength while also training cardiovascular endurance.

Of course, the natural weighted vest is carrying a child while hiking uphill. That might be a more (or less?) cost effective option for parents.

No matter how you choose to train this summer, embrace creativity and flexibility. Staying fit during the break does not mean you need hours at the gym or expensive equipment. Whether you’re sprinting after a soccer ball, swinging kettlebells by the slide, or running next to your child on a scooter, it all counts. It doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be something.

You may not hit a personal record, but you will be modeling resilience and self-care for your children and your family. A strong body and a clear mind provide the foundation for healthy and engaged parenting.

Carry on.

Jess Lapachinski is an athletic administrator and sport performance professional who lives in the Pioneer Valley. Jess can be reached at [email protected]