Running, stretching, fuelling, and recovery… training for a charity run is challenging enough before you add work, family, social commitments, and fundraising on top of it. Sometimes it really can feel as if you're spinning plates.
This was certainly my experience. One of my most memorable charity events in recent years was the INVNCBL multi-terrain race in Cardiff, which I ran to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Singleton Hospital in Swansea.
This was my first-ever charity run, and while I loved the experience, I found balancing everything in the weeks leading up to the event to be far from easy.
Ultimately, burnout is a genuine risk for charity runners, but it's also avoidable with the right approach. In this article, I share how I avoided burnout while juggling training, fundraising, work, family, and recovery - and still managed to enjoy the process!
Table of Contents
Have You Got a Plan in Place?
To give yourself the best chance of fitting in training runs, fundraising tasks, and everything else, scheduling is key. If you haven't already, invest in a good wall chart, calendar, or planner, and treat it as your training bible.
I suggest planning a week or two in advance. Block out time for running, recovery, and your other commitments, including work, family, and social life.
Note that while planning is essential, it's equally important to stay flexible. Life happens, and rescheduling or missing a run is not the end of the world. The goal is consistency over time, not perfection.
Is Your Training Plan Sustainable?
When you start training, focus on keeping it sustainable. Gradually build your mileage over several weeks to avoid injury, and add in complementary training, such as strength work and yoga, to improve muscle balance, stability, and mobility.
It's smart to follow a plan tailored to your race distance, whether that's a 10-mile race or a full marathon. You can find free training plans online or speak with a running coach for a personalized approach.
Wherever you are on your training journey, always listen to your body and adjust your approach as needed. "No pain, no gain" has some truth, but I'll be the first to tell you that overtraining can quickly derail your progress and your motivation.
How Can You Keep Fundraising Manageable?
While you're juggling training runs and recovery days, you'll also need to dedicate energy to fundraising. After all, whether you're running for a national charity or a small local cause like I did, raising money is why you're pushing yourself to perform at your best.
Start early to avoid last-minute pressure in the weeks leading up to race day. Break your fundraising goal into smaller milestones and celebrate every win, no matter how small, to keep yourself motivated.
You can also make life easier by automating parts of your campaign. Many donation platforms offer the ability to schedule social posts or automated reminders, which can take the pressure off you having to do everything manually.
Are You Making Time for Life Outside Running?
Training and fundraising can be time-consuming, but they can also be surprisingly enjoyable when you throw yourself into the process. But this is your reminder not to let it consume your entire life.
Each week, schedule time with family, nurture your hobbies, and leave space to relax. I'd often schedule in time to watch a film with my feet up!
Maintaining this balance will help prevent resentment from creeping in and keep your motivation intact all the way to race day.
So… Are You Ready To Run?
Your charity run is about so much more than what happens on race day. It's the early morning runs, the fundraising milestones, and the countless small decisions along the way.
If you can strike the right balance between training, fundraising, work, rest, and play, you won't just avoid burnout - you'll actually enjoy the process. You'll arrive at the start feeling strong, focused, and proud of everything you've achieved before the race has even begun.
If you want to leave a lasting legacy beyond race day, consider looking into key ways, like free will writing services, to support your chosen charity even further.
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This story is brought to you in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
