How to Stay Entertained After Your Daily Run
Logging miles only takes up so much time in your day. Here’s how other runners are staying busy for the rest of their time inside.
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Why Trust Us?
As people are practicing physical distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus, there are a lot of perks, like being able to spend more time with those in your household.
Bu more time at home—except for your daily runs or essential trips to the grocery store—may leave you with a lot of time to kill because you shouldn’t be socializing with friends or going out to eat or to the movies. So, we asked runners what they are doing to stay entertained outside of daily solo runs or streaming at-home workouts to pass the hours inside and stay sane.
[Download the All Out Studio App for more amazing Runner’s World workouts!]
Baking
“Playing games, baking, catching up with friends on phone—wish I was cleaning.”—graham_susanne
“Making masks, baking a lot, cooking a lot, and bingeing TV a lot. Some of those happen simultaneously. Once mask making is done I’ll probably be reading.”—catnamedashley
“Watching all the Netflix shows, reading all my past issues of Runner’s World, and baking.”—runningtofindmyself
“Lots of baking and stationary biking, as well as Zoom calls with my teammates.”—buh.bean
“Trying out some new baking ideas and doing some mapping projects.”—joshoshourihan
“I find something to bake once a week! I’ve always loved baking but my full-time job, running, and riding, takes away from that! I am trying to cook a new recipe or two a week and bake something since my husband is still working his full hours. I’m trying to spread the love!”— therunningcowgirl
“Baking bread. So much bread.”—flyersbrb00
Catching Up on Reading
“Lots of reading.”—egaralva
“Teaching students from home, teaching my two kids from home, reading, and bingeing Netflix.”—runnerwest
“Reading some great books!”—michaelalyles
“Just started reading Silmarillion and I'm playing Animal Crossing.”—thesewingwench
“Reading more!”—myendlessblessings
“Baking, reading, and bonding with my 5-month-old son. He thinks burpees are funny.”—runnerrogueruns
Doing Puzzles
“Puzzles, reading, Friends reruns.”—aliciahurmence
“I’ve definitely been logging more miles and working out more. However, there is still plenty to do! Between working at home, tackling the spring cleaning and home improvement projects, I’ve found time to love and laugh with my five kids! Between puzzles, Marvel movies (watching them in sequence), walking the dog and cooking together, the days are spent in gratitude and with perspective.”— fitspartanmom
“Puzzles.”—kellycomaz
“I just discovered 90 Day Fiancé on Hulu and it’s honestly the best thing I never knew I needed. On top of running, finding an escape—like in a book, puzzle, or TV show—is helping curb my anxiety right now!”—rachelwharrison
“Puzzles and painting! (And looking after small children.)”—shitiseewhilerunning
“Pulled out that sketch pad and those dusty coloring books, puzzling 1,000 pieces, reading (A LOT), listening to sports podcasts, LEGO-ing, cooking, managing two kids, and training my mind to get back into the workout/run groove outdoors when the time comes!”—nishreen_savanghan
Finding a New Hobby
“Building a garden!”—lexidevenport
“I’ve been playing outside with my kids, basketball, chalk, bubbles, agility training, weaving friendship bracelets, binge watching my favorite show Chicago PD, adult color coloring pages and mobility exercises.”—michelles_running_diary
“Trying new recipes, especially breads and cakes. (I’ve never been a baker!)”—jpclark2016
“I’ve been focusing more on my drawing!”—the_life_and_art_of_jlp
“Trying to become a TikTok superstar.”—brecarperuns
“I have been eating pizza. All of the pizza. I’m talking about an entire deep dish for breakfast—gotta carb load for my afternoon nap.”—broccoli.and.paneer
“Working on my aerial hoop skills but by using a doorway pull-up bar.”—lea.stracquadanio
“I’m finally really working on my YA novel about mermaids! Nothing changes until something changes, and I wanted a change.”—arunningmermaid
“Journaling!! Something I always want to do, but don’t usually. I’ve journaled every day of self-quarantine (17 now!)”—sarahwhyyyy
Spending More Time With Pets
“Singing Frozen 2 songs with my kids, homework online for the 6-year-old, and sight words for the 4-year-old. Two dog walks for the three doggies, and all after my 5 a.m. run of 3 to 6 miles.”— 75imberc
“My husband and I have done yoga and HIIT videos, we run stairs (we live on the 20th floor )... we’ve done several 4-10 mile walks... our doggie needs walked three to four times per day!”—lisa.riedel93
“Still working PT, reading, yoga, #bbg, cooking, walking the dog, NAPS, laying out, watching movies, ping pong, organizing dresser drawers.”—kateahmbiance
“Work! And dog training/snuggling sessions.”—swimrun1
“Sourdough + kitty cuddles!”—stephanieklunk
“My lab/hound mix is getting a LOT of high quality walks around the neighborhood.”—whitecollarrunner
Binge-Watching Shows
“Watching Tiger King.”—meggiekarp
“Working remotely, running, Tiger King.”—mriokrt
“Never watched The Sopranos or played Call of Duty. Started both last week.”—taitemkretz
“Watching MASH, learning Spanish, and running more!”—daveoak81
“Playing guitar and watching some of my favorite old movies.”—dougblessett
“Yoga, Bosu ball workouts, 5Ks, UFC Fight Pass, and The Office have been key in maintaining my #quaransanity.”—jonnyporto
[Miss Watching Sports? Check Out the Wacky World of Backyard Ultrarunning This Weekend]
Playing Video Games
“Video games, [entertaining] twin toddlers and a 10 and 12-year-old. Never a dull moment.”— brendanmc8
“Video games.”—_chrizie
“Trying to 100 percent complete Super Mario Galaxy 2.”—tatortoortles
“Animal Crossing and Ronan Farrow’s War on Peace.”—run_and_cope
[Here’s How to Start Running So You Fall in Love With the Sport]
Spending Quality Time With Kids
“One of the many perks of being a parent to an 8-year-old daughter is that we are always entertained. She comes up with most creative, fun, and silly games my wife and I can’t help but laugh all night and for awhile forget about why we are home 24/7.”—jamesdurling
“Thought I’d have tons of time to work on projects buuuuut kids... I feel more busy than before, but am so grateful for it!”— jamie.hancock
“I’m busier now than I was before! I’m suddenly homeschooling three kids, so if I manage to work out, I have zero time to do anything else. I collapse into bed exhausted at 9 p.m. every day.”—mvh101
“I have two kids. ‘Nuff said.”—gigi.travels
“Online class with my daughter, sending conversation prompts to both my daughters and their boyfriends to see their answers, home for work.”—claudiadaly3
“Unfortunately, it’s work from home for me. Which is actually hard with two kids who want to play all day!”—alan_brutus
[The 10 Best Kids’ Running Shoes]
Learning Something New
“I got a keyboard and I’m learning to play piano a little bit everyday.”—laugagnon19
“Enrolled in Tafe (online course). I took these unfortunate circumstances to seek the positive, so I'll be home schooling now alongside my boys.”—boosheps
“Medical school continues on from home!”—aundreabusse
“Man, I didn’t realize there’s so much to do at home. Cooking, planting seeds, cleaning, reading (online), keeping in touch with my family, and friends, and of course YouTube/Netflix. I had been meaning to organize a hobby I wanted to get into and now I finally have the time to plan it.”—5knation868
“I work in a hospital, so there’s that, plus I’m in school doing my masters.”—swanita13
“Nursing here, too!! School, too!”—prissy_missy_1
[Emma Abrahamson’s Massive Stack of Pancakes Is Here to Make Your Morning Brighter]
Readers Also Read
The Perfect Playlist for Long Runs
The Best Running Music to Add to Your Playlist
‘I Walked for 30 Minutes Every Day for a Month’
Members Only: Latest News from RW+ Membership Club
