Laura,
It sounds like you work hard but I think you could work running into your life too. Make sure you are getting enough sleep at night (7-8 hours). Hopefully you are eating a good balanced diet and drinking muscle milk as something extra. Since your job is physically demanding you need more calories than normal to get you through the day. Consulting a good nutritionist would be helpful. Just get out there and give it a try. You may find that once you get going you will feel more like running and you will have more energy after. Another option is to try to get a short nap in after work and before your run. Schedule longer runs on your days off and just do what you can do on work days. I guarantee if you stick with it we will see you at the races again!
Jane Sanders
Running Fit Novi

Dear Laura:
I am in a similar situation as you are with having to be at work at 4:30 am and working long days on my feet. The one thing that helps me is mentally thinking my work day is not over until I get my run in, making it an 11 hour day. This might be easier by running straight out of work, and not even giving your body the chance to think otherwise while on the drive home. Another thing that would help you is to prepare for your run ahead of time so there is not much thought needed to get out there; you’re probably too tired anyway. Sometimes this means being half dressed with your running clothes under your work clothes, leaving your shoes in the car along with a electrolyte drink and supplement like a GU or Clif shot block... it might feel like torture, but the reward is so great afterward...plus running before coming home from work doesn’t give you the chance to eat, then digest, and well by then you know you’ll be having nap time, equaling no run...so find a friend, or a head set and run away your work day straight out the door.
Alissa Jane Hubbarth
Running Fit West Bloomfield

Laura,
Here are a few ideas to try...
-Make it a priority to schedule quality runs on those days that you do not have to work. Try going for a short run during your lunch break a couple of times a week. Bring Gatorade, GU, Powerbars and/or their equivalents for quick yet healthy energy replenishments.
-Find a running partner and schedule to meet for runs after work when it suits your schedules. In addition, Running Fit has group runs from our stores. Consult our various stores for details. Often having the extra support as well as knowing that someone is waiting for you will add motivation to get out and run.
-Entering a race might also motivate you to train more consistently to achieve your desired goal.
-Try to get adequate sleep, eat breakfast and healthy snacks (bananas, raisins, pretzels...) throughout the course of the day.

Keep running,
Tracey Cohen
Running Fit Novi