Triathlon Training Requires Effective Time Management
Years ago when I was training for an IRONMAN Triathlon, I was doing my best to consistently follow a training plan.
On one particular day, I had a track workout scheduled. I overslept that morning so was unable to run before work. After work in rush hour, I drove to the closest track. It was locked. I drove to another track. The high school track team was using it. Same thing with the third track. After more than an hour of driving around, I finally gave up and ran on an unmarked trail, estimating my interval distances as best I could.
One of the necessary skills for any triathlete is effective time management.
We live in a “Do. What’s next?” society where we are constantly in state of doing something, completing it (or not) then moving on to the next thing. As such, training for any sport (let alone three sports) is challenging on top of other commitments like work, partner, family, friends, pets, etc.
Here are five strategies for fitting in your triathlon workouts into your week.
1. Commit to What You Can Reasonably Do
Longer race distances require more training and more commitment. How much time do you have available to train? Does your significant other and/or family other support your training? What about work and other commitments?
As a coach, I’ve met many athletes who overcommitted to races then became stressed because they couldn’t do all the workouts or injured because they skipped the warm ups. Consequently, their performance suffered and triathlon was no longer enjoyable.
2. Schedule Your Workouts in Your Calendar
Just like you’d schedule a work meeting, schedule your workouts in your calendar at least a week in advance. Block off the time so that it’s not taken away by something else.
3. Be OK with Less Than 100% Completion
The reality is that you’re not going to be able to fit in 100% of your workouts.You can’t predict every possible situation or circumstance that might get in the way. Instead, aim for 75-85% completion each week. As such, prioritize your workouts as A, B, C. At a minimum, you’ll want to do 2 workouts each of swim, bike and run per week so designate those workouts as “A’s.”
4. Exercise in the Morning
Complete your workout in the morning then don’t worry about something else interfering later in day. If I had done my track workout in the morning before school started, then I would not have unnecessarily wasted an hour driving around.
5. Bundle Workouts and Activities Together
Where can you save time by combining or substituting activities? For example, if you swim at the gym, do your strength training at the gym after you swim rather returning to the gym later in the day.
Commuting to/from work by bike (or run depending on the distance) instead of driving. When I lived in Northern Virginia, my bike ride was an hour each way so I completed a 2 hour bike workout in place of driving one hour in heavy traffic.
Have more tips? Please comment below. Thanks!
Good luck and happy racing,
David
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About the Author:
David B. Glover, MS, CSCS has completed 28 IRONMAN distance triathlons including two sub 9 hour finishes and winning Vineman Full twice. Now, David’s passion now is helping triathlete and other endurance athletes achieve their dreams through his online triathlon education and training company, ENDURANCEWORKS. David has an MS in Exercise Physiology and is certified as a coach by USA Triathlon and USA Cycling as well as having his CSCS from NSCA. After six years of living, training and coaching in the triathlon mecca of Boulder, CO, David currently resides in Southern California.
