1/27/09

Looking for time

'How in the hell am I going to fit in all this training when things really heat up?' I asked myself this morning as I was timing the last segment of a three part workout.

I am wondering just how long my half iron workouts will become. You know the ones that come when you are in good shape and you've had probably at least three months to build up to these workouts. The "main set" if you will.. To try to compare, in marathon training, because this is all I have to go on right now, it's the weeks of 60+ miles that I am thinking about right now.

Because I KNOW the workouts will be REALLY LONG, I was trying to come up with inventive ways to fit more in. I thought of things like, skip a shower here and there. No one would notice. Maybe. I could start to "rough it". Then I re-thought. Since I still have to work 5 days a week I have come to the realization that I really only have about three choices:
  • Get up even earlier than 5:am. I could probably get up at 4:20 once or twice a week.
  • Cut into my work day. That might not go over so well but this would be my first choice.
  • Workout after work. YUCK! NO! PLEASE NO!


Today, I got up at 5:am. Fed the cats, grabbed a cup of joe and drove to the pool.

Raced to get a spot in the pool (I'm liking this to a transition area), swam for an hour, and cut workout short of 800 yards (just the cool down) so I could finish the rest of my workout at home.

Drove back home and did free weights and the Buso Ball for an hour. I really wanted to be sure I didn't short myself on my strength workouts.


After all that I had only worked out for a total of 2 hours. I know this is not huge in the grand scheme of training. So, I wonder, how will I fit in the longer and longer training without cutting out to much sleep, work, and relaxing time? Hu?

7 comments:

triguyjt said...

always seems the days I get up real early (before 5) and get in my stuff....those are the days I feel the best....its just the darn day before..and getting in quality sleep....

maria conley said...

Mel, I know us girls like to sleep. But because family and training sometimes we don't get many zzzz. I don't know what time you go to bed. But how about going to bed about 8:00. This will give you about 8 hours of sleep and be ready to get up at 4:10AM. You are so focus & faithful to your workouts that you will make it fit.

Jennifer Harrison said...

Hey Melissa!
Oh no! :) Hee hee....don't worry, it will be ok and once the weather breaks and we have warmth and sunshine, it will help a ton...and working out after work...well, sometimes necessary...hang in there... :)

Ange said...

Hi Mel,
I wrote you a long comment and it didn't work! Well, I just was saying that this is a normal feeling. I remember my first year....I was the Same way. Each year I have become a little more creative about fitting stuff in. Unfortunately, it does require getting up in the 4 a.m. hour a lot!
Hang in there. Winter is tough!!

Speed Racer said...

I am so sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I don't know any triathletes (or at least not good ones) that don't do two-a-days (morning AND night) at least sometimes. What about lunchtime workouts? Are you particularly attached to your weekends? Leave of absence from work? Do you have a lot of sick days saved up?

But a wash cloth and some deodorant are ALMOST the same as a shower. Then all you have to do is stand at least 5 feet from your co-workers... That's what I did this summer when I rode my bike to work every day.

Michelle said...

Ugh, I hear ya! My alarm regularly is set for 4:40. Oh the humanity! And I STILL have to often do evening workouts (and I hate them as well) to get it all in.

I'm doing my first 1/2 Iron this year and I'm somewhat terrified of what that means my life will be like during the peak phase...... For now, I'm trying not to think about it!

GetBackJoJo said...

just skip work. :)
or you could spend your entire weekend working out....
or you could suck it up and realize that you are absolutely going to have to work out after work! :)
just kidding.
(except i'm not....)

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