Endure It! Swim Bike Run

Scheduling in the New Year by Jenny Garrison

With a New Year come new resolutions. We are all to blame for them. But I think the most common resolution among triathletes is to “start TRAINING again.” Somehow insinuating that we have stopped training and need to workout. For most people this is not the case. They are working out occasionally but need a little structure and scheduling to get motivated. I want to give you a few ideas that have worked for me over the years with balancing work, family, and sleep.

1. Have a routine that you maintain week to week. For example, on Mondays you swim in the morning and bike at night every week.

2. Be flexible with your routine. If you are stuck at work late move days around for this week. If you oversleep for the pool, try getting a quick run in.

3. Create your week around your key workouts. For example, your goal for the year is to PR in the Olympic distance. So you need to get in speed work for all three sports. Those workouts are key, and then the others are filling in. Try to use the days in b/w as recovery workouts. If your goal is to gain more power than your strength sessions are key.

4. Write short term and long term goals on note cards and stick them on your fridge. A short term goal might be to get in 3 solid swims every week. A long term goal might be to finish an Ironman by 2010. They can be more specific down to placing in the top 30% of your age group at a race or breaking a certain time in your 10k run. But seeing them everyday will remind you why you are sticking to your schedule.

5. Find or enlist a training partner. I find the best way to get motivated especially in the winter is to have someone there for you. I know if I am getting up at 4:30am to run that I can’t turn over in bed because there is someone waiting for me. That is the best motivation.

6. Put your schedule together on a spreadsheet or write it down. Post in on the fridge for your family to see so they will know where you are at all times. And be more supportive as a result because they will feel more involved.

7. Pick a day off and stick to it. I find it is easy to skip a day off and use it as a “swim day.” Taking that day off is not just for a physical rest but for a mental rest as well. Let yourself sleep in once a week or once every two weeks. Your body and your family will enjoy the extra rest.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your season!

Jenny Garrison

USAT Level 2 Certified Coach

 

January 10, 2008 |