Just Curious

Muffin Queen · Apr 21, 2011

For those who are working out more than once a day for longer than an hour each time how do you have the time to do everything else in life that requires doing over the course of a week? How do you manage to maintain that level of workouts while still: doing laundry, paying bills, buying groceries, general errands, sleeping, working (this eats 10 hours of every day for me), eating, maintaining relationships with those in your life that are not exercisers/multisport people, keeping the house picked up and clean, relaxing and recovering and pitching in for other things like family support, etc... I find that it can be overwhelming. I wonder often if it is because I am just slower and those distances take me longer to complete i.e. in an hour I would swim only 2500 yards or run just under 6 miles. Or if it is because Brian and I both train so there is no one else to help with the support functions i.e. getting laundry done, etc... Just looking for some thoughts on how people manage to get it all done. Maybe my expectations are just too high. Thanks

AdCo · Apr 21, 2011

It's not easy.. Em and I seem to mostly manage, but are somewhat taking some steps back, because the rest of life suffers at times. We don't have kids so I think that makes it easier, but we have other commitments that keeps us really busy, etc. I think if you ask others, they give something up, movies, or something else and then there are others who suffer missing training to see kids play sports, etc.. 
<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Muffin Queen <a href="/forum/thread/73558/just-curious#post_1995865"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> For those who are working out more than once a day for longer than an hour each time how do you have the time to do everything else in life that requires doing over the course of a week? How do you manage to maintain that level of workouts while still: doing laundry, paying bills, buying groceries, general errands, sleeping, working (this eats 10 hours of every day for me), eating, maintaining relationships with those in your life that are not exercisers/multisport people, keeping the house picked up and clean, relaxing and recovering and pitching in for other things like family support, etc... I find that it can be overwhelming. I wonder often if it is because I am just slower and those distances take me longer to complete i.e. in an hour I would swim only 2500 yards or run just under 6 miles. Or if it is because Brian and I both train so there is no one else to help with the support functions i.e. getting laundry done, etc... Just looking for some thoughts on how people manage to get it all done. Maybe my expectations are just too high. Thanks
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Tri-Tammy · Apr 21, 2011

If both of you and your spouse are working full-time and training- then your expectations might be too high. I know several people here that are in the same boat with you. Hopefully they'll chime in.
 
For me, I've got a little different situation. My husband stays at home and takes care of most everything home and errand related, although I do 75% of the cooking. My kids are nearing 20 and 18- so they help with errands and chores (when they are home). I do work full-time and with my commute, averages to about 10 hrs a day. 
As for my workouts- I'm not super speedy by any means. So my workouts are structured on hours, not mileage. (except for running as I'm trying to rebuild safely right now) If done the proper way, each workout will help build upon the previous workout and I'll get faster in those hours. For example, my go to (see how I'm doing) ride- in the beginning of the season, takes me about 1 hrs and 45 minutes to cover 26 miles. Mid season it'll take me 1 hr 30 minutes. 
 
As for rest and recovery- my family loves it when I can sit down and watch movies or tv or even just sit on the deck and read with them. Family time and recovery time all built into one. <img alt="icon_thumleft.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif" style="width:22px;height:20px;">

em73 · Apr 21, 2011

also, honestly, the first thing we let slip is cleaning the house. I pay bills online during my lunch hour at work, and we have a continuing series of arguments over laundry, grocery shopping, and meal planning.
 
The two of us joke all the time that we need a wife.

Muffin Queen · Apr 21, 2011

I agree 1000% about needing a wife. hmmm maybe that is a business idea. Course it won't help with my issues but may be my retirement job. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">
 
Thanks so much for the feedback. 

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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by em73 <a href="/forum/thread/73558/just-curious#post_1995899"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> also, honestly, the first thing we let slip is cleaning the house. I pay bills online during my lunch hour at work, and we have a continuing series of arguments over laundry, grocery shopping, and meal planning.
 
The two of us joke all the time that we need a wife.
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Thor · Apr 21, 2011

Firstly, let's call a duck a duck, and then we can talk about how to navigate your training through the obstacle course of life's demands.
 
Training for Ironman is a full-time job. There is no other way around it. You decide that this is important, and then you prioritize this goal into other life goals, such as mowing the lawn and laundry. You cannot train for Ironman and not have parts of life slip on by. It is impossible.
 
A duck is a duck. Ironman is Ironman. It is disruptive. And all-consuming.
 
So the task really is to make it more efficient. What I found in my days of training for Ironman was that the single best thing I could do for myself was to stack workouts. Stacking workouts eliminated much "transition and preparation" time. Stack workouts and you only have one shower a day.
 
If you get up at 5 AM to start a double or even triple-stacked workout, you can still be at work by 9 AM. And the rest of the day is completely and entirely free. Free. But night comes early. Bed time is 9 PM latest.
 
That to me is the most efficient way to do it.
 
As a complete bonus, it actually helps you train even better... because you're not doing three one hour workouts. You are doing one three hour workout mixed with different disciplines. And I don't buy the argument much (key word, so don't slay me you anal types) that you then won't be able to get in proper (another key word) speed work. Proper (key word) speed, for most people doing Ironman, is extra. Most don't need it and will likely only get injured any way.
 
This worked for me very well. Training was still disruptive on many levels. But it worked. So instead of swimming at Stiles Pond in early morning and running at noon or after work. Swim earlier at Stiles (say at 5:30 AM instead of 7 AM) and run for 30 minutes to an half immediately after. That's exactly what I would do. I went many, many months in my lead up to big races where I did double and triple workouts 6 to 7 days per week. I was able to get in my quality workouts, because my body adapted, in a happy world.
 
Ironman will be as disruptive to your current lifestyle as you will let it. Remember that. Instead be more efficient with your time. And don't be so anal with the monotonous details. If all you have is 45 minutes and the schedule says run an hour... run 45. What's the difference when you're doing all of your other work? Nothing. Really.
 
If you really must follow a training schedule other than your own -- like one you write that fits with your lifestyle -- then learn to change things around as the suit you, and learn to do that while keeping the key and quality workouts. During Ironman training, any workout other than something with quality is a waste of time; it does not step you forward, doing only enough to make you more tired. So learn to mesh the training schedule with you and your body and your needs. I find many athletes who cannot live without a schedule that someone else writes for them, many of these take the plan as if it were scriptures for life, each workout something that has to remain static. Not so. Study the schedule to see what the real meaning is, and then adapt it to your life schedule. Otherwise you will have to fit in life entirely around it. And honestly, that's no fun. Ironman is a lot of fun. But life is far more fun. Achieve the best of both worlds. It is possible. You just need to decide to make it possible.

MBannon · Apr 21, 2011

My workouts are generally either done in the morning before the kids wake up, during my lunch hour, or in the evening after the kids are in bed (or at least on their way to bed). Bike commuting helps a lot, too, as that gives me an hour of cycling that would otherwise have been 40-60 minutes in the car.
 
The only real problem in our house is when I am gearing up for something big like a half-iron and need to do 3-4 hour bike rides on the weekend on top of all the "normal" weekend workouts. I try to schedule those well in advance so my wife knows not to expect too much from me that day. But still, those definitely put a strain on the home life. That's why for me, a single half-iron per year is pretty much the limit.

Tri-Tammy · Apr 21, 2011

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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Thor <a href="/forum/thread/73558/just-curious#post_1995933"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> 
As a complete bonus, it actually helps you train even better... because you're not doing three one hour workouts. You are doing one three hour workout mixed with different disciplines. And I don't buy the argument much (key word, so don't slay me you anal types) that you then won't be able to get in proper (another key word) speed work. Proper (key word) speed, for most people doing Ironman, is extra. Most don't need it and will likely only get injured any way.
 
This worked for me very well. Training was still disruptive on many levels. But it worked. So instead of swimming at Stiles Pond in early morning and running at noon or after work. Swim earlier at Stiles (say at 5:30 AM instead of 7 AM) and run for 30 minutes to an half immediately after. That's exactly what I would do. I went many, many months in my lead up to big races where I did double and triple workouts 6 to 7 days per week. I was able to get in my quality workouts, because my body adapted, in a happy world.
 
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I remember you doing this Thor. What mix of disciplines worked best for you and which one(s) did you do first- or what order? And then why? What did you notice about it?
I've been playing around with this to better manage my time. 
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niemsco · Apr 21, 2011

Here is my lifestyle, high level overview:
 
The other things: All my bill payment is automated, I don't want to have to see or write a bill for anything. I don't want to see mail. I haven't written a check in years. I pay someone to clean my house every other week, last year I let my yard go to shit so I will probably pay 25 bucks a week to have a crew come out and maintain it. If I'm not spending time with family (&friends), working, or training, its got no priority. My friends, who have families for the most part, are also athletes. I will hang out with them training on a Sunday afternoon taking our kids to movies, watching football, etc. I really don't have non-multisporter friends, don't have anything against them, just none. I've established my priorities long ago and don't care about golf, yard work, etc., that takes me out of the Zone, the things I love in my life now. The Zone is 3 things (family, work, train). Well work not sure I love that, and probably could add friends in there as 4. If I do an activity such as movies, golf, it will be with my family or I won't bother. 
 
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I am up between 4 and 4:30 am, no excuses... Consistency is the key to getting stronger and faster, every week, every month, every year. Without consistency, then none of this is really going to do you any good in terms getting faster. Its a lifestyle you need to embrace it. My view is you do something all the way or don't bother. Life is too short, don't waste time otherwise, find something else you love and do it. I love this, because its not about training, its about discovering yourself and pushing to endless limits, when you find something new, its a great feeling. To do that I need to train and train hard with focus. 
 
My wife trains AM Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. I'm fortunate to have my MIL live down the street who watches my DD on saturday morning and sometimes on Sunday mornings where my wife is training. My kid is also 9 now, it would be much harder with a small one. My wife is not a nut job like me but she trains and competes in sprints and road races. Most of my workouts are done by 7am. Most of the stuff I do is not even seen by my family during the week. I do have a very flexible job and I'm lucky so I can train another hour during the day OR on Tuesdays and or Thursdays I train in the evening with my team unless there is something going on at home. 
 
My job however is very demanding and its well over 40+ hours a week, but I can work out of a home office. I do travel also, so then things go to hell when that happens, but that's the only downside.
 
Most workouts, I'm either back home before people are up and going, with 1 exception. When it gets near 12 weeks out from the big race there is an understanding I need to have a half a day on Saturday or Sunday for the big ride. Even if I start at 5 am, I will still not be done until 10 or 11. I will pick the day my daughter is not doing soccer. Right now she does soccer Sunday, so my long workouts are now Sat. I'm still back on Saturday kicking the ball around in the afternoon.
 
Like Thor said, every workout is quality, it has a purpose, otherwise it falls into the category of waste of time. 
 
Other things, I go to bed between 9-10 closer to 10. Sleep can be a challenge for me. We also have our meals planned for the entire week ( I should say my wife plans them) and we take turns cooking. The grocery store is a stone throw away and I know that place like the back of my hand, I can wip through there in about 20 minutes with 200 bucks worth of stuff. Maybe faster. I cook about 33% of the time, and every Sunday is pizza night!

Thor · Apr 21, 2011

<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tri-Tammy <a href="/forum/thread/73558/just-curious#post_1995952"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I remember you doing this Thor. What mix of disciplines worked best for you and which one(s) did you do first- or what order? And then why? What did you notice about it?
 
I've been playing around with this to better manage my time.</div>
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Great questions!
 
I varied things up quite a bit, but I gotta say that there was a pattern and even reason to it -- as well as a rhyme to the reason!
 
Swimming for me, even when I was hitting it hard and/or doing long swims in either open water or pool, had absolutely no (as in ZERO) impact on my ability to run or bike well -- I could swim long and still run or bike hard.
 
Swim-Run
 
With the above in mind, I would arrange my swims in the early shift of the early morning, and then run immediately after. Sometimes I would even do hill repeats afterward. This run would almost always turn fast. It was among my forms of speed since I never did any proper speed work -- there was far too much for me to gain in other areas, so that time was spent there. Never did I swim and then bike... but only because it didn't fit my schedule.
 
Run-Bike
 
Every Tuesday for the last million years I meet the same group of folks to run the exact same route. It is a social run, and it is easy for me, since those folks are slower than I. So I would do the group run on the early shift of the early morning (5:30 AM start), zip home, and hop on the bike for a hammer fest 20 miler or for hill repeats. The easy run left me find for the bike. But I'd say that the easy run stepped me forward not a bit in getting faster or stronger. Priorities kept that run. It was just too important to me, as are my friends! I would do this often another day of the week.
 
Bike-Run
 
Since I have a little running streak going and since I wanted to keep it going, I ran after every single one of my bikes when the bike was the early shift (of my double/triple workout). I would do hills on Tuesday (but I would do them after running, so see previous note Run-Bike), speed intervals on Thursday, and long on Saturday. After the speed intervals on Thursdays, I got so fit that I actually ran exceptionally well after climbing off the bike. So I set out a 3 to 4 mile loop and tried to run that fast -- sometimes as fast as I could. This to me was not a double workout but rather a single quality brick workout, where I would ride speed of 25 to 40 miles and then run hard for 3 to 4 miles, all within 2 hours. Saturday long (of say 50 to 120 miles) would be followed by a 3 to 5 mile easy run. The run was a brick run but, honestly, it offered very little pay back and maybe none at all -- based on the other work I was doing, like the Thursdays speed bike-speed run brick.
 
Run-Swim 

Rarely did this. But sometimes on Sunday's when I wanted an extra swim. I could run hard or long and still swim well. Swimming for me was such an isolated discipline that impacted none of the others nor was impacted by others.
 
Bread and butter for getting fast on the bike were the Bike-Run and Run-Bike workouts. Swim-Run and Bike-Run (speed day) kept my run speed sharp and even improved it because of all the biking.

Thor · Apr 21, 2011

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Originally Posted by niemsco <a href="/forum/thread/73558/just-curious#post_1995958"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a>
 
Like Thor said, every workout is quality, it has a purpose, otherwise it falls into the category of waste of time. 
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And for those following along... this is precisely why Scott has gotten crazy-fast. Mike did the same thing. I did the same. Some others have too. You get to the point where anything but quality actually takes away from you. It becomes all-quality all-the-time. For the most part. But that's where it is. And your dream time goals reside locked within there.

1Topodope · Apr 21, 2011

Wow! Reading everyone's posts have been very informative, eye-opening...and a bit intimidating. I am training for my first HIM with the hope of my first IM next year. I am single with no children which helps A LOT. However, I have two jobs - one of which requires me to open at 5am three days a week. I can see I have some time management planning to do. 
 
Thanks for the post, MQ!

Muffin Queen · Apr 21, 2011

Thanks so much for the feedback. Lots of thinking to do here. And just for the record I could not ride 40 miles then run 3-4 miles in a 2 hour window of time. I know what I am and it is not that.

Muffin Queen · Apr 21, 2011

niemsco - How do you function on the 6 hours of sleep you are getting? Part of the issue is the fatigue from my arthritis requires that I get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night otherwise I am junk and truly not functioning as I need to in all other areas of my life.

Zdoc · Apr 22, 2011

Great stuff here, and I agree with everything Thor and Scott have said (so I will try not to be redundant). 
One thing I will add, however.
I have been at this athletic lifestyle for over 40 years (that is since age 11 for those of you doing the math).
I don't think of it as training. It is part of my life, like eating, sleeping, and breathing.
When I was in Medical School and residency, I would run loops around the hospital at 3 AM if I had to. No questions asked, no alternatives.
I still am up at 5 AM every day, the only time that is truly my own. I will run and swim, or bike and swim,or run, or swim and bike to work.... whatever fits into that day's plans.
This lifestyle teaches you how to be efficient in all the other aspects of life. Sure, I don't have a House and Garden house and garden. I am not the life of the party when I call it a night at 9 PM.
But, there is no wasted time in my day. There can't be.
I am also fortunate to have a very supportive wife and family. My wife and I enjoy training together. That helps.
I don't think I could follow a specific training plan (30 min Z3 followed by 20 min Z1.....) because life doesn't work that way.
I think it is so important to be flexible. If you feel like you need to work on something, then go for it. If tomorrow is going to rain, but today is nice, change things around.
 
Most of all, don't let the little stuff obscure the big picture. Those of us who have been at this for a long time have learned by trial and error. There is no one size that fits all. "Maybe my expectations are too high" I don't know. My expectations for me are different than your expectations for you. They are different, but both are right.
 
Good luck.

pcsronbo · Apr 22, 2011

I want to re-read this thread and comment more, but here are a few observations I'm not sure were covered (and reiterate some).
 
So I've got 2 boys, 7 and 10, a wife, 2 businesses and I'm training for Ironman. It's freakin hard. The flexi schedule is usually a good thing, but periods like the last 10 days it sucks, because shit comes up out of my control. So if you want chaos? I got chaos.
 
So how do I deal
1. Eliminate the crap. You would not beleive how much useless time people spend on stupid crap. Is there REALLY much on TV? No. Nothing useful. TIVO + Netflix = All media consumption you need. It's on YOUR schedule (and usually on a bike, eh?)
2. We eat out. This is bad, but it allows family time during the week by removing the planning, prep, and cleanup of mealtime.
3. I double/triple stack workouts mostly. I'm up by 5am almost every day of the year. No alarm clock. If I'm not? It's because I am excessively tired and I really needed sleep more than that workout anyway.
4. Outsource. Lawn. House cleaning. Grocery delivery. Drug Store delivery (yes, many will - ASK). Online bill pay (I mean really.. it's FREE). Automatic money transfers. Basically, you're buying time.
5. There are hundreds of things you waste time on every day. Step back and think about every single action you do every single day.
6. Speed up the stupid crap. I do dishes around here - I can unload, load, set coffee pot for next morning, and wipe down counters and table in maybe 10min tops. Everyone else takes at least double. We've raced. I kicked their butt. If it adds no value but has to be done... do it fast.
7. Delegate. Everyone in the house puts their own clothes away. This was chewing into DW's workout times, so we eliminated the bulk by making the boys put their own crap away (that includes me)
8. Lower your standards. Is it REALLY important the kids rooms' are clean EVERY day? No. Who cares. It's a house not a freakin museum. My car looks like a garbage can exploded in the passenger seat wheel well. I know it's time to get gas when the garbage gets thick

Why make a bed? I'm just going to mess it up at 10pm so the heck if I'm gonna make it at 5am when I get up (plus DW would be pissed and probably kill me if I woke her up!)
9. Do stuff in bulk. Cook in bulk, buy in bulk, etc. REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS and you gain time (and save money).
 
So.... just a few tips.

pcsronbo · Apr 22, 2011

oh and learn to say no. many people, especially women, seem to have a problem with that.
 
When people ask you if you can do something, if you can't... say no.
 
The boy scout leaders pounced on me the first night I brought my boy in March. They knew I was involved in cubscouts. They asked if I would help. I said no. Talk to me in July. Until then, No. They said there was a meeting Thursday. I said great, but I'm not coming. But I will see you in July. Hehe. Simple. I made it clear. I will help, but I will do so on my terms. And my terms are that I have no freakin time until July.

pcsronbo · Apr 22, 2011

and why are you focusing on speed? speed is irrelevant. being slow is irrelevant. you are where you are and only by putting in the time will you get faster. As a former End-of-Packer trust me I know what slow is. I helped invent it. But over time, I got not-so-slow and it's all good!
 
are you doing an IM? Sorry if I missed that.

Yo Sake · Apr 22, 2011

I agree with many of the posts here. You got to let something go. There aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done to your liking. And as Zdoc said, you will learn to be efficient and trim excess 'fat' in your schedule. I love literally 'run' the errands. Since I work at home, I use quick breaks here and there to prepare my crockpot dinner. I work full-time (w/ travels) and have a busy husband and two active kids (13&11). I can't stack up 3hrs of training during a weekday. But I can find 45min~1.5hrs x 3 in a non-traveling day. So that is how plan my workouts. Not efficient or optimized from tri training perspective, but that is what I can do in my busy life. Of course, the downside of always trying to be efficient is, I have little time for non-sense, this leads to some inpatience with kids and hubby. Not Good. So I really try to slow down during weekend, getting workouts in early in the morning and go with the flow with the family for the rest of it. And this is why ironman is nowhere near in my future. And also this is why I love training for a running race. Less juggling. I just run once a day.
 
Good luck.

hobey · Apr 22, 2011

I can't add more than everyone else has already said. With me and my DH who is a serious marathoner and a 7-yr-old who has his own activities, standards have pretty much been tossed out the window. The house is passable but not spotless, the laundry hasn't been folded (and I'm here posting instead of dealing with the pile that threatens to eat the neighborhood), and I can't tell you how many LEGOs I've stepped on in the last ten minutes alone! It's all about picking your priorities. I train, work 45-55 hours per week and at the end of the day would much rather unwind by cooking and spending time with the family than cleaning. There are times though where you will need to drop something. My recent mental crisis over the marathon had as much to do with not enjoying the long training runs to being away from the family for hours and hours at a time. I did it a few years ago but I guess I just was not in a place to do it now. It's all a balancing act and we all do it.
 
And for logistics, on-line bill pay is a life saver. Meal planning and one big errand day per week to keep us all fed. I'm also lucky in that I work for a company full of type A workaholics and quite a few athletes and we have quite a few services available on-site. Things like a credit union branch office, dry cleaning, a fitness center, and I can even pick up my CSA shares in our cafeteria. Good luck!

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