Fitting it in... with flexibility

If there is anything I have learned with this multisport I have grown to love, it's to be flexible. Thanks to all your comments and suggestions to my post yesterday, in addition to me pounding my head against my laptop all day, I think I figured out a tenative schedule. (subject to change)

Monday:
(AM) Short run
(PM) BodyPump class

Tuesday:
(AM) Long Swim

Wednesday:
Run (possible Speedwork)

Thursday:
Long Bike

Friday:
REST -
or Pilates/Yoga

Saturday:
Long Run

Sunday:
BRICK: short swim/short bike

Throw in a couple 30 minute yoga sessions here and there, as well as my TriPower routine and I am golden!



I want to make note of a few ideas I got from your comments on my post; one's that I really want to keep in mind:

1. Right now I don't need to focus on all three disciplines, but just maintaining some sort of level of fitness. At this point, my focus is running (for the next couple of months at least) and if I need to "skip" a workout, the first to go will be a swim or bike. Plain and simple. Bodypump class would be third.


2. Two a days are hard for me. It's hard for me to get to the gym two times in a day; I could do it one day during the week, but that's about it. I liked Leana's idea of squeezing in 20 minutes on the treadmill before the pool or after BodyPump class. Great idea!


3. I can't skip out on yoga. It's just not an option. I firmly believe that because of regular yoga, core strengthening routine, and bodypump, I am still running, 97% painfree.

Thanks again for all your lovely advice!

Fitting it all in

I am having a hard time balancing my workout schedule. I want to follow a run 3/ bike 2/ swim 2 schedule, as well as take time for BodyPump class at least once a week, and yoga/Pilate's here and there. AND, at least one complete REST day.

Am I the only one that has a hard time balancing this out?

I am finding myself double stacking some days just so I can get in adequate rest as well. I know that this can be a part of a typical triathlete schedule, but, if I could, I only want to do 2-a-days two times a week, if at all possible. The day after I do BodyPump, I like to bike or swim just to loosen the legs, so I have to keep that in mind. Plus, I need to schedule around weekends that I am out of town and what is available to me during those weekends.

Is there an easy way to do all this? I find myself constantly looking this over, adjusting, and then end up missing a run, bike, or swim workout. I know I am not training for anything YET, but I would like to find some routine in my schedule.

Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? Do you follow a consistent schedule, or are you finding yourself switching it up a bit each week?

Busy Week

I forgot how busy this week was going to be. Meetings, meetings, training, meetings, staff development, presenting, and did I mention meetings?

As long as I try to keep myself organized and pack my gym bag and lunch the night before, I should be able to get all my scheduled workouts in this week. So far so good. However, it is only Tuesday and I switched a few workouts around so I could sleep in this morning (it was a balming 37 degrees and I didn't want to get out of bed) and still have time to gt in a good workout this afternoon prior to the start of the game....

You know. .. THE game...

....Twins vs. the Sox...

....for the AL Central Division Title.

...6:30pm CT.

Let's go Twins!

Consistency and Base Building

Now that I am starting to feel comfortable with work, I have started thinking about my training. Once again. Sometimes I feel like that is all I do. I think about it, but I am not consistent with it.

I have been looking over my traithlon books in the past couple days. I am trying to think about what I want to do. Right now I think I am going to focus on my running and cycling with a little bit of swimming here and there. I have a race this saturday, and I don't know if I feel as ready as I would like. My next 5k will be thanksgiving day, unless I find something else between now and then.

After the turkey trot on turkey day, I would like to really buckle down with some triathlon training; something more consistent and base building. Part of me would like to do my first triathlon in late winter/early spring. But, if I want to do that up here, I need to find something indoor, and I don't know if I am too keen on the idea of the indoor triathlon at the U of M because it is based on time not distance. They give you 30 minutes in each discipline.

With that in mind, I will continue to look for other indoor races in the area. I know some have asked what my plans were for races in 2008, and I am still up in the air. This is so new to me. I would love to do a few sprint triathlons next spring/summer and use it as an excuse to travel. So if anyone knows of any good triathlons or any that they plan on doing, let me know and I might be willing to travel!

I was looking at some training schedules in my books as well as online, and I was kind of disappointed with what I saw. Some of them were based on minutes, which is fine with me, but some of the schedules start with 10-15 minute runs. To me that doesn't seem worth it. I really like the idea of bricks and have been doing some brick work already. Any suggestions or advice in regards to training schedules? For those triathlete's out there, what has worked or is working for you?

Rambling Wednesday

I have been so tired in the past week or so. Especially the past 4 our 5 days. I haven't slept very well this week, mostly due to anticipation and a bit of stress, as well as setting my alarm for a time earlier than actually getting up (and then falling back to sleep for 45 minutes), with the hopes of getting in some pilates, yoga, or strength training before starting the work day. It just hasn't happened the way I would like.

I knew that once the school year started that I wouldn't be able to carry out the same weekly schedules as I have had in the past few weeks. At least I won't be able to until I get things settled and into a routine with school. This probably won't happen for a couple weeks.

Tonight, I was "planning" on going for a nice run. Didn't happen. I opted for running a couple necessary errands, making a decent dinner, and heading to bed early. Tomorrow I hope to hit the gym for some much desired spin... and if I have enough energy in me I plan to run a couple miles afterwards.

The only part of my workout schedule that I would like to keep set in stone is my spin class. The instructor is teaching Tuesday and Thursday shortly after I would leave for work. This is perfect. In a perfect world, I would like to do a few runs in the AM during the week, allowing me to stay at work as long as necessary (on my non-spinning days), without feeling guilty for not doing any sort of physical activity. Plus, that way, I won't have to do much paperwork at home in the evening. As far as swimming goes, I would like to get a swim one day during the week, and one during the weekend. We'll see how it all pans out.

Not much but a few rambles from the voice of a very tired teacher.... but this is definitely something I have been thinking about. I like to have a schedule, mostly for that routine.

Last, but not least, I have inserted a link to a cool slide show I found. I guess I found it to be cool, since it is a wonderful slide show of my Alma Mata.... And, it shows the beautiful colors of ND. Something us North Dakotan's can take for granted!

CAMPUS SCENES - UNIVERSITY of NORTH DAKOTA

And actually, if you look at the first picture on the far right, the building on the right in that picture is a building I spent most of my college career at!

Happy Hump Day, y'all!!

Workin' my ars off...

Last night I sat down to work on this coming weeks workout schedule. I spent some time looking over the lap swim and spin schedules. I compared it to my schedule of new teacher inservices (2 days) and workshops (3 days) this week, which is mostly 8-4, except for thursday we have open house for students and parents from 5:30-7pm. Damn! A lot going on this week. Do I get up at the butt crack of dawn? Or do I attempt to get what I want done after a long days work? I ain't gonna lie... I hate putting off workouts until the evening, unless it's absolutely necessary.

This is going to be the true test of what I will be able to accomplish in a weeks' span. When I look at my schedule, it appears to be crazy busy. Almost as if it is too much. Maybe that is just me. I am used to taking 2-3 days of rest, but that was when I was just running. Now that I am swimming, cycling, and running, it is easier for me to do something almost everyday. I am working different muscles with each discipline, (ie, when I am running I am giving my arms a rest from the pool), so I feel that it is easier to do more.

...However .... starting this thursday, the pool will be closed for 2 weeks! 2 weeks, people! I guess this will allow me to do some more cycling, strength training, and more importantly....more running. Which works out perfectly. Because in 40 days, I have my first 5K (or 10K Bella! & Jahowie) of 2007. I haven't decided which one I am going to attempt. Only time (and my runs) will tell. (Plus, I just found out there is a Bridge to Bridge race the weekend before here where I live... if I am interested, I have the choice of doing a 10mi run or a 5mi run...hmm..)

Tonight though, after a long day of filling out paperwork for benefits, payroll, and learning the ropes of all the wonderful computer programs, I hit the gym for a scheduled, long workout. Let me just say... the spin instructor tonight, sucked. All she did was yell out rpm's, add tension, take off tension, up, down...their was no excitement. So after a long hour, I hit the treadmill for my scheduled run. I wanted to see how my legs were going to treat me in this transition. It was a tough start, but I persevered... and I was quite pleased with my entire workout all together!

---------------------------------
OCN: 18.63 miles!!!
Duration: 46:34
Avg Pace: 2.29/mi
---------------------------------
ORN: 2.43 mile
Duration: 30:00
Avg Pace: 12:20/mi
----------------------------------

Oh... and, on the way home from the gym I took a different route. Trying to familiarize myself to the area... And guess what was a few blocks from the gym? A cycle shop! HA! I might be checking that place out this weekend!! Living in the midwest, I wouldn't be surprised if they have some sort of "sales" going on this time of year.....

Tonight, this Sporty Spice (ehem...Jess) is going to curl up with the September issue of Runner's World and watch the Twins...

Happy Monday, y'all!!