kids every other weekend and IM training

These were my two thoughts as I read your post. You seem to have your priorities (sp?) in order. I'd meet with a coach and spell out just what you've written here and see if the training is feasible with your time constraints.

I am not a coach but I have heard of coaches developing a "mega-week" plan for pro athletes. Basicially a 10 day workout week. A modified plan like this may help with your time constraints. Best of luck to you. Let us know what you decide to do.

David

PS. You'd better decide soon. Sign up is in about 6 weeks.

I think it's totally do-able.  There is no magic to our 7-day workout cycle... most of us just do them that way because that's when the weekend comes.  But there was no study that I'm aware of that says the ideal time between key workouts is 7 days.  In fact, I think I've read a few anecdotes that say that 10 or so is more ideal, but that for most people that's not feasible.

So if you get your long ride every 14 days, I certainly think you can show up ready to finish, and even to have an excellent day.  Chances are that between holidays, a little flexibility in your work schedule (even if you just took 4 days of vacation placed strategically in your plan, and took a long ride on each of those days during your max volume period), I think you can definitely get the bike time in... 8-10 long rides during a 2-month build (4 on weekends, 4 on vacation days, and maybe a federal holiday or a grandparent babysitting one time).

The run time, on the other hand, you should be able to work into the week.  It might mean a late night or an early rise once every two weeks (on the other week it could go on the weekend), but there's no real reason why you can't get a long run in during the week.

My highest training volume so far was for a HIM (savageman), but I was putting in some pretty big miles at the time.  5 hour rides, 2.5 hour runs, etc... so I wasn't that far away from IM volume.  Almost all of my runs came during the week because I don't recover very well with a saturday long bike and then a sunday long run.  I have MUCH better legs for my key workouts (long ones if you're training for long course) when I ride long on saturday and run long on tuesday.

Yes, absolutely... as a matter of fact for my first HIM coming up in September, am doing my long runs in the middle of the week.  I will have to take a look at that plan, thanks! 

Yes, I had started out doing a long bike on Sat, long run on Sun for my upcoming HIM, but am in the same boat as you when it comes to recovery... have since moved the long run to the middle of the week. 

Maybe you can find a babysitter for Saturday mornings when you ride. See, if you start reallly early, long before they are up, you can get a long ride in and not miss a lot of time with them. Say, start around 5:30 (or as soon as the sun is up). You can get a 4-5 hour ride in without a whole lot of disruption to the kids. They can eat breakfast, watch cartoons, etc.

Keep in mind I have no idea what I am talking about as I have no kids.

Also, you can do a half day during the week and get your long ride in then. Make up the hours during the rest of the week.

Good luck!

Thanks... but the babysitter thing, that's not something I'm willing to do... in my mind, falls into the category of sacrificing time with them... time as a part-time dad that's too precious.

But, I like the 1/2 day idea during the week.  Now, if I can just get my boss on board....  

This should definitely be possible; obviously not ideal but who has an ideal situation for training?

A great deal of what you would be able to accomplish would revolve around putting in your big volume on the other weekend and how much time you have to train during the week.  As you are planning to hire a coach, they should be able to develop a plan that will get you to the start line ready to go while at the same time not resulting in you sacrificing time with your kids.  Just ensure when looking for a coach that they actually produce personalized plans for their athletes, as some use templates that will look almost the same for everyone.

Good luck if you decide to pursue IM next year!

Shane

You can do this.  I am not in the same situation you are, but I am training for IMAZ with small children in the house.  I have my wife to help. (Actually she is awesome and I feel blessed for her allowing me to chase this dream.)  We have 3 kids...7, 4 and 2 months.  Like you they come first and foremost.  I try to do all my training at times when it does not affect the family.  That means mostly a lot of early mornings for me. I too have the single goal of finishing.  Anything under 17 hours is cake. 

I am doing a basic plan that allows as much time as possible for family.  The long ride and run are on the weekends, but it can be adjusted a bit week to week.  I think you could shift things around week to week when you have the kids and still make it work.  Best of luck in your decision. 

Well, I decided to signup for LP via the CF.  After reading about KY and how hot it was this year, decided against KY.  So I'm in.  Thanks to the folks who posted here to help me realize that the training is doable.

Any other folks in a situation like mine, or close to, feel free to post/PM/inspire/whatever.   

I know that there are some plans out there that basically have long bike and long run on alternating weeks. You could make the bike weeks the non-kiddo weekends. Also, with my training schedule, when I did the long run midweek, one of my weekend days was relatively EZ (i.e., didn't take up much time).

Good luck !

Use 4 vacation days on the weeks your kids are with you for weekend the last two months of training have your long workouts on a vacation day.

Bike fitness is huge so doing long ride every 14 days doesn't seem best. Trainer rides with then 4 and 2 year olds will be hard as kids get bored and parenting at that age is very hands on. Perhaps if you did trainer ride early and then another during nap time or after they go to bed. Young kids do sleep a lot...most of the time.

I am a single mom of three....7, 5, and 16 months.  You have to be creative with your training.  Don't forget family comes first...but its amazing if you prioritize the rest of your life properly, you will have the time.

 I have ridden the trainer while having family movie night.  There is a park where there is a trail circling the playground...and I have run on that trial while my kids played at the playground.  Now, a circle a tad shorter than a track for a ten mile run is NOT fun...but you have to be flexible.

 You can also ride your trainer at the park.

 Babysitters are like gold. 

Thanks, Beth!  Looks like you have/had even more of a difficult situation with respect to training than I did.  I'm sure that if it can be pulled off with the schedule that you and your children have, that I can.  I think it is pretty amazing that you work full-time, have primary custody, and train for Ironmans.  Thanks for the post.  Good stuff.

Oh, and sorry about your shoulder!