STEPH SPRINT FULL Let's do this thing! StephSprint group FULL! (Page 10)

Steph, you're definitely worth it too but I promise you, whilst my Garmin 910xt is lovely, it really doesn't make me swim, ride or run any faster or stronger!

Lisa

When I first started this I worked out twice a day two times a week and one time a day two times a week (A total of 6 workouts. The two a days had one workout before work and once after.  My gym was on my route to and from the office so it only made sense that way.  

Now I tend to workout 13 out of 14 days.  My body seems to need a rest by day 14.  The only way this works is if I workout in the morning before work.  My wife gets our daughter together in the morning and takes her to day care so that makes it possible for my morning workout.  We both prepare everything we need the day before, so it makes the morning a bit smoother. Then on the weekends we tend to run as a family one day and I go to the gym early in the day on the other. I dont think there would be a way for me to do this with out my wife's support. 

She sounds awesome!   I am happy to get in three workouts a week - have to sneak them in between work, kids and classes.

I know exactly how you feel!!  I also am a mother of 2 children, and have to fit workouts around life.  I am fortunate that I work from home (mostly) so that makes it a little easier.  I tend to get my kids out the door to school in the morning and then head straight to the pool/gym for my training session, then start work after that.  If I need to fit a 2nd session in (which is usually only twice a week), I always make it a run, and I will do it close to home at the end of the work day (usually around 5pm-ish).  I don't train on Sunday, and if I do a session on Saturday, it has to be early Saturday morning before kids activities start.  It is a struggle, and it does take coordination, but it is something that I try to balance around everything else.  Without my routine, I'm not sure how I would fit it in....

Suzanne

I'm using this balanced lifestyle plan.  It has 8 sessions - 2 runs, rides, swims and includes the 2 gym sessions per week.  I'm finding the level about right for me.  The rides and runs are very manageable, the swims are a challenge.  I need to do the gym sessions because I've been having back problems post my bike crash and these sessions are very focused on improving my core strength.

I work full time, have family responsibilities and live between two homes.  Life is complicated because I live half the week with my partner - we're a second time around couple - and half the week with my 19yr son who needs scaffolding support as I get him ready to survive University from September.  My partner has a 11 yr old son who lives with us at weekends so I have some step-mum responsibilities too.

I work out early in the day when my time is my own and I've tried to incorporate my mid week ride into my commute and I've done a deal with my other half that allows me to cycle/run on a Saturday morning whilst he and Joe have "Dad and Son quality time".  Then on Sunday as my partner is a "lazy once per week runner", we take it in turns to run so Joe is kept occupied.

One of the great benefits of being a busy parent that works out means you'll definitely be sewing great seeds for your children's futures.  I went from being sedentary to active when my children were 9 & 13, they saw me move from being massively overweight, sad and unhealthy to being a bit overweight, active and happy.  Now, they are motivated to keep fit too.  My son plays rugby at a high level and finds happiness on a wet muddy field with all his team mates.  My daughter knows that whenever the pounds have crept on that her adult ballet class, running, cycling and swimming will help keep them at bay.  So please don't ever feel guilty that Mum or Dad needs to go for a run/cycle/swim.

She absolutely is, makes me one lucky d00d!

Yes you can, and you will.  Just keep plugging away and you will get there. 

Hey Erin,

I meant to comment on your swimming question too.  I found this tends to get easier over time. Kinda the more you do it the easier it gets and then one day you realize you can swim further than  you thought.  I found doing ladders helped me with this as well.  IE 1x50, 1x75, 1x100, 1x125 and then back down.  You can modify that however it fits you. 

HTH

Marcus

Running: @amybecca: I know exactly how you feel. I strained my calf during a 5k two weeks ago and it's almost healed. I have run a total of 20 minutes since then, and I feel like a race horse at the starting gate. arrgh! Not willing to have this injury reappear by not being patient enough, though. Swim, bike, walk, lift... do other things to fill the void. Just make sure you let your injury heal.

Biking: I finally put my clipless pedals on and love, love, love how much more zoom I can get on the up-swing. And yes, I did fall. Not during the most important times like in traffic or crossroads (I prepared for that pretty well). I learned that you're more likely to fall if you don't know where you're going: being distracted and slowing down too much or trying to start on an uphill without having down-shifted (oops!).  I've started doing bridge repeats to get used to uphill climbing.

Swimming: Did my first open-water swim yesterday. I recommend everyone try it at least once before their tri. No line at the bottom to help steer you in the right direction, my progress was very wiggly! The only way to know which way to go is too look up and out of the water at the landmarks, buoys, etc. Even trying to keep the sun at an approximate angle did not help. Also, depending on where you'll be swimming, you may not see bottom (in my case there was lots of floating algae and the occasional 2 foot long fish swimming below me). If you are used to lap swimming, in open water swimming there's no ability to push off a wall, or hold on to an edge, which can be concerning to some (the swim lane was sectioned off by ropes which I crashed into a couple of times). I felt a bit anxious at first (sloppy form, ragged breathing), but finally calmed and fell into a rhythm after the first 200 yards.

Sailing: Really windy out tonight and fun! (wish there was a competition that included sailing too!).

I've been amazed at how quickly I've been able to increase my swimming distances.  I'm trying 2 sessions per week.  I've had to adapt my training plan:

I always warm up 300 yrd.  I do slow easy breaststroke

I then do sets of either 100 yrds or 50yrd freestyle with 20 or 30 sec rests between sets.

I cool down with another 100 yrds breaststroke.

I'm never more than 45 mins in the water as my parking space only lasts for an hour!

I know the feeling well!  I get rather cranky when I can't run and now I not only can't run, I can't bike either!  I'm coping well with the swimming, rowing and deep water running, but it's not the same.  The boot came off last Sat. and I began PT this week, but seems that removing boot cold turkey was not the best as I am unable to do the exercises without pain. So....I'm back in the boot but only part time.  I have to wear it half the day.  Part of the issue is that I am on my feet all day.  As a preschool teacher for children with special needs I'm constantly on the go.  

Something very cool though.  The clinic where I have my PT has a new machine.  I forget the actually name, but it is an anti-gravity treadmill! Not sure how the thing works but the PT said I would get to use it.  Woo hoo!