12 hour shifts and triathlon training

I understand your pain, I work in a 24/7 shop myself. What I do on 12 hour shifts is on the day before my shift starts, I do all my prep work for the work week. So that means cooking all my food and storing/organizing it in Tupperware in the fridge, sorting out my workout clothes, and sticking to the schedule.

Yeah it kind of sucks during your week because your whole schedule will be packed, but you can relax on your multiple days off. Keep your long workouts on your days off, and try to work out before work so you do not skip it after a long day. So short runs, functional strength workouts, and swims can be on your work days, and long bikes/runs can be on your days off.

Hopefully the above will help you out, the biggest part is planning it all out.

Since this is COJ, I would say don't spend time in COJ and go workout.

You may get some answers here, but maybe ask some of the peeps in the TriTalk forum to see if they have some answers for you, too.

Yeah, yeah, Mods, I know, don't cross post.

You've got the same 24 hours in a day that every one else has, and probably more free time than  most since you're not commuting 6 days out of 2 weeks instead of 10 (not to mention all the other "get ready for work" time on those days).

So do your light/short workout days on the days you work, longer days on your off-work days. Not a "normal" schedule according to most plans, but then the rest of your life isn't "normal". Adapt and make due.

I work 12 hour shift 7am to 7pm right now, but I switch between days and nights every 3 months.  I also don't get long breaks.  I live out of town with a 20 min commute each way.  When it is light out I go running or swimming after work - depending on if the pool is open.  It helps me wind down from the day.  When I am on days like now I go swimming before work, but it is only a short workout because the pool doesn't open til 6am.  On Saturdays I can sometimes wear my workout clothes and take short 15 min breaks for multiple short runs, but I have the benefit of not having to wear a uniform and having a very casual work atmosphere.  I have been contemplating riding my bike to work - but my commute is shorter.  The weather has been windy, rainy or snowing and I haven't been very motivated for a 15 mile bike ride uphill after a 12hr shift - so biking is done on off days right now.

(edited to add) I run in town by work.  If I wait till I get home I lose all motivation and am ready for bed.

I also work 12's, 5 on/5 off - 2 or 3 days then 2 or 3 nights, all 7-7 ... and I have a 60-minute commute.

I found a good pool close to work, go in there at 5 am for my swim workouts on dayshifts. If I went to a pool close to home they wouldn't open in time for me to get my workout in and still get to work on time, so I commute first. I also often stop at the pool on my way home after nightshifts at 7 am - these are tough workouts and I'm exhausted, but I intentionally plan these to be easy laps no drills etc. And I sleep great after. ;-)

On dayshifts I can't work out on my lunchbreaks but nightshifts I can, dayshifts my early morning swims are usually my only workouts as I'm too tired after shift. Nightshifts I'll do 40 min on the treadmill or the spin bike in our gym on my break, don't have time to get much distance in but I try to do a good set of intervals or strength training etc.

I get most of my quality long-distance training sessions in on my 5 days off when I have more time and energy.

I agree with Atlas - you have to plan ahead with food and a plan. And I'm lucky as my boyfriend works the same shifts I do and is quite supportive, and if he's ever felt he's taken a backseat to my training he's never said anything.

I also work 12 hour shifts, 2days, 2 nights, 5 off.  My commute is about 40 minutes and on  days I park offsite with a 12 minute walk to work.  On work days I run right after work before I drive home.  Usually one of my work days is a rest day. On the day of my first night shift I will bike in the morning and stop at the pool before I go to work (the pool is in the city, 30 minutes from home, 10 minutes from work). I run in the morning after my first night shift then go home and sleep.  After my second night shift I go to the pool before I drive home, then go home and sleep and bike or run when I wake up.  On my days off I do  most of my biking and will usually go to the pool a couple mornings also.

It is hard to get the training in on workdays but I wouldn't go back to a 8 hour/day, 5 days/week schedule now.. I love all my days off.