Head Games

I wrote this mid-December and forgot to post it (oops) but the point is still the same a month later!

“Ok, last hard set of the day,” Coach told us, “12x25 under-overs on :35.”  This is possibly my least favorite set.  For those who don’t know what this is, it is a length of the pool completely underwater followed by another length of the pool at a sprint with no breaths (six times).  While 35 seconds isn’t a short interval, it feels like an incredibly fast turnaround when the wall is the only time you can take in any oxygen.  I groaned but prepared to complete the set.  I’ve been working on hypoxic training the last few months and know I can physically push myself to do a set like this (no matter how uncomfortable).  However, a funny thing happened this time.  Following my first underwater 25, I took a look at the clock knowing I’d only have about five seconds to recover.  But instead of taking a few breaths and pushing back off the wall, my body seized up.  I couldn’t seem to get a breath in.  On the next wall, I hopped out of the pool; I sat on the side of the pool hyperventilating for a minute before I realized that I wasn’t going to “pull it together” and ran to the bathroom where I promptly collapsed and burst into tears.  Much to my dismay, I was having a (mild) panic attack.  After a few minutes, I calmed down and jumped back in the pool.  I didn’t give the episode a second thought until halfway through track practice the next night when it (almost) happened again. 

I don’t like talking about mental health issues.  I like to stand here, pretending I have all the answers and that I am the strong one at all times.  Unfortunately, that is simply not the case.  After writing a paper this past semester on how cognition and “choking under pressure” affect athletic performance, I’ve come to realize that many athletes are hindered by anxiety.  Therefore, I’ve decided to swallow my pride and share a little insight here. 

As athletes, we work hard to condition our bodies and expect them to thank us by performing at a few key times (ie races).  However, despite meticulous attention paid to nutrition, perfect detail recorded for heart rate and power, and endless hours logged in training, we tend to neglect one of the most integral parts of our bodies: the mind.  I won’t bore you with the details (contact me if you want them) but essentially; research shows that in many cases the difference between a great athlete and an elite athlete is the ability to remain relaxed under pressure. 

I am not one of those people. While I’m not prone to episodes like the one I described above, I have had several races in which I did not reach my full potential because I shut down mentally (as described in a few of my previous blogs).  However, despite wanting to work with athletes and in sports psychology (through music therapy) someday, I have long resisted admitting that my game could use a little help in this area.  This is the season that I admit I need to work on my mental strength and relaxation.  I believe that this aspect of training and preparation is what will help push me to the next level of athleticism.

In order to negate the stigma associated with addressing one’s mental health, I believe it is best to compare mental health to physical health.  For example, if you have a cold, it is probably best to eat chicken soup and get lots of rest.  However, if we ignore symptoms or if the nap doesn’t work, that cold may progress to a sinus infection or bronchitis in which case a quick stop at the local walk-in clinic should get you fixed up in no time.  Unfortunately, every now and again, that infection will continue to progress and you find yourself with pneumonia, meaning some heavy duty medical care. 

In mental health, it is not much different (I’ll relate it to our sport for the purpose of this post).  Every now and again, you may start to feel sluggish or that workouts have become a chore.  This can probably be fixed with a few days of rest, some relaxed and fun workouts (like trail runs), talking with a close friend or loved one, and a beer.  However, sometimes this rut lasts a little long or stress and anxiety may start to build (ie panicking in the pool).  At this point, it’s probably best to bring up your concerns to your coach (I know mine had a lot of wisdom to offer when I was finally honest about how I was feeling).  In a particularly rough patch, though, a quick fix may not work, too much stress could result in a season of poor races or in constant stress related to training (this can even result in physical injury if the body is holding too much stress).  At this point, it is best to seek a little professional help.  A psychologist or counselor may be able to help you to better understand where your anxiety is coming from and to develop appropriate coping mechanisms. 

Personally, I didn’t take care of myself mentally when I was a high school athlete.  Not only did I end up stressed out and slower, I grew to hate running so much I hardly ran (and didn’t compete at all) for about five years.  Multisport has brought me so much joy that it pains me to imagine myself or anyone else growing to hate the sport.  After talking to my coaches and having a few quality workouts (long ride/run = therapy for me), I think my little anxiety episode has passed (though I still freak when I have to hold my breath too long).  However, I will not hesitate to seek further help should stress or anxiety continue to haunt me.  I believe as athletes (and as human beings) we stand to benefit from letting go of our pride and admitting that sometimes our minds need a little work and that we cannot do it alone.

So, yes, I do like to think of myself as a pillar of strength; but the truth is, even the mighty pyramids eventually erode unless a restoration crew comes in every now and again to provide support.  Thanks Coach Mace and Coach Reu for dealing with my tears and fears :)

Hard to forget the joy of running when views 

like this are practically in your backyard

A little cross-training (in this case xc skiing) helps me to relax a little

Training Camp Recap

Two years ago I opted to do training camp “on my own” which resulted in me gaining a solid five pounds and nearly dying of oxygen deprivation when I got back to Colorado.  Last year, I made the right decision and traveled to Tucson with my team for camp.  That week I rode more than I ever had before, improved my overall fitness, and had a blast.  I thought that trip would be hard to top but I’m pretty sure this year was even better!  With Ian along for the suffering too, I couldn’t have asked for more (except maybe some warmer weather).

DAY ONE

A few of us headed down a day early and I had the absolute pleasure of spending our first day with my friend Angela and her husband.  We got in a nice long brick to burn off the previous night’s Mexican food and margaritas.  I was feeling pretty weak from having a little flu bug but I think the workout helped me get it all out of my system.  Side note, running was pretty stinking entertaining as it was the second of January and all the New Year’s resolutionists were out jogging in jeans (ouch).

DAY TWO – Mount Lemmon

Yikes!  This ride goes up about 6000 ft (from 2 to 8) over about 25 miles, starting in a cactus filled desert and ending in a pine-filled ski area.  While slow and daunting, it was such a beautiful ride and a great time to bond with a few of my teammates as well as one of my NAU girls (Hannah).  Of course, the giant cookies at the top serve as a pretty decent carrot but I think the true reward is the 40 minute decent home!

Rammies Ready for Mt Lemmon

Windy Point - Halfway Up!

With Steph, Hannah, and Eliza - Picture break at Windy Point

DAY THREE – Run/Swim

I always dread group runs a little but, running is definitely the weakest of my three sports and it stresses me out to watch others effortlessly stride along while I slowly die.  However, on this run, I vowed to go my own pace, even if it meant running alone or at the back of the pack.  Low and behold, I settled in with a few Tricat ladies pretty quickly.  We weren’t at the front of the pack but we certainly weren’t at the back either.  The scenery was gorgeous (we were just outside the Saguaro National Forest) and the 10.3 mile run flew by as we chatted and got to know one another.  I love when a workout can surprise me!

It was pretty (relatively) chilly out so I was dreading swimming in Arizona’s gorgeous outdoor pool.  Fortunately, the water was heated and the sun was in the perfect position for a comfortable swim (I even got a little tan line).  It was a tough workout but being in the water with 60 college triathletes was inspiring their presence helped me really push my body.  At the end of practice, we had some fun with a few crazy relays (I just won’t tell you which relay group had to do planks on the deck for coming in last).

Rams After Our Run

DAY THREE – Gates Pass Ride/Swim/Run

Brrrr what a cold morning!  The entire group of riders stayed together for the first portion of the ride.  The cold really made me want to push the pace but it was also nice to hold back and get to know another Tricat.  Once we hit the “real” ride though, it got super intense!  I was bound and determined to stick with the lead pack for as long as possible.  I cannot describe how much fun it was to fly down a flat road at 30+ mph with a group of about 15 riders (almost makes me want to be a cyclist)!  I worked my booty off and stuck with the pack until about 2/3rds of the way through the loop when the boys dropped me on an incline.  I managed to stick with a second pack though and we finished the flatter section not far back from the pack.  Then the hill hit.  Gates Pass was steep and, while short, more difficult than Lemmon.  What a great feeling it was to get to the top (and to find the boys waiting for us).  We descended back into town and went to the Tricat president’s house to warm up and devour his leftovers (from the dinner they hosted) before swim.

I’d venture to say this swim was even tougher; it required a lot of mental toughness and simulated a race start and transition into race pace, yikes!  The subsequent run started out pretty treacherous but had the pleasant side effect of loosening my stiff legs.  On the ride back home, I couldn’t help but be awed by the gorgeous sunset.  Equally jaw-dropping was the fact that a group of us had been riding for both sunrise and sunset that day!

Top of Gates Pass with Ian

DAY FOUR – Final Ride

This ride took us north of town.  It was nice to ride over rolling hills and some false flats (so I could actually hold on and not get dropped for the most part).  Again, it was so wonderful to chat and make yet another new Tricat friend on this ride!  The way home was a little hairy due to a little crash but I couldn’t help but love the descent when I realized the whole way out had been a false flat inline!

Sadly, that was the end for me though.  While a few Rammies were able to stay an extra day, my group loaded up the truck to drive home through the night.  The better part of this week has been devoted to light training and recovery as we head into another tough week.  I’m giving yoga a try and will be getting a massage tomorrow as well.

Overall, I cannot say enough what a pleasure it was to spend the week training with my team, NMU, NAU, ASU, and UA; thank you thank you thank you to Coach Brian Grasky and the UA Tricats for hosting such an amazing camp!  I logged some quality miles, strengthened old friendships, formed new ones, and had the opportunity to train with Ian (though he was always pretty far ahead of me).  Can’t wait to keep the training ball rolling at to see all of my MCTC training camp buddies again for our regional race in Havasu!

Just Run

I have hesitated to write anything on the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary school earlier this month.  The massacre was immediately politicized and to do that further is not my intent.  Additionally, I have no true first-hand experience with an experience so absolutely devastating as a mass-shooting.  I am in no position to assume how someone may grieve or cope.  Instead, I aim only to share what I’ve been thinking since that terrible day and what I think we can learn as we move forward.

Last week bells around the nation chimed 26 times in a moment of silence for those killed a week prior.  I watched the television, transfixed as the faces of 20 children and six teachers crossed the screen from my position on the treadmill and cried.  I probably looked like a complete fool but despite the silent tears (which I tried to pass off as wiping sweat from my face) I couldn’t stop my legs.  This is long how I’ve been.  We all have our own coping mechanisms (some much healthier than others but who am I to judge) but mine is to run.  Something about the forward motion of my body provides me with hope of life moving forward. 

The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other is, to me, representative of putting the pieces together and going forth.  As we run, we go up hills and down, over both smooth and rough terrain, through rain, snow, and sun, through fast and easy paces, we fight past exhaustion, and finally we arrive at the end.  Sometimes there are blisters, sore muscles, or even scraped knees.  Sometimes, there are even times when we feel as though we cannot go on, that we are simply too exhausted; but we do go on.  It is often such in life.  There can be moments that seem as though life cannot go on, but we somehow find strength from within and move on.

I am also struck by the incredible bravery of the teachers in the school.  I honestly do not know if I could ever be that strong or selfless, I like to think I would be but I do not know.  To pay tribute to those who gave their lives it is important to be courageous every day, to look obstacles in the face and to overcome them.  Bravery may be something as seemingly simple as offering an apology to a friend or complex as taking a leap of faith in your career.

Finally, as I look at the faces of the lives cut short, I become strikingly aware of how grateful I am for my own life and for that of those I love.  In times of heartbreak, I become acutely aware of how thankful I am to train, to work, and to simply be.  I am thankful to spend the holidays with my family and thankful for those in my life.   

There is nothing that can justify horror, there is no silver lining.  There are events which we cannot ever understand the meaning of.  But even in these moments, we can learn, we can cope, and we can move forward with new lessons in our hearts.  So this holiday season, keep those suffering in your heart, hold your loved ones close, be kind to strangers, and run.

Finding my peace

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s that time of year again: there’s a chill in the air, dreams of shiny boxes filled with new multisport gear excite the imagination, there is special time for friends and family, the table is spread with delicious meals … and your coach has gifted you with about twenty hours of training each week.  With due respect to the traditional holidays, my favorite season is upon us: base training season. 

While to many, the countless hours spent on the road, in the pool, or cross-training may seem like an exhausting chore or as a means necessary for the desired end, I absolutely adore base training.  It gives me time to think and to reconnect with myself, with others, with my goals, and with why I started this sport to begin with.  After all, if it’s not figured out on a three hour ride, it’s not getting figured out. 

First off, I feel like long runs and rides are the ultimate time to sort through problems.  Maybe this stems from my running roots.  When I was in high school, my dad and I would run together for about an hour every day of my off season.  I was usually silent for the first mile or two and then it would all come out.  I vented about everything, from school and friends, to the pressures of life and of the future.  Everything always seemed just a little better by the time we got back to the front door.  Even now, I use my long workouts as a time to reflect and to sort out the issues I’ve been avoiding (for example, last week I spent almost an entire 90 minute run deciding what to give as gifts for Christmas).  This is also a time to be my own superhero.  I create goals in my mind and map out how to attain them.  When I’m putting one foot ahead of the other, anything seems possible.

Base period is also a great time to connect with friends and family. “Say what, how does training four hours a day help me hang out with my friends?” you ask.  Well, it’s simple, train WITH your friends.  I love long runs and rides because they tend to be at a conversational pace, allowing for some valuable social time.  As I said above, I spent a lot of hours hitting the road with my dad as a teenager.  Now, it is one of my favorite things about family time to go on a  run with my dad (even though some recent injuries means he often has to ride along side me instead of run). 

Finally, base phase is a great time to explore new routes and to adventure a bit.  Longer rides and runs mean you can explore new areas or jump on a local group ride to discover some new routes.  Without a major focus on speedwork, this is a great time to get in some trail running and tackle some climbing. 

So no, it’s not overly fun to get up in the dark or to put on 27 layers just to go for a run this time of year; but base training isn’t all woe and misery.  Hopefully some of these reasons why I love racking up miles will help make it just a little more tolerable for you.  Happy training! 

A few of my teammates on the top of Rist Canyon on a recent training ride

An oldie but a goodie - top of Horsetooth Rock on a training run with my friend Sarah (she was helping me get ready for my first marathon)

Rising from the Ashes

Our nation’s natural disasters have hit a little close to home over the past few months.  In June, Colorado’s wildfires created a cloud of smoke and ash over my community for over a month, devastated landscapes, forced my dear friend Megan to evacuate her home for weeks, and left one of my professors (and hundreds of other families) homeless.  The images are shocking as the intense heat burned or melted entire properties to nothing.  Then, just as the snow came to town and allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief, the upper east coast was hit with one of the most devastating hurricanes in its history.  While I have never before given much thought to hurricanes, this one scared the socks off of me as my boyfriend and almost his entire extended family were in the storm’s path.  While thankfully no one in the family was hurt, some of their homes were badly damaged.  Ian’s grandmother’s home, located on a series of canals near Long Beach Island, was hit the hardest.  When the storm surge came in, her home was flooded with about two feet of sediment and water and her car was nearly submerged.  The plumbing, heat, and electricity were essentially made worthless, the walls were waterlogged, all furniture and appliances were destroyed, and nearly every porous item in the house (including shoes, blankets, clothing, books, and pictures) was beyond salvageable.  The family has been working endlessly for the past few weeks trying to keep the mold at bay and to begin the long process of recovery.

This past weekend, Ian and I traveled to New Jersey to assist the family.  The devastation was beyond belief.  Every street was lined with enormous piles of discarded furniture, appliances, drywall, and personal items waiting to go to the dump.  On the island, the streets and yards appeared as though an enormous sand-colored blizzard had hit the town with drifts and plowed piles of sand lining the streets.  Most stores and restaurants were still closed and some homes no longer resembled any type of habitable structure. 

But people can be strong.  After both the Colorado fires and Hurricane Sandy, it seems as though the people had superhuman strength in their ability to start rebuilding and moving towards the future.  Homes are already going back up among the foothills and residents and contractors in the east are already rebuilding homes (on stilts for many this time).  However, this sentiment is not global.  Several homes along the shore had clearly not begun the recovery process (their front yards stood out like a sore thumb in the absence of a massive garbage pile).  Many people say they will never live in the mountains or along the ocean again.  Fear and grief can be crippling.  Ian talked a lot about resilience and the importance of continuing forward movement in the face of adversity, something his family was demonstrating incredibly.

The importance of resiliency is not exclusive to natural disasters.  Disasters of some level are bound to happen in all of our lives at some point but we are given the choice of how to face these disasters.  I cannot help but think of the obstacles many athletes face and the character shown in facing them.  For example, a friend of mine was diagnosed with a rare neurologic disorder a few years ago.  After surgery, she was told she would probably never walk again.  Refusing to be limited, she not only learned to walk again, but started to run again and has become one of the highest ranked para-triathletes in world. 

While few of us will ever face such adversity in our athletic careers, injury, illness, and even a series of bad races can be devastating in their own right.  Another one of my friends was injured last winter/spring, forcing him to the sidelines for collegiate nationals and much of his spring/summer season.  He could have easily given up or abandoned hope.  Instead, you could find him every day, looking like a weirdo, wearing a flotation belt and “running” in the deep end of the pool.  Aided by mental toughness, he came back better than ever and was on the elite podium in Dallas by the end of the season. 

As I’ve stated in previous posts, I am currently working on my personal resiliency.  I recently watched a short documentary on the British super-triathletes, the Brownlee brothers.  It is interesting that both of them mentioned the satisfaction they feel in overcoming an injury or a particularly tough race.  One can hear stories like this from most of the world’s most successful leaders and athletes.  Hunter Kemper overcame what many considered to be career-ending injuries to qualify for his fourth Olympic games.  Andrew Starykowicz was not only injured but imprisoned in Abu Dabi after crashing into a volunteer in early 2012 but has set his sights on 2013.  While some are infinitely more fortunate than others, clearly no one has it perfect.  True champions are not those who get lucky but those who dig in their heels and show a little grit.  As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  So, the next time the alarm seems a little early, the sun rises a bit too late, or the mercury drops a little too low: get tough and get going! 

To help those affected by natural disasters, please go to: http://www.redcross.org/templates/render/render.jsp?pageId=11400031&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=paiddonationsbrand&gclid=CPa8hPPl3rMCFYYWMgod8HIAEg

Looking classy in our waterproof-tellatubby hurricane clean-up outfits

Goodbye to Excuses

My original idea on this post was to be inspiring.  I was going to say how I had a rough week but bicycle wisdom helped me overcome every problem and slay all my dragons.  Unfortunately, life is not always that simple and sometimes that slain dragon rears its ugly head and refuses to die.  So instead of a fairly tale, I present you with the ugly truth of how I learned something about myself this week and what I’m doing to move forward.  (feel free to skip over the first part if this looks too long and you don’t really care about context)

You may or may not know that I am currently working on my research project as part of my masters in music therapy.  Things had been progressing very nicely for the last month and I was even ahead of schedule.  While I made jokes about waiting for the shoe to drop, I silently (and foolishly) believed that things would continue to float along.  Why did everyone think this was so hard?  Boy was I wrong.  By the grace of God (and a tip from my friend Su), I double checked the deadlines to submit my proposal to the integrity review board.  Somehow, I had missed that they met in December and my last chance to submit before January was a mere one week away.  This was bad.  I had a lot of logistical issues and revisions to deal with and this deadline was serious.  Submitting in January left a good chance that I wouldn’t be able to graduate in May (which could create a whole slew of new problems).  Well, I stayed calm, made a schedule, contacted who I needed to, did what I could, and hoped for the best through the weekend.

On Monday, I was still feeling optimistic until I got home from class and running errands around 2:00.  In my email inbox sat the revisions from one of my advisors.  Now, when an email begins with, “Don’t panic, I’ve been there,” you know it isn’t going to be pretty.  In front of me appeared several weeks worth of work and my looming deadline was a mere three days away.  I panicked.  Not knowing what else to do, I went for a bike ride to think and clear my mind.  As I came to the top of one of the hills I frequently do repeats on, I had my “moment of inspiration” that I thought this post was going to be about.  My realization was that life is not defined by our easy moments.  You don’t get the downhill without the climb, there is no finish line without the race, and there is no happy ending without the struggle to find it.  I would face this obstacle head-on and I would overcome it.

Easier said than done.  Back at home, I had a quick Skype session with Ian and then faced my computer screen ready to work.  Panic began to creep in and my chest tightened.  I Skyped Ian back (he made the mistake – bless his heart – of asking what was wrong) and I promptly burst into hysterics. He eventually calmed me down and got started chipping away at my project, surrounded by a cloud of misery.  The next morning, I continued to work, taking frequent breaks to fume at my misfortune.  Why had my advisers not informed me of the December blackout dates?  Why had my professor made so many changes?  Why was my other adviser not getting back to me?  Shouldn’t I have gotten more guidance? Why did I choose to do a thesis at all?  I was quick to blame anyone and everyone (everyone except myself, that is). 

The next morning, I woke up before dawn as usual and headed to 5:45 am swim practice.  As I pulled on my cap and goggles, my Masters coach, Rue, came over for a little chat.  He informed me that he had been reviewing my race reports and believed he had discovered something.  In all of the races I was unhappy with, I reported getting “too comfortable” or “letting myself settle in.”  His plan to fix this, Rue informed me that I would be doing something really tough that I would hate at the end of every practice until spring.  Oh boy. 

After practice, I couldn’t shake what Rue had said about my pattern of getting comfortable; it’s more than that.  I do not like being uncomfortable or out of control.  I have always been this way (despite years of adamant claims that I was the go-with-the-flow free spirit type).  This has long been personified by my relationship with food and exercise, my love of cleanliness, and my detailed scheduling.  Additionally, I tend to make excuses and blame others for my shortcomings.  I blamed my small hometown for my unhappy adolescence, I blamed my parents’ strict rules for my teenage rebellion, I blamed my collegiate music department when my performance started to slip, and I was doing it now with my thesis. 

I realized (mid-run, of course) that this need for control and willingness to blame others has created a terrible pattern.  When things don’t go according to plan, I often panic over that loss of control, quickly blame circumstances or people outside of my power, and use this as an excuse to give up.  While it’s all turned out for the best, I wonder if I quit singing because I truly didn’t love it anymore or if it was just too hard to face the reality of the difficult future ahead of me when I didn’t get into graduate school.  

Most commonly, I see this on the run portion of a triathlon.  I always feel great through the swim and bike but lose confidence on the run and therefore don’t push myself the way I should.  I distinctly remember this happening at 2012 collegiate nationals.  I got off of the bike in a very strong position but as I made my way through the run course, more and more girls flew past me as though I was standing still (and I didn’t pass a single one).  I am ashamed to admit that at one point I found myself wishing an old injury would act up or my stomach would cramp so I could have an excuse as to why I ran so poorly (eventually, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy and I cramped worse than I ever had in my life).  I gave up. 

Thankfully, that is not the end of the story.  I eventually called my mom on Thursday who reminded me of how much I’ve overcome in recent years, how I’ve changed so many of my habits and negative thought patterns, and how strong of a woman I’ve grown into.  And of course, because mothers always are, she’s right.  It is through internal strength, not blaming or defeatism, that I’ve fought to overcome many of my inner battles, how I’ve developed strong and positive mental health, succeeded thus far in graduate school, and found joy in the sport of triathlon.  While the control-blame-quit cycle is a pattern within my failures, it is not a pattern which controls my life. 

As I jump full force into base training this week, I have a few new goals for myself.  1. Be ok with losing control a little and deviating from my plans.  I continue to work on my faith in God that there is a bigger plan and things will all work out in the end even if I can’t see it in the moment.  2. Don’t play the blame game.  Every time I make an excuse, I will work to counter it, forget the excuse, and face the situation head-on.  3.  NEVER GIVE UP.  I plan to extend my limits and push myself just a little farther every time I’m ready to quit.  With these three simple rules in my playbook, I’m excited to see what is ahead as training amps up again.   I hope Coach Mace, Coach Rue, and my teammates hold me accountable so I can truly find the best within myself.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, that proposal got submitted on Thursday with a whole two minutes to spare.  Onward.  

Finding some bike-induced inspiration

Sho

Showing a little grit: that is NOT the face of a quitter :)

Scheduling: Make it Work!

Earlier this week I took an hour off from my day and got coffee with a girlfriend (something we’ve been trying to plan for at least two months now).  In catching up on each other’s lives she finally looked at me in wonder and asked, “How do you have time for ALL of that?!”  Good question.  As a full time graduate student with a job I’m pretty booked up.  Throw tri training in there and that doesn’t leave a whole lot of breathing room.  For the most part though, I love being reasonably busy and wouldn’t have it any other way!  I wrote an article for my team’s newsletter on this subject a few months ago so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone (saving time, hint hint) and rework it for you!  I apologize in advance that much of this post is from a student perspective but I’ll do my best to broaden the scope. 

                                                      

We’ve all heard it (and said it more than we’d like to admit): “I don’t have time to train.”  Whether you’re a student like me, a parent, a working professional, or any combination of the three, we all undoubtedly have a slew of obligations.  I firmly believe that getting it all done is a matter of prioritization and time management.  It took me until the second half of my second year of grad school to really figure this out, so hopefully you can learn a little from my mistakes!

First rule: just say no.  Despite popular belief, you do not need to be everything to everyone.  Yes, hobbies are important, but there are not enough hours in the day to do it all, so try to pare it down to those which you are most passionate about (ie triathlon).  Also, you don’t have to be on every church/club/school/community board, you don’t need to volunteer to be in charge of every position, and you don’t need to lead every group.  Figure out what is important and what is possible and don’t take on more than you can handle.

Make creative social and family time.  Hopefully you are friends with people who have similar interests to you (such as everything swim-bike-run).  Then, organize study groups with friends, runs with a buddy, and rides with your significant other, make training fun and social!  I don’t have kids but I’ve heard a running stroller or a bike trailer are an amazing workout.  This will encourage you to train and keep you from feeling isolated and overwhelmed with all you have to do.  This may require a little planning in advance.  Even if you’re lucky enough to have a triathlete for your better half (like me), chances are you aren’t the same pace.  It’s easy to do a trainer ride, track workout, or a pool swim with multiple ability levels but that doesn’t mean you have to confine yourself to these areas.  Ian and I figured out that his easy runs/rides are about the pace of my steady but tough tempo work. 

Create a schedule every day, every week.  I cannot express the importance of scheduling enough.  I’ve found that the more time I think I have, the more time I waste.  Therefore, it is beneficial to write out a plan of what I’ll be doing every hour of the day.  Include as much as possible in your schedule, including classes, workouts, homework time, meetings, family time, and social time (it may be excessive but I even include things like eating and showering). 

Multitask!  It’s true, sometimes there are simply not enough hours in the day to do everything we need to.  Therefore, from time to time you need to make your time count double.  Set your bike up on your trainer or go to the gym for a spin or treadmill workout and bring your books!  While obviously not fun or ideal, workouts can offer a few hours of uninterrupted study or paperwork.  If you have a trainer, set it up by a counter or high table with your computer directly in front of your aero bars.  It can be difficult to type and search during hard sets, but it’s more than possible while in a long or recovery set.  If you’re a student and classes are recorded, you can also re-watch them as a study tool while riding.  When you swim, put key concepts or difficult study materials on a piece of paper in a plastic bag.  Put it at the end of the lane and check in with your material between sets.  School or work ultimately come first so find ways to make life and training work together. 

Balancing triathlon training with your daily obligations is a matter of prioritizing.  Decide now what you really want out of this season and what you are willing to sacrifice to get there.  If your only goal is to stay in shape and have some fun that is more than fine!  However, if your goal is to compete at a national championship or to set a particular pr, training needs to be a constant part of your life.  Good luck and happy training!

My multitasking bike setup

Couples who train together ...

(to be fair, we weren't actually working out here, even if we're dressed for it)