How To Fit Endurance Training Around A Career And Family
Every athlete has the wish to do more training, to do more swims, more rides and more runs. But most of us are not full-time professional athletes, so how do we fit it all in around a "normal" lifestyle? The "other' arf" has to be considered, the Boss needs to be onside, and the kids need to be attended to…….there are just not enough hours in the day…..or are there?
Most of us do not have the luxury of a 25 hour day to fit in our training with no distractions and no-one else to think about. So what can we do to make life easier and still get as much training as possible?
1. Be Flexible
Those other people in our life have to be able to have a say in what we are doing as athletes, that doesn't mean your partner has to be your coach, but it's pretty great if that is the case! You have to be able to agree on compromises, sometimes it just doesn't fit in with life when you want to do a 6-hour bike ride, but 5-hour ride might just be better than no ride, so be prepared to be flexible. A good coach will be able to adjust your programme to suit you, and when something unexpected comes along, they can allow for it and still get the best from the available time. Family and work will always throw a curveball just when you least expect it, but don't think it is the end of the world….be flexible.
2. Be Honest
Start with an agreement at the beginning of your training programme, tell your partner/family/workmates that you have a goal and what you would like to do to achieve it. Is it a sprint, a middle or a long course triathlon? Can you honestly fit the training in with your commitments? They won't necessarily understand why you want to do it, let them know your reason for it, they will be more likely to support you if you explain why you want to do it.
3. Share the load
This doesn't mean that your family have to train with you, but try including them where possible. If they are involved and enjoy it, then it's easier for them to let you do some of it on your own. Take the kids to the local pool when you are swimming, take the family to the beach and swim there. Even if you are training indoors during the winter, can the family be helping you? Can they be counting your laps on a video run session, can they be cheering you on throughout a virtual race on Zwift?
4. Offer to Help when you can
The Boss is more likely to allow you a more extended lunch break for that important run session if you are more likely to offer to fill in when you are not busy. Does a colleague need to leave early? Then offer to cover for them, they may then do the same for you if required. If you are the Boss then maybe be more forgiving with your staff, they may be less likely to be resentful when you take an extended lunch break. Give them an extended lunch break to do what they want to do, not everyone is a gym bunny, they may just want to sit in the park, watch some wildlife, or collect some train numbers, but don't hold it against them, we are all different.
5. Always be Grateful
Don't take any of these concessions for granted, if your family are there to support you then maybe treat them from time to time. They may be fed up of holidays that always involve you racing, take them away on a different holiday. The Boss may be supportive for so long, but if others are doing work, you will soon get to know when they aren't happy with it. Always thank your supporters, they will be delighted to hear about your conquests, but don't bore them with the details. If they are interested, they will ask!
6. Take the Opportunities when you can
There are 24 hours in a day, and you only need to train for some of them. Plan your days well in advance and be prepared to train when everyone else is either sleeping or doing their own thing. Plan your programme around work; your coach is there to hear about your commitments, don't keep missing sessions for events the coach doesn't even know about. Life can go on and some people with hectic family lives, very busy work lives and very busy triathlon lives still manage to train and perform to their best ability.
So, don't think that every hour is a training hour. Enjoy life, plan ahead, keep the family happy and keep your work colleagues happy then your results will mean a lot more to you and to everyone else too.
We’re here to help
Tri Training Harder are one of the leading Triathlon coaching providers in the UK, using our wealth of experience to unite scientific and technological research with already well-established and successful best practices, to create a formula for triathlon and endurance coaching that works.
The result is an honest, dynamic, yet simple new way of constructing an athlete’s training to allow them to reach their potential.
If you’re planning your next season, just starting out in the sport or are looking for extra guidance at the very top end of the field, we are here to help, and our coaches would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us via the website, and one of the team will be in touch.