Would anyone know what the drawbacks are to someone doing back-to-back sessions in the evening vs doing the usual morning/evening training splits? I have to be in the office by 6:45am on weekdays and while i’ve done OK with 5am trainer/treadmill session (i live 5 mins away from work) I realized that I would have much more time to get some good rest in and still get my training in if i just did 2-2.5 hrs in the evening. Is there any negative impact from this? should i be thinking differently? i imagine fueling is more of a concern, but what else should i be keeping in mind? thanks!
General fatigue. Almost two years ago I was doing something along these lines. I didn’t want to wake up to train in the morning, and for a few weeks did both of my workouts after work. Felt okay for a little bit but then started to feel some heavy fatigue. Ended up going back to waking my ass up in the morning and noticed that helped with my energy for workouts.
General fatigue. Almost two years ago I was doing something along these lines. I didn’t want to wake up to train in the morning, and for a few weeks did both of my workouts after work. Felt okay for a little bit but then started to feel some heavy fatigue. Ended up going back to waking my ass up in the morning and noticed that helped with my energy for workouts.
thanks for the input…did you have any sleeping issues when doing the B2Bs?
I’m in a similar boat, have to leave the house about 6:45 in the morning, but I’m home by 4 or 4:30 most days. I’ll typically do one workout immediately upon getting home, then a second a bit later, trying to put the more quality-focused one first if possible.
I know it definitely affects the quality of the second workout, but I try to have something to eat and put at least an hour or so between workouts. I really don’t enjoy waking up at 4 to train, though, so that’s why I do it. It makes dinner scheduling a bit weird, but my girlfriend is generally pretty supportive and flexible. The only times I have any trouble with sleep is if it’s a super-hard workout RIGHT before bed
I have to be at work by 7 am (leave by 6:15 for a 45 min commute). I don’t get home until 6 pm and sometimes later. I workout 3-4 days in the morning (5-6am) before work and everyday after work. I’ve tried to do back to back workouts but I lose focus on the second workout and just want it to be over (often just going through the motions). I think the quality in the workout will be lacking. It may work for certain workouts (easy/recovery run) but anything structured with a focus, I think you are better off breaking it up.
I usually do B2B in the morning because I don’t leave the house till 7:30am, so my workouts need to be done by 6:45. I get home around 6pm. Dinner at 6:30pm. I’d prefer splitting to AM/PM, but find it hard to sleep after an 8 or 9pm workout. It is tough getting up at 4 or 5am, unless you go to bed before 9pm. Time management is key. Either sleep earlier or workout later. I would split AM/PM if you could. You can have better quality. When I do B2B, 1st workout is the quality one. 2nd one is usually just aerobic. If I didn’t have to get the 3 kids ready in the morning or help them with homework and bathe them at night, then I could have more time for training =)
For AM/PM sessions: Quality is usually AM, sometimes PM workouts get skipped due to life.
AM: banana or nothing before workout, water during. Breakfast after.PM: nothing before workout(usually 90-120 min after dinner), water during. Protein shake after.
For B2B: Quality is usually 1st, except when I need to beat the crowd at the pool for a swim/bike.
banana before, water/electrolyte drink during. Maybe a gel if needed. Breakfast after.
My schedule generally looks like this:
M: AM Swim(Q)
Tu: AM Run(Q), PM Swim(kids have swim lessons, so I hope in the pool too)
W: AM Bike(Q)/Run
Th: AM Run(Q)/Bike
F: AM Swim/Bike(Q)
Sa: AM Run(Q), PM Swim
Su: AM Bike(Q), PM Run