I’ve reached a point where I REALLY need to focus on finishing my doctoral degree, which means about eight straight months of studying every free second I get. Between two jobs and studying, I just can’t fit in more than about eight hours of training, which really sucks. So how could I make the most of it? I’ve considered cycling only for this season, training for short running races, or just getting a couple enjoyable workouts in for each discipline and not racing this year.
I know it’s an individual thing, but just curious what other folks have done when life happens and training time gets cut almost in half.
At 8 hours a week you could run 56 miles a week @ a 8:30 mm pace. Or swim 4000 plus yards a day 5 days a week. Or do a Time crunched Cyclist type program. Or have some fun and do some sprints. A year goes fast, don’t worry about it!
JUST run. This is going to give you the most overall ROI. You could also swim ~1x/week to keep some contact with the water, but I’m not sure if it would really make difference vs. not swimming at all. But if you just run, you’ll certainly become a better runner, and that will likely pay dividends when you return to triathlon.
JUST swim. Same as above. But overall, swimming does take a lot more time - drive to pool, etc. - so maybe not the best use of time.
JUST ride. Same as above, though 8hrs of cycling is a LOT less, relatively, than 8 hours of running.
Train for short distance tri.
3x1hr swim
1hr / 2x45 min / 30min run
2 x 1hr cycle
You could certainly race some sprints off the above. Your quality in each session would need to be reasonably high. But 8hrs is plenty to race sprints well. Just need to do smart training.
Ihad the same problem with grad school and a kid. I decided to really pour myself into running for a the last few months of school. I came out the other end very happy and a lot faster.
This year we will see how that worked out for my Triathlons.
JUST run. This is going to give you the most overall ROI. You could also swim ~1x/week to keep some contact with the water, but I’m not sure if it would really make difference vs. not swimming at all. But if you just run, you’ll certainly become a better runner, and that will likely pay dividends when you return to triathlon.
JUST swim. Same as above. But overall, swimming does take a lot more time - drive to pool, etc. - so maybe not the best use of time.
JUST ride. Same as above, though 8hrs of cycling is a LOT less, relatively, than 8 hours of running.
Train for short distance tri.
3x1hr swim
1hr / 2x45 min / 30min run
2 x 1hr cycle
You could certainly race some sprints off the above. Your quality in each session would need to be reasonably high. But 8hrs is plenty to race sprints well. Just need to do smart training.
8hrs is a lot if there is no bullshit.
Interesting points here. When Chris Boardman was peaking for his first world hour record attempt, he said (don’t know how true it is) that he was training only 8 hours a week. But aside from the warmup and cooldown most of it was a 1 hour record pace (in other words, his FTP pace) or slightly higher!
Anyway. I’d go with 5 hours running + 2 hours swimming. I’d leave the bike set up on the trainer and after 3 runs, hit the bike for 20 minutes and just to short 1-2 min intervals…should be plenty to keep some semblance of bike fitness at least good enough to get going quickly later when you have time.
If it were me, I would just run. It is the easiest to fit into a busy schedule and has the least overhead of “non-exercise time”. Plus, if you are a competitive sort, 8 hours/week allows you put together a fairly righteous training program and still jump in some races.
I’ve reached a point where I REALLY need to focus on finishing my doctoral degree, which means about eight straight months of studying every free second I get. Between two jobs and studying, I just can’t fit in more than about eight hours of training, which really sucks. So how could I make the most of it? I’ve considered cycling only for this season, training for short running races, or just getting a couple enjoyable workouts in for each discipline and not racing this year.
I know it’s an individual thing, but just curious what other folks have done when life happens and training time gets cut almost in half.
This is sort of where I am with my life. Demanding job, hellish DC commute, working spouse, and young family. I have about 1-hr during the work week and 4-5 hours on the weekends. For the past three years or so I’ve been just running between mid-sept thru late april (usually running a marathon and a few 13.1’s). Then from May - Aug, I just race sprints. Northern VA has many to chose from. They’re generally a time-trial format of 400M swim, 20K bike, 5K run. This works for me. My only complaint is the price of the sprints which generally run $75-90. This seems excessive to me but I continue to pony up.
This is why I’d love to see more sprints that are ocean front and incorporate an ocean swim (400m), 8-10 mile sand bike portion (using those fat tire bikes), and a 3-5K beach run. I’d think logistically this could be very doable and quite enjoyable. No roads to close = no police. You’d just need more lifeguards.
I’ve reached a point where I REALLY need to focus on finishing my doctoral degree, which means about eight straight months of studying every free second I get. Between two jobs and studying, I just can’t fit in more than about eight hours of training, which really sucks. So how could I make the most of it? I’ve considered cycling only for this season, training for short running races, or just getting a couple enjoyable workouts in for each discipline and not racing this year.
I know it’s an individual thing, but just curious what other folks have done when life happens and training time gets cut almost in half.
8 hours a week is a lot for most of us with wives, jobs, kids etc.
Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I was headed in the right direction. I just ran for the last couple months, but have been getting back to biking and swimming, just because it’s more enjoyable for me that way. I’ll be checking out some sprints this year and embrace something different; unfortunately the shorter distance doesn’t give me much time to catch the swimmers!
+1 This is what I always do when I have periods of no time. Running is the easiest to get out whenever you have free time, it takes little planning, and it is the best for the mind.
I would bike or run to work\school; kill 2 birds with 1 stone
The other 8 hours work on your weak sport plus some more running
Do some sprint races this year to stay current
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I’ve reached a point where I REALLY need to focus on finishing my doctoral degree, which means about eight straight months of studying every free second I get. Between two jobs and studying, I just can’t fit in more than about eight hours of training, which really sucks. So how could I make the most of it? I’ve considered cycling only for this season, training for short running races, or just getting a couple enjoyable workouts in for each discipline and not racing this year.
I know it’s an individual thing, but just curious what other folks have done when life happens and training time gets cut almost in half.
8 hours a week is a lot for most of us with wives, jobs, kids etc.
bike 4.5, swim 2, run 1.5
Yeah, anyone who has significantly more than 10 hours per week to train either:
Has no young kids to take care of
Has a job that’s either <40 hrs per week or has a lot of downtime to do other stuff.
Unfortunately, those 2 items apply to a lot of folks in the 30-45 AG bracket.
Apparently, though, not on ST. When I asked a question about who was training like 12+ hrs per week but actually met criteria #1 and #2, nobody answered.
I work a 60 hour week, and can squeeze in 12-16 hours a week…
… but I have NO life, no friends, no family, and my house is a disaster. LOL
and Im still slow… sigh
8 hrs is fine!! I get maximum 8 hrs a week and my time are still improving I just do Sprint races though. The key is to make every session count no junk miles or easy this or that. The Time crunched Triathlete is a good read in that respect but I would not follow the program.
It depends on you goals and all of course but I would do 3x40 min swims. just a short warm up a smash a good set forget the CD.
3 rides a week ranging around 60 to 90 min with interval work. forget the long rides. may be plan to do one 3 hours ride every 3-4 weeks only. great sessions are WU 10 min 5 min at FTP then 6x3 min at 120% then 4x2 min at 120% and the usual 2-3 times 20 min at FTP is another one.
Running the same 3x30 min runs a week with interval work.
you will be much faster at the shorter races in 8 months and will have plenty of top end speed on which can build some endurance.
I don’t know if that has to be a rule. I work at least 40 hours a week, have a young family, and my house has yet to be condemned. I also train well over 10 hours for about 5 months out of the year.
I don’t, however, watch much tv. I do go to bed early and get up at 4:30. My kids barely know that I train, and I’m at work just as much as my co-workers.
So to say you need to choose b/w training and life isn’t true. You might have to choose b/w crap ( like excessive tv) and training, though.
That being said, I have periods when I am time crunched, like the op. during those times I enjoy a run focus w/ about 2 swims and 1 bike a week just so I keep whatever mediocre skills I have.
You are the minority. I actually train similar to you and work as much but with a 1 yr old needing constant monitoring and wife working full time it is super hard to train that much.
Not to hijack the thread too much, but I meet both of your criteria and probably avg 18-20 hours/week March-Oct. My primary focus is HIMs.
Monday 2x1 hour bike, .5 hour run(lunch), swim 1 hour
Tues 2x1 hour bike, 1 hour run(lunch)
Wed 2x1 hour bike, .5 hour run (lunch), swim 1 hour
Thurs 2x1 hour bike, 1.5 hour run (lunch)
Fri 2x1 hour bike, 1 hour run (lunch)
Sat Swim 1 hour
Sun run 1.5 hours
The bikes are mostly commuting. (Once in a while on Tuesday evenings I’ll do a smack-down ride with a group). The Mon and Weds swims are 8:30-9:30 after kids go to bed. On the weekend, the Sat swim is 7-8 AM, and the run is usually late Sunday night (starts @10pm). We have a rail trail near our house, and I love running in the pitch dark. I avg 1 hour/night of work after the kids/wife go to bed, which allows me extra time at lunch. People would be surprised at how fit you can get with lots of shorter rides. I know I was.
My wife does the morning workout slot during the week.
Not having to do a long ride on the weekends is huge w/regards to the family, though if we go to the beach or something in the summer (50 miles), I’ll usually ride there and meet them.
During the times I can’t commute due to icy road conditions, I drop the swimming and run more. I still try to get at least 3 bikes/week on the trainer of 45min-1 hour in the evenings.