I am trying to figure out if there is any difference or advantage to how I schedule my workouts during the week. I am currently doing four runs, four bikes, and three or four swims per week. I am training for Olys, so the workouts are not particularly long. But given my time constraints (law student), I would like to make sure that I am being as efficient as I can.
My first question is: Is it better to space out similar workout across the week? For example, if I am going to do four runs, is it better to run M,W,F,Sa or M,T,W,Th? Or does it not make any difference either way? Currently I have been lumping like workouts together (M,T,W,Th) just because of scheduling issues. But I could work it the other way if there is a benefit.
My second question is: Assuming I am doing two workouts on most days, is it better to do them back to back or space them out throughout the day? Currently I am doing one early in the morning and one later in the evening. Is one or the other better in any way?
I have a similar situation in that i have to schedule my workouts on a week by week basis, depending on my class schedules. Outside of that, I try to plan around my bikes, knowing that i should take advantage of good weather if it is in the forecast. Also, my plan groups bikes and swims on the same days and leaves runs by themselves (or with weights). As for back to back workouts, imo, it is best to do what you are able to. If there isn’t anyway you can squeeze them in at separate times then definately do them back to back. Its better to do all your workouts than end up skipping some b/c you didn’t want to go back to back. (plus you can have a bigger lunch after).
I would definately space out your “similar workouts” and not do 4 back to back runs, two back to back day runs is the most i would do and then seperating them from the longer run.
I think it is a good idea to spread similar workouts out across the week. (ie run every other day). It can be good to do back-to-back workouts so you can see what it’s like to s/b/r when you’re already tired. But if you have a really difficult important workout planned, it’s probably a good idea to take a break between that and any other workouts that day.
My current schedule is set up:
Bike: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (long) mornings, Turbo session on the trainer Tuesday morning. And I also commute to and from school daily on my bike, which is about 3 miles one way. (A good way to get in those extra miles. I get up to 18 miles just in commuting some days).
Swim: Monday and Wedneday mornings, right after the bike rides. Friday I sleep in, and get in a really hard swim in the afternoon.
Run: Tuesday morning, during the turbo session. Thursday Morning track workout. Sunday morning long run.
Strength Training: Wednesday night, Sunday afternoon.