Weird Training Question - Triathlon Week

10-26-2004, 10:19 AM

X-No-archive: yes

Any trainers out there? I have a weird request.

I'm a recreational triathlete, in decent shape. I'd really like to get
better, and I'm not lacking for motivation -- I'm lacking for time.
For 9 hours a day/ 5 days a week, I earn my paycheck. But I'm in the
middle of a career change, and on three of those days -- Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday -- I work an additional five hours at another job.
Those days begin at 6:30 am and end at midnight.

So on those three days, I'm exhausted. I get only about six hours of
sleep nightly -- a little more if I'm lucky.

My question to you is, how much should I be working out? I crash on
Friday nights, and usually do a light run on Saturday. And then I
sleep a lot on Sunday, and get another light workout on Monday. I try
to avoid a workout in preparation for the long day Wednesday.

So my question to you is, where do you think I can squeeze more
workouts in? Can I still work out on six hours of sleep? I feel like
I'm not getting enough. Or should I just atrophy altogether and make
it up later?

With exhaustion... Thanks.

10-26-2004, 11:13 AM

I know the feeling, I used to have a night job. What I would do to make
more time is have my running clothes with me and I would run right after
work. I would drive to a park or something (it was like 6 in the morning,
nobody was there) and get my run in before I went to bed. That helped me a
lot. Or if you have an hour lunch break, run for 30 min, I mean who needs
an hour lunch break? Plus any amount of run is better than none.

"Tracer Traceless" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:5420cabb.0410260919.150f753e@posting.google.c om...
> X-No-archive: yes
>
> Any trainers out there? I have a weird request.
>
> I'm a recreational triathlete, in decent shape. I'd really like to get
> better, and I'm not lacking for motivation -- I'm lacking for time.
> For 9 hours a day/ 5 days a week, I earn my paycheck. But I'm in the
> middle of a career change, and on three of those days -- Wednesday,
> Thursday and Friday -- I work an additional five hours at another job.
> Those days begin at 6:30 am and end at midnight.
>
> So on those three days, I'm exhausted. I get only about six hours of
> sleep nightly -- a little more if I'm lucky.
>
> My question to you is, how much should I be working out? I crash on
> Friday nights, and usually do a light run on Saturday. And then I
> sleep a lot on Sunday, and get another light workout on Monday. I try
> to avoid a workout in preparation for the long day Wednesday.
>
> So my question to you is, where do you think I can squeeze more
> workouts in? Can I still work out on six hours of sleep? I feel like
> I'm not getting enough. Or should I just atrophy altogether and make
> it up later?
>
> With exhaustion... Thanks.

10-26-2004, 08:40 PM

What are your options for commuting to work via bike or run? Even if you
dont have shower facilities, its amazing what a few baby wipes and a stick
of deodorant can do. As for six hours of sleep, join the club. I have been
working out between 10 and 12 hours a week, fairly steadily on 6-7 hours of
sleep. It gets tough, but I do what I can and keep Starbucks in buisness.
Keep a close eye on your nutrition. Being a few hundred calories short can
make you crash if you are already on the edge due to lack of sleep and hard
workouts.

AJ

10-30-2004, 10:56 PM

X-No-archive: yes

Thanks for answering my question -- and to all those who sent private
e-mails! I'm sorry I posted twice. I thought my first one didn't go
through.

I think what I've gotten in private advice is just to skip the
training for now.

I used to commute by bike and run, but I think I save a bit of time
taking the subway (I live in NYC). and I catch a few minutes of
shut-eye that way as well. You're right -- I could just freshen up
with baby wipes and deodorant, but the issue isn't workout time as
much as it is rest time. You have my respect and admiration for
getting 10 hrs a week workout time on 6 hours of sleep! Isn't that a
little dangerous and counterproductive?

"A. J." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>...
> What are your options for commuting to work via bike or run? Even if you
> dont have shower facilities, its amazing what a few baby wipes and a stick
> of deodorant can do. As for six hours of sleep, join the club. I have been
> working out between 10 and 12 hours a week, fairly steadily on 6-7 hours of
> sleep. It gets tough, but I do what I can and keep Starbucks in buisness.
> Keep a close eye on your nutrition. Being a few hundred calories short can
> make you crash if you are already on the edge due to lack of sleep and hard
> workouts.
>
> AJ

10-31-2004, 08:16 AM

I will post the answer to this question next Sunday morning after my last
and hopefully fastest race of the season. Shooting for a 2:30 at Treasure
Island. Second day of a Taper and I am already stir crazy.

AJ

> getting 10 hrs a week workout time on 6 hours of sleep! Isn't that a
> little dangerous and counterproductive?
>
>