Laura’s balancing act

The arrival of the new year brings for many people a set of rigid resolutions they may or may not have abandoned before the end of the second week – dry January, anyone?!

I tend not to talk about new year’s resolutions, but instead new determinations.  If you’ve been following this blog lately, you’ll know that 2024 is the year I’m determined to achieve that pinnacle of long-distance physical challenges; the mighty Ironman.  

Turning the calendar to January once again, I realised that completing this incredible triathlon will take more than affirmations and high hopes, so I’ve been thinking about how I can get myself as ready as I can be for the race, whilst maintaining some semblance of my life as I know it. 

I did some research and this is what I’ve discovered:

Get professional help

I have a magnificent cleaner who keeps my house immaculate so I can get out on my bike or go for a long run over the weekends without ever having to worry about the state of my kitchen sink.  It’s hands down the best money I’ve ever spent.

A professional coach can help you make the most of your training time

I’ve started training with a swimming coach, and in a few months I’m heading to Club La Santa; a super-fancy resort where the pro triathletes go to train. At the time of writing, I haven’t got a running coach, although I’m open to recommendations! I’m planning to join my local cycle club so someone else will be planning the route and leading the way on those long weekend rides and I can focus on moving my legs.

A professional coach can help plan your sessions to make the best use of the training time and keep you accountable.  You’re also much less likely to skip a session if you know someone’s watching.

Make a schedule

’ll use my work calendar to remind me what I’m doing and when. I’ll plan my weeks ahead of time to mitigate last minute indecision or laziness. A booked session is much less likely to be missed than a ‘wait and see’. 

I’ll allocate clothes for each workout.  If the blue leggings are always for Sunday’s long run and the black ones are always for yoga, I’ll save time getting ready in the morning.  I always put my workout clothes at the side of the bed so I can get straight into them when I wake up, or pack them into a small bag in the evening ready to grab on the way to work.

Dress like it’s a race

Someone said you should treat getting into your gear as training for the actual race, see how quickly you can get your clothes and shoes on.  It’s a great way to stop the bedside daydreaming and the only way to get dressed for cycling home after a chilly swim session!

If possible, you should lay out your breakfast and training nutrition in the evening, and set up your post session protein to save time when you return from training.  It’s important to get that protein in and hydrate within 20 minutes of finishing the training session.

Normalise training

I cycle to work most days, so those bonus miles are ones I don’t need to find extra time for.  When the evenings get lighter I may decide to run to and from work on some days too. 

As the race gets closer and the training distances increase, it’ll become easy to take a detour or add on a loop to those commute rides and runs. If you already have some activity you enjoy or do regularly anyway, see if you can find a way to work that into your training plan. 

Incorporate the activities you already enjoy into your training plan

Starting a whole training plan from scratch doesn’t have to be about giving up the things you look forward to. I love yoga, so I’ll keep that in my plan as a relaxing stretch and mobility session. Taking some ‘easy’ exercise is a good time to check in with your body and take note of anything that feels different.

Consistency is key

It’s better to have shorter sessions in a timetable you can maintain, than having weeks of ‘famine or feast’ because you think you should be training for an hour at a time.  Something is always better than nothing (except on rest days), so even if you can only spare half an hour, make it count.

Get inspired

I’ve got a playlist called ‘the last 10km’ – it’s about an hour of 80’s power anthems that puts a spring back in my step when I’m starting to flag.

If you prefer an audio book, or a radio station, you can download those to your phone, ready to listen to while you workout and help the time pass faster. Invest in a pair of earphones that let in some external sound for safety if you’re out and about though – keep those cans for the gym!

I’ll use the downtime on my rest days to download more playlists or podcast series for listening to on the long runs.  That’s also a good time to get all the electronics charged so they’re ready for the week.

Use the rest days

Rest days ought to be just that.  There shouldn’t be any long walks, cycling to work, or dynamic yoga. Complete rest is in order, even if like me, you always feel like you should be doing something.

I plan to use my rest days for batch cooking; on training days and the microwave will be my friend. I’ll reset my body and mind by doing some gentle stretches and using the foam roller in front of the TV. I might bathe with epsom salts and CBD, and the latest episode of my favourite podcast. 

Use rest days to batch cook and create playlists for Future You

Perhaps I’ll take a nap on the sofa with my weighted blanket and read a book. Whatever it is, I’ll try to keep physical exertion to a minimum and really let my muscles recover.

Socialise it

I’ll try to plan easy runs with a friend, or if I can’t convince anyone to join me, arrange to meet them for coffee and cool down walk after.  I’ll arrange spa afternoons on my rest days so I can fully relax and spend time catching up.

If your friends are active sorts, you could plan an event together, or have them be your cheer squad.  The promise of a Sunday roast can often get people to appear at the finish line, just in time to celebrate your success!

You could join a triathlon club, or group like 10IronWomen, so you can train together with other athletes and have people to chat tri with – save your family, friends and work colleagues from the incessant monologue!

I’d love to hear what you think about these plans – feel free to pop a comment below.