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2010-07-22 7:14 PM

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Subject: Lopsided training schedules

I travel for a living so I'm home only on Fri, Sat, and Sun. I have noticed that most training plans space out each discipline, something like run on Mon, Wed, Fri; bike on Tue, Thu, Sat; swim on Mon, Wed, Thu (or something close to that nature.)

What I've been doing is kind of lopsided - Run (Mon, Tue, Wed); Bike (Fri, Sat, Sun); Swim (somehow fit 2 or 3 swim sessions in); Thursday is travel/rest day for me. Question for the veterans, do you guys see anything wrong with doing this? How necessary is it to space out disciplines?

I can try to find a spin class during the week and swap that for a run on the weekend. That brings me to my next question, 60 min spin class vs. 30 miles or a 2hr bike ride, are they comparable?

Thanks for your input!


2010-07-22 7:33 PM
in reply to: #2998953

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Subject: RE: Lopsided training schedules

I'm 45.  I have a job; a wife; a teenage son and several other irons in the fire.

Perfect workout schedule?  I'm not sure that exists, for ME.  Train when you can.  I ran Mon; Tues; Wed. and Thurs....and snuck in a bike ride a little while ago.  I need to swim.  I will when I can. 

YMMV

2010-07-22 9:03 PM
in reply to: #2998953

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Subject: RE: Lopsided training schedules
dude if it is working great.

Haven't a clue about the spinning though.
2010-07-23 12:35 AM
in reply to: #2998953

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Subject: RE: Lopsided training schedules
JoeP138 - 2010-07-22 5:14 PM


I can try to find a spin class during the week and swap that for a run on the weekend. That brings me to my next question, 60 min spin class vs. 30 miles or a 2hr bike ride, are they comparable?

Thanks for your input!


I don't think so. I did a lot of spinning early season this year, my schedule was tight and it worked for me timing wise. 2 hour in the real saddle is I think a lot more valuable time than an hour on a spin bike. in the saddle you are using more muscles (all of your balance and core muscles), you speed up and slow down more than you realize. I find that hour spin classes are really 50mins with fluff either side. Ya you go hard for that time, but it's not specific Tri bike training. If you do a focused 2 hrs on the bike that's good training time. Just don't slack on the 2hr rides, make each workout have a purpose.

I will say that in my experience, spinning help me to keep my bike fitness (or slow down losing it more likely). Once I was able to get outside and riding again this year, my biking legs came back a lot faster than I would have expected. Pretty sure the 3hrs or so a week I was doing spinning during the cold and wet months helped with that. I was also trying to do a very hard CompuTrainer session a week too, but was consistent with the spin classes.
2010-07-23 2:57 AM
in reply to: #2998953

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Subject: RE: Lopsided training schedules
My training schedule is way lopsided too but it has to fit with work, kids, squad times etc.  This isn't perfect but it's real life, like you I would really prefer to balance it differently but I make my schedule fit around my life, not the other way around.  Do what you can, when you can and don't worry about it.  Spinning is great, a "real" bike ride is always better IMHO but it's better than nothing and I always really enjoy the class.
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