Not enough time to train - what to do?

Drop the 3 core and strength sessions, and replace with run and bike sessions.

If you have access to a trainer, drop the spin and do your bike sessions at home.  You'll gain back all the time you would have spent traveling to/from the gym.

If your goal is to prep for a triathlon.  Drop the strength training and add another swim, bike, and run session.

If you have enough base and time, I'd go with the Oly plan which would just put you in a little better position with the Sprint along the way.

Question 1)  Do you know who is on American Idol or who is on the Bachelor, etc.  If the answer is yes, then you have time to train.

I find that most athletes try to fit in training vs scheduling it.  You'd be amazed as to how much time we waste in our day when we just 'fit things in'.

Question 2)  Why all of the strength training?  Unless you are injured and your PT says you need to do those, then you can use those time slots to do a bit of endurance training.

I don't know your limitations, but some simple things like waking up 30 min earlier and immediately going into a workout has helped me and others I train get into the routine of things.  Example: If you're going to run, the shoes, clothes, etc are literally next to the bed so you have to stumble over them to get out of bed.

My point is that we all have at least 30 min in a day, finding it is the fun part.  Good luck!

To just elaborate, I don't have a trainer :-( so I am limited to spin classes. Hopefully the snow melts soon!

I don't run in the dark because the sidewalks are so uneven, its more like running on a trail. They aren't well lit either = so I'm afraid I'll fall.

I have 3 kids (2,4,6) so their needs are always first.

I watch 1h of TV a week and 1 movie a week with my husband.  

I'll talk to hubby and try to coordinate with his training schedule. I can probably work in some gym time in the evening after we put the kids to bed if grandma can babysit. I absolutely hate the treadmill (it makes me dizzy), but I guess I gotta do it.

Just for fun:

Used trainers are cheaper than gym memberships

LED headlamps are cheap and bright

1 hr of TV plus 2 hours watching a movie each week = 3 hours on the new (used) trainer!

Good lord man, we're not pros here.  Nothing wrong with taking some time to relax with the family.  

I agree with the used trainer option.  Saves a lot of time when you count traveling to the gym.  and you can get a killer workout and spend time with the family, so that's a win/win. Plus, it's always good for your kids to see you working hard, motivates them to be like mommy!  

You might want to reconsider running in the dark.  Just slow down a bit to a careful speed and get a headlamp. They aren't expensive and they're extremely bright.  Plus, the constant watching of the terrain makes the time go by faster.  

Like others have said, drop the strength training in favor of s/b. Strength training is something to add if you have the time, not replace the other two sports.  

A gym with decent child care would sure help.  My wife, 5 kids (13, 6, 4, 3, 10m) and I live at our YMCA and love the staff there.  I probably do 70%+ of my volume indoors (not ideal, but better than not at all).   1 olympic, 1 HIM and 1 trail marathon last year.  

If that is not an option, I would agree with others that strength training should be the 1st to go (and works some hills in on the bike and run).

Headlamp + trainer + waking up 1.5 hours before anyone else = plenty of time to train.

Thats awsome!

I do most of my training before my family gets up or after they go to bed. I don't like running on the treadmill or riding on the trainer. But I do it because I love this sport. If you want to do something bad enough you will find the time.

I have a treadmill and bike rollers at home.  A lot of my workouts happen after the kids are tucked in bed.  Even if I had a headlight and wanted to run at night, I really can't since I'm not going to leave the kids home alone while I go run!  

Anyway, if you are serious about it, the expense of a trainer is certainly small.  And while a treadmill may be more expensive (I bought a used very good one for $600 of Craigslist), it too is worth it.  No one enjoys the treadmill.  But the awesome long trail run on the weekends doesn't happen if there isn't a treadmill to slog out the shorter runs during the week.

david.

I ran into a similar problem last year. I have a fairly high level, high intensity job where frequent evening conference calls with Asia have increased.  My training time was always after work.  I moved my training time (albeit slowly) to 4:30am.  Now there are no excuses, I am up with nothing to interfere with my time.  I can still be in the office between 7-7:30 and my evenings are free if work is not involved.  Disclaimer: I have one son who is a senior in high school, so that is not an issue and a wife who likes to sleep in....

Give it some thought, there is time in your day.

IMO this is good advice

I think, if your goal is more to be healthy than to be a great triathlete, then do what you're doing now and enjoy it.  There's a lot to be said for doing SBR if your goal is just SBR but for most of us triathlon is just a part of feeling good and looking... well... better, anyways.  That said, maybe you could do shorter strength-training sessions twice a week and run another day?

For when you actually start tri training, I'd do a sprint plan leading up to your first sprint, especially because that will allow you to ramp up your run volume slowly.  Then transition into the Oly plan at however many weeks you're out from the Oly (ie, if you have 11 weeks till the Oly, start at Week 5).  The free plans are nice but not exactly rocket science, and you can definitely play around with them a little to make a plan that works for you.

Good luck!