Time to Train?
 

I was reading a lot of posts about people talking about their weekly training plans. Are these people un-employed? I dont know where they find the time to do their 4 hours a day training! I work 40 hours a week, volunteer 3 days a week, and I go to university, so finding time to train to hard.
Do you have to cut anything out of your life to train?

Most folks don't train 4 hours per day...I only know one guy who trains that much, and he's a firefighter who trains 24 hours per week for Ironman (which he's done like 10 times). Since he only works 3 days per week, and since his fire house includes an exercise bike, weights, etc. it's fairly convenient for him to find that much time to train.

For those of us in the real world, training 15 hours per week or so generally requires time management and prioritization skills. One thing you can do is give up most TV viewing. It also helps if you can commute to work by bike - that's an easy way to incorporate training into your day-to-day activities.

As for volunteer work "3 days per week"...you might have to give up some of that. My brother really likes to work out too, but he is committed to Habitat for Humanity, his church, etc. As a result, he often has to give up on sleep to get in early morning runs, and never has time enough for himself.

Volunteer organizations all tend to "bleed dry" anyone who will volunteer...you have to ask yourself whether you're spending your time how you want to (it's something of a philosophical question).

First, if a person trained 4 hours a day, that person would be logging 29,200 kms a year, and I know very few people who do that.

Second, you can still log a lot of miles and be busy with other aspects of your life. Last year I rode 7500 kms (one of my lowest years in a while, unfortunately) but in the spring and fall/winter I was in University full-time and working 15 hours a week part-time ... and in the summer I was working 60 hours a week. It is a matter of priorities. In years I've logged 10,000+ kms, I worked my butt off in the winter, then eased back to just a 45 hour work week in the summer.

I ride to work. It's a 32 mile round trip that's also very hilly. That's almost 2 hours a day. Then a long ride on one of my days off.

Az

I try to train 1.5 to 2.5 hrs. an evening, 4 days a week, plus one weekend ride of 3-18 hours. Most weeks I barely break 100 miles, but I also hike, snowshoe, lift, and do cross training, so it's really more than that. I average 9-10 hrs./week, but all those hours are directed training. No "just riding."

Kill your television. You might think about doing it ceremonially and inviting the neighbors. Biggest investment in your health and the best money saving thing you can do. You can watch DVDs on your computer.

I agree about the TV. Most people who say, "I don't have time to train" (or exercise in any way) seem to have lots of time to lie on the sofa and watch TV!

While I was in University last fall, I unplugged my TV and didn't watch a single minute of it from September to December. Even now I don't watch much ... and while the women I work with are sitting around the lunch table discussing various programs, I sit there quietly with a blank look on my face ... not a clue what they are talking about! But what really strikes me funny is when they start discussing going out together (usually to the bar) and they have to fit it in between their programs. "I can't make it on Thursday because this show is on" ... "Well, I can't do Tuesday, unless it is after 8 pm because I've got this show and then that show" ... :lol: And then they complain that they've simply got no time to exercise.

Thats Un-American! In the continental sense. If you don't watch TV, you aren't a part of the consumer culture because you won't know what you're supposed to want. So then consumer spending drops, the stock market falls, unemployment rises, and the whole society collapses. You're contributing to the collapse of western civilization! And all because of your stupid bicycle! :D