Work, travel, friends ... when can I train ...?

Maybe it is the time of the year, maybe I take on too much.

One can't really do too much about work needs ... after all I do have to earn the money to be able to afford the beeeeg swim. Weekly cross-country travelling doesn't help - especially into remote, outlying areas with no swimming pools and poor routes for running - nor does the fatigue of the flying, driving and living out of a suitcase help the cause.

Then we also need to spend time with friends and time to just chill-out and unwind ...

... so when does one swim? aagghhh ...

Although this is time for base training and just getting in some good mileage (as well as some basic cross-training) one still gets a bit antsy when one doesn't complete the mileage intended. Even if one has been training for these endurance events for many years - one always feels guilty when ramping up the training and not meeting one's own expectations.

I keep having to remind myself the most important rule in endurance event training ... Do Not Play Catch-up!

If I miss a session or two it does not matter. Try change your program and lifestyle going forward to fit in the necessary training ... but do not cram in missing miles. There is a reason why we couldn't fit them in ... most of the time we were too busy and now can't afford to add extra (current/catch-up) mileage into our schedule ... and add to the chaos and time/energy depleting activities.

With ten months to go I will have more than enough time to swim :-)

FYI ... my current training routine involves ... four week training cycles; each one supplemented with 2 gym sessions and some running or cycling if time allows:

Week 1: 12km Swim

Week 2: 15km Swim

Week 3: 18km Swim

Week 4: 20km Swim