juggling family,work and training for sportif,HELP

spocky
spocky Posts: 67
edited June 2007 in Training, fitness and health
11 weeks to go before bealach na ba challenge 90 odd miles of extremely hilly terrain.

Want to complete,compete and enjoy but unsure I will have time to train properly.

6 month baby,wife, older daughter job , dog etc etc

Recently did 76 miler in small group (fairly hily) averaging 17 mph so reckon I have it in me to complete bealach but was knackered after recent long one.

Would also like to enjoy a bit of the scenery and still be able to walk properly the next day!

ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW I CAN MAXIMIZE MY TRAINING WITH MINIMUM TRAINING TIME.

I reckon I may get away with 75 to 125 miles a week including a 3 days a week commuting 5 miles each way.

Comments

  • oldwelshman
    oldwelshman Posts: 4,733
    Add a 30 miles on to your home commute Mon, Wed and Fri.

    Feel free to browse and donate:
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    My winter and summer bike pics

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  • sloboy
    sloboy Posts: 1,139
    You may find it easier to add it in the mornings. If you're getting enough sleep - or if your youngster is getting you up early anyway (and you're not on duty then) you may be able to slip out. If you can, it's a massive pleasure to be out on a beautiful morning.
  • ut_o_cykla
    ut_o_cykla Posts: 58
    How about a 'family meeting'(ok this sounds too whacky for words but its worth a try) to discuss and plan you needs over the next 11 weeks?

    BAke in a few quality points for daughter/wife etc. (eg offer to let wife of baby duties for a weekend after your sportive, buy her a spa weekend?)

    Plan your available training time following the meeting in your diary icluding a reasonable taper. Actually write in/plan your training rides in advance so they don't get hijacked - but make sure they're all agreed in advance!The chance of poor weather/darkness stopping you just now is minimal.

    Look after minutes - streamline changing, getting out - grab extra minutes - flexi lunch hour? Longer commutes, earlier rising.

    Give up reading newspapers/free rags and watching telly (if you haven't already). Don't watch telly if you can help in the house, walk the baby/dog, cook, clean, etc - lots of brownie points there!

    On the training front you need to train for speed so you can ride comfortably in the event. Long aerobic intervals, with short rests in between would be effective. You could bake them in to your extended commute eg Weds/Fri, long ride sunday, gentle commute monday?

    Good luck any way!

    pousse moi s'il vous plait
    pousse moi s\'il vous plait
  • terongi
    terongi Posts: 318
    Get rid of the dog
  • mmcp
    mmcp Posts: 79
    Not very helpful advice, but like most on this forum I have family & work responsibilities but these are complicated by my partner having mental health / substance abuse "issues". if you can get reliable and affordable childcare (impossible) this helps, but otherwise be prepared to be flexible about your plans (it just doesn't help if you get stressed about missing a ride) and ride whenever you can. Even 25-20 mins is better than nothing.
  • terongi
    terongi Posts: 318
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mm</i>

    Not very helpful advice
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    If this was directed at my "dog" post, then I am sorry, but I really thought it would be obvious that it was a joke.

    I have wife, 5 children, job and no dog. I am training for the French etape. I do what I can. This includes:
    (1) commuting every day and adding spins round Regents Park to my morning or evening commute at varying intensities.
    (2) 2 evenings a week on the turbo trainer, when my wife is out and I am babysitting. Each session is 1 - 1.5 hours (at least one of them is 2x20 at "oh my God, I am never going to be able to finish this" pace)
    (3) 3-4 hour ride on Sunday morning leaving at 6.30am and back in time to spend whole day with family.
    (4) Saturday - complete rest (religious reasons as well as good training practice)

    This does not interfere much with the rest of my life. It amounts to 10-12 hours a week on the bike. A total of 250-300km (including virtual km on turbo trainer).

    I will tell you on 18 July if it works.

    I haven't opened my post for about 3 months, but something has to give. Also I am probably not getting as much sleep as I should.

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