What do you do when a training plan

[mrs.jacinthe]

... doesn't mesh with your regular workout schedule? 

I'm getting ready to start a 12-week oly tri plan and it's great looking, but doesn't mesh *at all* with my OWS or masters schedule.  I doubt I'll find a training plan that does, honestly, because right now, this is my swim schedule:

MWF: masters 6-7am  (approx 2500m per workout)
Tu-Th: masters 8-9pm  (approx 3000 yards per workout)
Th: OWS 6pm  (approx 1 mile per workout)

So I'm training at about 16k yards/week, which is actually quite low, considering I'm wanting to do an 8k in October (8k training recommends 30-40k volume per week, but I'll pick that up in August/Sept after the tri.)

I can't find a single tri plan that allows for more than 2-3 days of swimming per week and nowhere NEAR the volume I'm doing.  So, should I just do a 12 week 10k run training program and a 12-week 25mi cycle program and maintain my current swim volume?  My current plan is just to complete the tri, which I'm sure I can do now, but I'd like to give it my best effort, regardless.

[Wines Not Whines]

Can you do the run and bike portions of the tri plan while also doing your current swim schedule?

[mrs.jacinthe]

May 24, 2013 14:10:26 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Can you do the run and bike portions of the tri plan while also doing your current swim schedule?

Yes, although I'd have to move everything around in order to get a rest day.  If I didn't, I'd also be doing 3 workouts on Thursday, too.  
For example, week 6 (one of the easier weeks), with my current swim schedule instead of theirs would look like this:

M: 2500m swim
Tu: 30 min run, 3000yd swim
W: 2500m swim, strength
Th: 45 min bike, 1 mi OWS, 3000yd swim
F: 2500m swim, strength
Sa: 60 min bike, 10 min run (LOL)
Su: 45 min run

[kams]

May 24, 2013 14:18:36 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Yes, although I'd have to move everything around in order to get a rest day.  If I didn't, I'd also be doing 3 workouts on Thursday, too.  
For example, week 6 (one of the easier weeks), with my current swim schedule instead of theirs would look like this:

M: 2500m swim
Tu: 30 min run, 3000yd swim
W: 2500m swim, strength
Th: 45 min bike, 1 mi OWS, 3000yd swim
F: 2500m swim, strength
Sa: 60 min bike, 10 min run (LOL)
Su: 45 min run

Can you do Sunday's run on Monday?

[Brit]

Would you say that you are proficient enough at one discipline that you could coast through it with little training? My guess is that it would be swimming that you could do that with, but considering that you have a goal swimming race, that probably wouldn't be ideal.

If it were me, since I care most about running, I would probably keep doing that, kind of like you seem to want to do with swimming, and pick which other discipline that I could wing. I would probably maintain my running, add in some swimming, and put in minimal time on a bike because I know I can cover the distance. Clearly that training technique wouldn't have me setting any land speed records on the bike, nor would it get me my best possible time in the tri, but it would probably allow me to finish comfortably and maintain my running base for a goal race later in the year.

**All of  this from the person who has never done a tri. What the heck do I know?**

[mrs.jacinthe]

May 24, 2013 14:23:46 GMT -5 kams said:

Can you do Sunday's run on Monday?

I think so.  That Thursday thing is killing me, though.  Thursday nights already SUCK and I don't know when I'm going to fit the bike in - I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy a trainer and set it up in my office just to get the time in if I stick with that plan.

Brit - I've thought of that, kinda half-assing the bike and just training for the swim and the run with a few spin-class/treadmill bricks thrown in.  But I'm worried that could come back to bike me in the ass, since I don't know how hilly the bike course is and the race is at altitude.  I mean, I'm fairly confident that I can ride the 40k in under two hours ... but I don't currently ride at altitude or on mountain roads, which is terrifying to me.  (AND YET, I'm doing the race.  LOL)

[kams]

May 24, 2013 14:40:40 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

I think so.  That Thursday thing is killing me, though.  Thursday nights already SUCK and I don't know when I'm going to fit the bike in - I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy a trainer and set it up in my office just to get the time in if I stick with that 

Yeah - it's so hard to wiggle it all in when someone isn't doing all that swimming, so I see why it's such a challenging juggling act for you. 

Just for a scheduling point of reference, I never have a day where I swim only.

If you can swing a trainer, I would try to get a bike session in on Thurs before work or during lunch or something. The bike leg is the most bang for your buck, so being strong there will have a big impact on your overall time. If you're wiped after the bike because you're not in great riding shape, you'll be more tired getting off your bike & then your run may also suffer.

That said....even if you don't fit in every single training session, you will have fun and will finish!