I am not going to get too much into the software options on how to streamline training. Only because I feel like there is plenty of things out there written about that.
My persecutive for this will be ways to streamline your “life” to optimize the time you do have to train.
- Be consistent. This is always talked about but it’s usually the first thing to go. I like to knwo what schedule blocks I have in the week to do my workouts and do my best to schedule an “appointment” in my calendar to protect those times. Those times tend to be almost foundational in my schedule and while the content of the time absolutely changes, the time blocks rarely do. It makes it so much easier to know how to schedule other appointments even on the fly
- Eat consistent. Whatever your dirt choice, if we are honest mid week, food is usually just something we need to get us to the next appointment, especially during the days. I tend to use a meal replacement shake that while “boring” is super effective an I know I always have the choice to just add water, drink and go.
- I’ll borrow this famous term “just do it”. What I found out early is the times I mentally think about weather or not I want to a workout is time consuming. So often I have found myself contemplating for example if I have time for 45 min workout, and I go back and forth for 20-30 min. Had I just started the darn thing, I would be almost done. Look, if we are honest, NOBODY is excited to do every workout. There are SO MANY pool sessions for example I tell myself to complain in ,your head during the warm up. Just get the first warm up set in and see how you feel is the deal I make.
• ⁃ Become a knowledgeable athlete. I see so many athletes who have every app and gadget, but so little awareness into their goals. Example, smart watches do a wonderful loading your workout for you with your zones set by an app such as training peaks. I see athletes come to a mental and physical stand still though if they do not work and will fidget with the devices the entire time they could be getting in a good workout. You should KNOW your goals, your target paces, your current paces and some idea of HR zone or back up measurements such as breathing patterns if you do not have access to devices. I never NEEDED a device even a coach to ever tell me what I wanted to accomplish. These should be thoughts and information you have inside you.