One challenge for new triathletes is finding enough time to train for all 3 sports.
Training for a long course races (70.3 or 140.6) takes even more prep time.
Here is how to find your optimal time to train in 5 steps:
Step 1
Open an empty weekly calendar or blank page with the hours of the day on it. We are going to divide this weekly schedule into 3 sections:
You can always train.
You can sometimes train.
You can never train.
Finding these buckets will allow you to figure out the best time to train each day.
Step 2
Start by crossing out the times that you will never be able to train.
Think:
Work
Family commitments
Meetings
Sleep
It will be unrealistic to expect you to train during this time.
Step 3
Looking back at the calendar highlight the times when you can always train.
Indicate the hours that you always have free to train. This will be your core training hours. For me I always have time to train M-T from 9-11am.
If you are debating about a time skip it for now.
Step 4
Look at the gaps between those times.
Star any times that you might have available to train. Maybe there are semi-regular commitments that you can work around. This might be a lunch time, or mid-afternoon session.
These times are opportunities to increase training time if needed.
Step 5
Now it's time to audit the times frame noted. Total up the 'always' and 'sometimes' hours.
Your training time available = [Always] to [always + Sometimes]
This might be 6-10 hours depending on your exact schedule.
Looking at the time available you may have some hard decisions to make with your race goals.
Do I have enough time to train for an Ironman (10-15 hours)?
Do I have too much time?
Where can I squeeze a little more out?
Are there too many commitments in your schedule?
These are big questions to answer and you will need to be completely honest with yourself before taking on a long-course race.
Start by identifying what time you have to work with and consistently hit those sessions. Use your sometimes blocks to add extra training as needed.