We all know that training for ultra endurance events takes time and commitment. In my experience, endurance athletes are a committed group. However, what happens when things don't go to plan? Work gets stressful, a family member falls ill and needs care, a (grand) baby arrives, a wedding is announced. Suddenly the time we set aside for training is greatly reduced or simply not there.
Life happens and is often a bit messy, trying to carry on with the ultra training plan regardless simply does not work. For many of us, even if endurance training and doing events is important, it is not the only important thing in our lives, so how do we get the right balance? Here are a few tips to help you manage your training schedule effectively.
Some aspects of our lives are predictable and with this in mind we can plan ultra endurance training around significant life events. Carefully choosing events so that the training and event can happen in known quieter times can help.
Having a calendar where you can mark key events can help. TrainingPeaks now have a feature where you can make a note of times when your availability to train is either limited or non-existent so you (or your coach) can plan your training schedule around these times. There is an example below.
Things that limit training might not just be physical events which mean you are unavailable, but events that sap your energy so you have less energy to train. For example a busy period of work usually involves increased stress which can mean you have less energy for endurance training.
Everyone is different and what you prioritise is up to you; so long as it fits in with your values and with the lives of the significant people in your life then those priorities are right for you. Identifying your boundaries around training and other aspects of your life will help you decide how much of a priority training and your event takes in your life.
Good ways to do this are:
Flexibility is a key life skill which helps us work with others and adapt as the situation changes. Ultra endurance training is no exception. I often say to athletes the training plan is a suggestion; you are the one who knows how your body feels when you wake up and what time you have on that day.
Some flexibility so that you can meet your training goals even if it's not quite in the way you originally planned will help you keep motivated and positive about your training rather than getting stressed trying to carry on with a plan that is not working for you at that particular time.
Being flexible doesn't mean that you disregard the plan, rather it's about thinking about the aim of the plan and thinking about how you can achieve that aim with the time and energy you have available to you.
Identifying your key workouts can help you be flexible whilst maintaining the main aim of your plan. In many ultra endurance training plans there are workouts which will add to your base and key workouts which are the minimum you need to do to meet the requirements for your target event.
When you are time crunched or short on energy, prioritising these workouts so that you have the time and energy for them and accepting that some others you may have to cut short/abandon will help you keep progressing without trying to do too much.
Reviewing your training progress is a good way to keep assessing that you are still (more or less) on target. It can be reassuring that while you might not be completing all the suggested workouts, you are still progressing and meeting key goals.
Of course a review can also be a time when you realise that you are not able to meet all the key goals and that you may need to change your targets to fit with what you are able to achieve with the time and energy now available to you. This might mean deferring an event or changing to a shorter event. In my experience, although changing the targets is not easy it usually results in better training and less stress.
Are you struggling to maintain work-life balance while training for ultra events? If you are finding it challenging to balance life stressors with your training demands? Our Traffic Light System helps endurance athletes monitor all stressors in their life - not just training - and adapt their training accordingly to prevent burnout and maintain progress.
Discussing your ultra training and how it needs to fit into your life can help you get some objectivity and an idea on how to make the most of the time you have to train. If you have a coach they will help you review training and plan training around your life so long as you share the things that can impact your training with them.
Your training plan is realistic if it allows for flexibility around major life events, focuses on key workouts during busy periods, and doesn't consistently cause stress in your relationships or work performance.
Yes, many successful ultra endurance athletes have full-time jobs. The key is identifying your priority workouts, being flexible with training times, and focusing on quality over quantity in your sessions.
When unexpected events arise, first determine if your event timeline is still realistic. Then, focus only on the most essential workouts, reduce volume while maintaining some intensity, and be kind to yourself during the transition back to regular training.