Win Some Sweet Schwagg from RoadID, Ryders and Gu

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• Thanks to all who submitted fantastic comments. I love them all and very much appreciate your tips. I will draw a winner later tonight!

  I don't want to close comments on this article, in case someone later comes along with a great tip to add. But anyone posting after this one, won't be entered into the contest. Thanks again!

• While I’m not following my own advice right this minute, I was using a very successful system earlier this year. Investing in the Mountainsmith Hauler Cube system was a very smart move. I have the four cube system plus my gym bag; the cubes are labeled Tuesday – Friday. Every Sunday night I pack my gym bag for Monday and the cubes for the rest of the week. Week nights I pull the dirty stuff out of my gym bag and load it with the cube for the next day. Not thinking about gear during the week saves a ton of time and eliminates an excuse to skip workouts. The other tip that worked really well was staying on a consistent sleep schedule. If I sleep in on Saturday and Sunday there’s zero chance I’m getting up at 5:00am on Monday. I’ll set my alarm for 5am on the weekend, get up, walk the dog, and then take a nap if I’m still tired.

• Wow, This is a potentially more difficult question than it may seem because it depends on where you are. You obviously have had plenty of advice and there is also plenty around the internet. Therefore, my best advice is what has made the biggest difference for me. I have just this past 6 weeks gained much more energy to work out by changing my diet. I eat less meat, only (well mostly) meat or eggs that are grass fed, pasture or free range as it applies. I have also increased dramatically my vegetable and fruit intake. Anytime I want a snack, it's a fruit or vegetable instead of a sweet. I've only had 1 pepsi before a 7k and absolutely no high fructose corn syrup and no sugar from outside the house. (If my wife made cupcakes or cookies, I'd have some of that.
  The difference is that I have decreased my need for sleep by over an hour a night, maybe even 90 minutes.
  I'll let you know if this trend continues.

  PS: Read Omnivores Dilemma if you haven't had a chance.

• My mini tip is involving those that support me in my training schedule as much as possible. It is all about being proactive. I keep my girlfriend updated on when I'm working out. Then we plan the timing of my workouts so we can still spend time together and with our friends.

  If I know that I have to be social tomorrow night, it is that much more motivation to get up early in the morning for a swim/bike/run so that I can still live a relatively normal life in the afternoon.

• first of all, I lately discovered that to have a balance life, you have to discuss what inner balance satisfies you with your husband/partner, especially if you live under the same roof and don't share the same passion. Mine are running and lately swimming + biking for my first triathlon. The best way for me it to get up early and join my running group for 3 or 5 miles. How do I stay focus and get up to go for my runs? I am the one organizing the running meeting. People are counting on me and if they RSVP, there is no way for me to let them down and not show up. At first (and still sometimes) I wish I would stay in bed. However, these runs always put a smile on my face for the whle morning at work. Priceless!!

• ...sometimes I don't stay motivated. But I do take these actions, which seem to help: 1) I make sure that I sign up for a bunch of races in December, plunking down a lot of cash, and keep those dates in mind as I go throughout the year. 2) I try to train "opportunistically" - meaning that I have a general training outline, based upon where I am in the season and what my goals are, then fit it in to life as it best makes sense and don't stress too much if I miss a few days. 3) I surround myself with motivated people for whom fitness is a critical part of their lifestyle. 4) I figured out that I race to have an excuse to train, not the other way around.

• My motivation to get up early is the way I feel after I do train as opposed to after I don't. Just as I am deciding whether to hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I think about how the little extra sleep will affect my attitude for the rest of the day compared to how doing a solid workout will make me feel. The workout always wins.
  As far as how to get more out of short lunchtime workouts, let it go. When your training calls for long swims, runs and rides, the lunchtime workouts aren't going to do it for you. On the other hand, I believe in positive thinking. If you are positive about what you are getting out of the short workout, e.g., a little extra work on your form, a short weight routine (really all it takes to help avoid injury), added flexibility from a yoga class, then, obviously, you won't have to worry about needing to get more out of those short workouts. I love your blog. Good luck.

• Balancing training and family is easy: family comes first, but remember that training is what makes you a better person to be around, healthier, and a good example to your children. I get up at 4:00 to get my runs and cycling in (mostly treadmill and trainer this past winter) and on the weekends I also try to fit in extra workouts by joining my son and daughter for a run (or, they run on the treadmill while I ride the trainer) - great family time! I don't try to exercise at work, though I do research into training and nutrition when I can. Work time is recovery time!

• Ahh the secret to balancing life & training! Well, I haven't discovered the secret quite yet, but here's some tips that I've picked up along the way to manage a full time job, full time grad school, 3 side jobs, starting a business, training..and oh, life! I plan my workouts for my week based on that week's schedule- I can't say every Monday is tempo day, b/c it may not work every Monday. I have several gym bags put together, so I can easily grab one based on the workout I'm doing- running, pilates, swimming. I think the MOST important thing is to learn that adjusting your training schedule is necessary- and missing a workout is not the end of the world. Also- have someone who will honestly tell you when you're taking on too much or going crazy ;)

• As a deputy sheriff and student I have to find time to train between shiftwork (12.5 hrs/alternating days and nights every month) and it is often difficult to get long training sessions in. Luckily I only work 15 days per month but on days I work my training time is severely limited. I have to make sure every second I have training is used to the max so here is how I do it.

  First, I know exactly what I am going to work out depending on whether it is my long week (Working 5 days) or my short weeks (Two days). I work out six days a week so on days I work I have my "short days" and my days off I consider them "long days." My short days are usually spend doing strength training such as weights since I think that is imperative to year round training. On those days when I'm not doing strength training I'll focus on technique or interval training. Again, these days I will be putting in over 15 hour days to include work and training so I have to ensure that the shorter training span is still beneficial.

  On my days off, which are my long workout days I can do either my brick workouts or my long run or bike ride. Usually with these days I have my leeway in scheduling when I am going to get these workouts in without work getting in the way.

  Lastly, I know it's important that you MUST train even when you don't feel like it I also believe that if you are so drained from a long day that going out and trying to train will actually do more damage that good. I believe that you need to train how you are going to perform and if my technique in the run or swim is going to be poor then I won't be getting the most from my training time and in the worst case begin to form bad habits. Of course those days are few and far between but it is an important part.

  In a nutshell, planning is key! If I have a game plan it's one less thing I have to worry about and can focus specifically on the training ahead!