Win Some Sweet Schwagg from RoadID, Ryders and Gu

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• I am lucky that my husband really supports me. I am a swim coach, which doesn't require me to work till 3:45pm. That allows me the time to get motivated to train. Also, I just love the discipline and challenge! I love the feeling I get after doing something hard. I usually have to think about that feeling to actually start the workout though. Also, pictures, videos, training blogs help me get motivated too!

  HAPPY TRAINING!

• I work a pretty demanding job that usually has me in the office at a minmum from 8-6 (on a good day), so exercising after work has never really been an option for me. I'll spend all day talking myself out of it and by the time I get home, take care of the dogs it is the last thing I want to do. That alone is what motivates me to get up everyday at 5:15 to get my workout in. The days I want to just sleep in, I remind myself how glad I will be at the end of the day knowing my workout is done. Also, I usually meet up with people in the mornings, so I have people depending and relying upon me to be there. I'm not one to let others down so that serves as extra motivation. Hope that helps!

• tips and ideas for balancing life/work/training

  I've tried a lot of techniques for balancing life/work/training but only recently have I struck gold. I used to tell myself "don't be lazy, get off your butt" or "you really NEED to get this workout in" but all of that inevitably led me to feel guilty when I missed a workout, which inevitably happened because I have a semi-chaotic work schedule. That guilt would cascade into me missing more and more workouts and did not help me stay motivated.

  So what does work? I've made a list of things I don't like about different areas of my life (work, training, extracurricular activities, etc) and then each day I ask myself "would it be nice if I worked out today?" or "would it be nice for me to finish this task before I leave work for the day?" Strange thing about phrasing the question that way: first I think about what I don't like about the different areas of my life and how the activity I'm questioning myself about would help improve that area. Then my emotions kick in and intuitively I know where my priorities should be. If there's a work deadline, I know my professional performance should trump the workout and then I don't feel guilty about missing a workout. But the thought that I don't like the way my clothes fit motivates me to eat a healthier meal instead and look forward to having a great workout the next day. It also motivates me to take the stairs instead of the elevator or do other little things if I know I'm going to have to miss my workout. I also set myself up for success by having a bag packed with everything I need for my workout (baby wipes and face wipes (so I can quickly "towel" off if I only have 30 minutes for a workout, deoderant, other toiletries clothes, shoes, etc) that I take with me EVERYWHERE. That way, I'm ready for whatever opportunities I get to grab a 15 minute workout.

• Find a workout buddy and committ to each other to get it done. I know you don't want to hear "get up early" but seriously morning workouts are a lifesaver. And the only way I can get out of bed on a regular basis is to have my husband right there with me. I know that if I get lazy then he skips a workout too - we keep each other motivated becuase if one of us slacks we both suffer. Also, try to mix it up and keep things different. I get so bored with the same thing over and over but a new place to run, a new swim workout, a different kind of bike ride - they get me EXCITED!

• My full-time job is being a stay at home mom so I've lucked out there. There's no way I could have done my Ironman if I was working too! You people who work and train impress me! I'm also one who can't put my workouts off until the evening because most of the time I won't end up doing them. The evenings are really the only time I see my husband so I try to keep that time reserved for him. I have a really hard time getting up early, though. Maybe in the summer it will be easier when it's not cold and dark. When I do make it out the door early in the morning it's usually because I've got my clothes laid out and my bag packed so I don't have to think about it. I try to get going and then wake up. I'm usually glad when I do get my workout done early, but of I don't, I can usually go to the gym and drop my daughter off at their childcare so that helps A LOT! Having a bike trainer is also really helpful because I can do that during nap time or while my daighter watches a movie or something. Makes me want a treadmil too! :) good luck with your training, I think you're doing a great job!

• Ahh... the eternal question...How do you balance everything? First of all, I think you do a pretty good job already, my friend. The thing I always think of when I'm trying to figure out my life, schedule, etc, is keeping true to the things that make me happy. Being with my family makes me happy, so I do that. Training makes me happy, so I do that. Working makes me happy, so I do that. Cleaning does not make me happy, so I don't worry about it. When my house gets to the point where it's starting to bug me (not making me happy) then I clean. I also do a lot of training during off hours, when my son is napping, after the kids are in bed, etc. For me the hardest thing is often just getting out the door, so preparing the night before is also huge!! Triathlon is supposed to be fun, not stress you out, so if you are feeling stressed out about training, maybe take a step back and figure out why you are feeling that stress.

  Thanks for this great giveaway, Carol!!

• I just completed a 16 week marathon training program and only missed one workout (due to injury). The sure-fire trick to getting out the door? "Don't be lazy." Those three little words have gotten me out of bed at 5am, out the door in -15 degree windchill weather, and through the wall at around mile 18 countless times. I say it to myself every morning when the alarm goes off and I just want to roll over and every time I come home from a long day at work and just want to hit the couch. Any excuse I have ever come up with not to workout can be boiled down to laziness. I am never too tired, sore, busy, etc. to do my workout. So I workout, and gloat because although I might be cold, sleepy, or bored, I am certainly NOT lazy.

• I work full time and go to school full time, I am new to the tri world and what keeps me going is the thought of me crossing the finish line for the first time ever and knowing that all of the late night, early morning, and super fast lunch workouts have paid off. My Tri Training is a passion so it is no burden to squeeze in tri training between classes and my work schedule. My job is very flexible with my scheduling so it allows me to work my training schedule in whenever I can (I sell real estate) so that helps me out a lot. I also run mini-blocks on days when I cannot devote a full schedule of training. Reading this blog at work also helps me to get and stay motivated to succeed. Thanks so much for the awesome info you provide! Keep it up!

• (This is a continuation of the previous post - just one entry for both to keep it fair :) )
  Oh and I forgot to add - bike commuting helps out a lot once it gets light enough to do it. Bring your work clothes and shower stuff to work the day before and pre-plant it. If you can't make it all the way to work/back for some reason, like it being too far or too many freeways, have someone drop you off at a specific point. Or carpool in and ride the bike home. I've found some great routes by just exploring off-roads in the car and on http://www.bikely.com .

• It's tough. I work full time, go to school 3/4 time, and am currently trying to train for a 70.3 in Kansas. Needless to say time is limited and I still need a bit of a social life.

  It's tough, but I make it a point to get up early and get the workouts done before work at least 3 times a week. 3 times is a reasonable goal and if you can make it a 4th day without hitting the snooze button (or outright shutting it off), consider that a bonus! I always have a rest day built into the workweek so one day feels restful. By getting this stuff done in the morning, it's not hanging over my head after work so if an impromptu invite for happy hour (or a big lunch) comes up, I can balance what little social life I have.

  I had to start out by making the workouts 5:30, then each week backing it off by :15. I get up now at about 4:30 or 4:45 most week days, depending on the workout needed. There's always a primary workout plan, but if there is a chance of rain, I'll have a backup plan to go to the gym instead of running the neighborhood.

  The workout clothes are laid out and the gym bag is packed (with work clothes/makeup etc) the night before so that I only need 15 minutes to get up, pee, brush the teeth and get out the door. No excuses. :)

  Carol you motivate so many of us, surely we can return the favor in some ways. Thank you!!!