I've got a crazy schedule these days, but I'm unwilling to let that be an excuse to lose all of my progress over the last year. In addition, I'm ambitious about competing in the 2014 CRASH-B (yes, I plan that far ahead).
Thus, I'm faced with the following choice: how often do I work out? I can't work out every single day, but there are days when I can work out twice. So I might be able to do workouts on MTWFS, or do MWS and do two-a-days on W and S. Which is better?
Consistency v. Two-a-days
Re: Consistency v. Two-a-days
First off. You are motivated.
Then next step is listening to your body. Do as much as you can get away with without feeling destroyed afterwards.
My example would be: six days working out a week with rowing two times Monday, once Tuesday, two times Wednesday and so on. All in all nine workouts a week.
Additionally, you may want to incorporate stretching, weights, etc. your choice. I do yoga/stretching every day and it helps.
Then next step is listening to your body. Do as much as you can get away with without feeling destroyed afterwards.
My example would be: six days working out a week with rowing two times Monday, once Tuesday, two times Wednesday and so on. All in all nine workouts a week.
Additionally, you may want to incorporate stretching, weights, etc. your choice. I do yoga/stretching every day and it helps.
Re: Consistency v. Two-a-days
You are looking at 5 workouts a week either way. I don’t see one as better than another based on the information you have provided. Would one route allow you to do more total hours of training than the other? Also, are you following a plan?
I personally do two workouts every weekday under Mike Cavistion’s Wolverine Plan (WP) plus speed work on the weekends. Mike details his personal workout schedule in the main PDF that explains the Wolverine Plan as well as a supplement PDF that is a collection of his message board posts. I believe he does 12 sessions a week.
Start with selecting a plan. Search the Internet and make a selection. The WP is likely the most involved and each workout takes over an hour. I love it because it isn’t heart rate based and because it is challenging at every turn. There's no easy workout. Alternatives include the Pete Plan. It is an offshoot that is easier to digest and allows for shorter workouts. Concept2 and Xeno Müller both have heart rate based plans if you want to go that route.
I hope my opinions help a bit. I can’t point to myself as an expert, but I obviously won’t hesitate to repeat the positions of proven experts like Mike Cavistion. The WP has enabled me to consistently increase my weekly meters and reduce my splits. I’m overcoming a serious medical handicap and a lifetime of inactivity. Despite that, I’ve improved my standing at every distance from the 5th percentile to the 20th in less than 4 months. I could have followed any plan (or devised my own) and seen some performance gains, but not like this. This is complete. I've built both physical and mental toughness. I've been shown the value of warm-ups and cool downs. I've been given a framework through which I can push myself without increasing the risk of injury or overuse. It is the most efficient use of valuable time – a resource in short supply. I rowed "on my own" for a year before I found the WP. I no longer exercise. Now I train.
I personally do two workouts every weekday under Mike Cavistion’s Wolverine Plan (WP) plus speed work on the weekends. Mike details his personal workout schedule in the main PDF that explains the Wolverine Plan as well as a supplement PDF that is a collection of his message board posts. I believe he does 12 sessions a week.
Start with selecting a plan. Search the Internet and make a selection. The WP is likely the most involved and each workout takes over an hour. I love it because it isn’t heart rate based and because it is challenging at every turn. There's no easy workout. Alternatives include the Pete Plan. It is an offshoot that is easier to digest and allows for shorter workouts. Concept2 and Xeno Müller both have heart rate based plans if you want to go that route.
I hope my opinions help a bit. I can’t point to myself as an expert, but I obviously won’t hesitate to repeat the positions of proven experts like Mike Cavistion. The WP has enabled me to consistently increase my weekly meters and reduce my splits. I’m overcoming a serious medical handicap and a lifetime of inactivity. Despite that, I’ve improved my standing at every distance from the 5th percentile to the 20th in less than 4 months. I could have followed any plan (or devised my own) and seen some performance gains, but not like this. This is complete. I've built both physical and mental toughness. I've been shown the value of warm-ups and cool downs. I've been given a framework through which I can push myself without increasing the risk of injury or overuse. It is the most efficient use of valuable time – a resource in short supply. I rowed "on my own" for a year before I found the WP. I no longer exercise. Now I train.
-Andy
PaceBoat lurched ahead unforgivingly, mocking his efforts.
PaceBoat lurched ahead unforgivingly, mocking his efforts.
Re: Consistency v. Two-a-days
Cool post Quatroux. Great spirit !Quatroux wrote:...I no longer exercise. Now I train.
Re: Consistency v. Two-a-days
It sounds like the voting is generally in favor of maximizing training volume, not necessarily consistency. That's actually kind of a relief. I'll see how that goes.