I’ve just had two weeks away from home (hence the lack of a week five update) and was surprised at how hard it was to fit my training in. With my runs being around an hour, bar two long runs, you’d think getting my training done each day would be easy. However, you’re left with little free time when you add travel, socialising, family time, mealtime, and some work unless you want to be a dick about it. I could have easily told friends and family, “Keep my dinner in the oven. I’ll eat it when I get back from my run”. But no one wants to hang out with that guy.
Ultimately, I got all my training done by planning and communicating with my wife (who also trains each day). It often meant getting up at 5 am so I was back before breakfast. You’re never affecting anyone's day at 5 am!
I’m a broken record regarding having a plan and short and long-term goals because I know how easy it is to make your training work when you have a schedule to follow and a goal to motivate yourself. While away, I knew what runs I had to do, so I could plan when and where to do them and how to adjust them if necessary. Without a weekly training schedule, your training will become junk within three days of being away. The one-hour aerobic run becomes a 30min smashfeast because you ran out of time, or your long run didn’t happen because you’re “too tired from travel”. Having goals can motivate you to sort your shit out and plan. Otherwise, you know you won’t be able to perform to your best at your next race or whatever it is you’re aiming for.