Perhaps you think I made a mistake with the title of this post. Maybe you’re thinking I have finally lost my mind. You may be right on the latter but, I promise you the title is not a mistake and, I cannot wait to show you how this will work!
It’s the last Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for our…
WORKOUT ROUND-UP
You may think that two-a-days are only for elite athletes, high school school teams or the crazy, however they can save time while building endurance and strength for struggling moms who are time crunched! How? Let me count the ways…
CARDIO FOR BREAKFAST AND STRENGTH FOR DINNER
We are all busy and have ever-changing schedules to juggle from day to day. As we all know, the first step to successfully training 2-3 times a week is a plan! And, like all great plans, they often go by the wayside because life gets in the way, which is why the two-a-day plan works!
If you can commit to just 20-30 minutes in the morning, you know you will at least get that in. Yes, it may involve waking up early but, if that’s you’re only option, take it! Then, if you happen to find yourself make time for another 20 minute slice of time near the middle or end of the day, you will feel like a rock star for getting your second workout in, even though it may only total 40 minutes to an hour.
See what you can do there?
Here is how…
As you can see, you can do the second workout almost anywhere. No equipment, not a lot of space required, just an attitude of “hell yes I can!”
If you don’t like what I’ve serving, here are five more options from some of the best runners/trainers around…
THIS RUNNER’S RECIPES
FINE FIT DAY
RUN FAR GIRL
HAPPY FIT MAMA
BROOKLYN ACTIVE MAMA
Now of course you should not be doing two workouts a day, everyday. If you have that kind of dedication and time, we need to talk. But, this is a great way to up your endurance game and improve your overall attitude, by doing one of these workouts, once a week or even just twice a month.
Give it a try, brag to your friends and come back for more!
[Tweet “Save time by working out twice in one day! Trust me, it makes sense when you have 6 options. #workoutsforrunners”]
Have you ever done two a day workouts? What kind?
If you could do ANYTHING twice a day, what would it be? Keep it clean people!
It’s not crazy if 6 runners agree to it, right? And I would do happy hour twice a day if I could. Why leave it only for after work? Shouldn’t we go into work happy too? Oh boy, that would be very, very bad. Never mind.
Seriously! Just drinking four nights in a row with dinner was enough to do me in on vacation. #old
My college coach was a firm believer of this as well. He would say if you can run a little bit in the morning and evening you can still get your miles in. A lot of students had such busy schedules that couldn’t make it to practice. I’m looking for more core activities so this was helpful!
Exactly!! I know a lot of coaches use this method because of time commitments so I’m surprised that more busy adults don’t since we’re all WAY more busy then we were in college, right?
Glad you can get some more good core work from these!
I loved the round up so much that I’ve been trying to figure out how to do a two a day myself! Maybe before work at home then again after work?! I dunno but I’m inspired. Lol
YES! You have that elliptical thing in your living room, right? Show us how it’s done Nellie!!! 🙂
I am in! I’m starting today with a run this morning and a bootcamp (blab-camp) tonight. The problem for me is not scheduling the work out- the problem is getting a shower in!! Thanks everyone, you’ve been inspiring as usual 🙂
Stephanie
I know what you mean! It’s not the one-hour workouts sometimes but the drive to the gym, the packing, the shower, etc. If only we didn’t have to shower!! Can you create something for that at TrailHeads please? 🙂 Thanks Stephanie!
I actually love having these little strength training options that I will sometimes do on the rare occasion that I am watching TV….I’ll take a screenshot of all these options and use them! Thanks.
It’s perfect for that! Great idea Paria – thanks 🙂
I have been doing a few more twice a days, although mine are typically before school drop off and post school drop off- I still like to have it all done in the morning, but breaking it into two parts helps so much!
Agreed! I like to get everything done in the morning too but it’s a great option when there are no other options!
Sometimes with Baby T’s nursing/napping schedule, it’s more like 7 a day!! LOL. I’m a big fan of short and sweet strength training when I’m in the marathon training time suck. Loved this month’s roundup!!
A mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do! Get it in any way you can. That was my mantra when the boys were babies too – I used to have equipment all over the house, would do squats while the bottles were warming and lunge walks all over the place. I do not miss those days 🙂
I was about to say that this seemed like a really hardcore way to train, then my arms reminded me I did this on Sunday. 6 mile progression, followed by 30 minutes weights/core. I wasn’t trying to be hardcore, it’s just what works for my schedule.
But I have to ask you… my fiancé (aka coach, aka evil fitness dictator) says that when I do this trainings, it can take away from the other. Is that correct? and can anything be done to not cause damage ?
That’s what it’s all about – getting it done around a busy schedule! As for the question, I’m not sure I understand it. Training like this can take away from what? What is “the other?” Let me know and I will answer as best I can!
Thanks Ana!
I started two a days in college to fit in running and teaching Pilates, and I love taking a little break between the two – so I still do them most days! I loved this round up so much!
Other than work out twice a day I could do coffee breaks twice a day. Scratch that, not could, do.
LOL – I also do two coffee cups…not sure “break” is the right word but I absolutely have two! Hope to someday have one with you…after a run of course 🙂
I’ve starting taking a Pilates class, so on those days it’s my second workout. But I like these suggestions, even though I don’t run. One cardio and one strength workout is doable occasionally.
If I could do anything twice a day, I’d take two little naps.
Ah naps. I would love to do the same…maybe fall asleep reading a good book!
Another timely post Allie! I like to get it all done in one fell swoop.
Just this monday, I finally aligned all the constellations and get it done on M/W/F. These are my Base days to build my mileage back up. Bike 8M to University on my 45pound ‘beater’ mtb bike (not keen on taking a $2500 Fuji & lock it up). There, swim 3k yards, followed by 60min swim specific weights. Bike back, and I’m done in 3-4hrs.
Tuesday is a 20M gruesome hill day on the Fuji, Thursday is a long ride of 2-3 hours, and Sunday is a 1Mile swim in the Ocean at Zuma.
This is the current schedule for the next few months until I move out of Base and introduce anaerobic sessions.
Not running yet because I blew out my Rknee on the 13th and been spending hours each day on applying rehab, so in a few days I plan to stick the running in the MWF mishmash.
It is so helpful to get it all done; and then be done with it. I was fretting with all the individual sports and the time sink, it was impossible with dedicated sessions. I now have 10-15hour blocks of time for business, errands, therapy, partying, and relaxation.
So yes, if you have the time blocks, you can save a LOT of time!
Oh, great movie- Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot (WTF). I didn’t know Tina Fey was so awesome an actress:)
You are getting it DONE! I love the schedule – smart and effective. Good luck rehabbing the knee. I’m sure you will be back on the run in no time. I usually get everything done at once too but there are days when appointments, deadlines, life get in the way and it’s morning/night split. As long as I get it done, right?
I definitely want to see WTF – love Tina Fey but not a huge fan of her movies. Sounds like this one is a winner.
Thanks Claude! Happy training!
I am loving all the ideas/workouts for strength training. I am so bad about taking the time to fit in those important strength training routines. This post has given renewed motivation to fit it in! Thanks!
Strength can definitely be a struggle to fit in but, as you said, it’s so important! I hope these workouts help you sneak some in at least once a week 🙂 Thanks Kara!
Yes to two-a-day workouts! I like to pair my tennis lessons with pilates or barre or yoga/stretch. And sometimes I need 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night to make a full workout!
When those kids come along it’s sometimes impossible to get in a hour block of training, right? I know you work your schedule to fit it all in and tennis with stretch and strength sounds lovely 🙂
I’ve been experimenting with this, but doing the workout back-to-back rather than spacing them out. My logic was that it would be easier to carve out an hour rather than 30 minutes-shower-get ready twice a day. But maybe it’s better to try it this way–I’m game! Will report back. 🙂
Let me know how it goes! I usually get it all done at once too but there are those days when my schedule just won’t allow it. It IS kind of a pain to dress/sweat/shower twice in one day but, if it’s the only way to fit it all in…
When I was ultra training two-a-days were common. Not the whole training cycle but when the mileage was high. I worked out great for training to run on tired legs.
Wait…what? I don’t think I knew you in the former life when you ran ultras!!?? You are so badass!
And yes, it’s great for training your mind and body to push though a run when you’re super tired. Thanks Jill 🙂
Wow! As a runner who always needs to get strength in (but never does quite enough…) I really appreciate this post! Tonight while I’m cooking dinner I’m gonna get those squats and planks done! Thanks for this (excited to have found you after clicking over from Kissmylist). Have a great day.
Welcome!! I hope you got your strength in!…and I don’t know any runners who get enough strength in (me included) so you’re in good company. I’ve found that often, this is the only way I’m getting it done.
Thanks!
I have done two-a-day runs for a long time, because often it’s the only way I can fit my mileage in. I’m quite pleased that I’m not the only one that works out twice a day! I need to point all my critics in the direction of this post. 🙂
YES! It’s super helpful, especially if you’re doing a lot of long training runs or training for a marathon or ultra.
Thanks Suzy!