Save Time By Planning Ahead: Wardrobe

Check out my other time-saving posts here!

Between work and training, weekdays can be extremely busy and I need to be efficient with my time. When the alarm goes off at 4:45 am, I want to roll out of bed and head to the pool without using much time or brain power. Here’s the breakdown of how I organize my outfits and gym bags for the week.

Plan every outfit for the week ahead

My coach sends me my training plan for the week on Sunday. Once I know my schedule, I pick all my clothes and bath towels for the week and separate them by day in a cheap sweater organizer that hangs in my closet.

Here’s an example of what I would do on a day where I only have one workout. I’ll set aside jeans, underwear, a long sleeved shirt, tank top, sports bra,  running socks, running tights, and gym towel. I’ll wear the sports bra and tank top under the long sleeved shirt while I’m at work so I’ll just have to change my pants at the gym.

Here’s an example of what I might set aside for the days I have to swim before work and spin on the trainer in the evening. A swimsuit and bath towel for masters. Jeans, shirt, bra, underwear, and compression socks for work. Bike shorts, sports bra, and tri top for the evening spin session.

For the days I work out in the morning and shower in a locker room

I keep an extra set of my essential toiletries in my gym bag and shower caddy so I don’t have to worry about forgetting something at home or deal with digging through my gym bag in the middle of a shower at home.

Shower Caddy

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body wash
• Face wash
• Spray bottle with vitamin C solution

Gym Bag

• Shower shoes
• Bag for dirty/wet clothes
• Deodorant
• Cotton swabs
• Moisturizer
• Body lotion
• Leave-in conditioner
• Perfume
• Comb
• Hair bands and bobby pins
• Spare pair of contact lenses
• Extra vitamin C powder/measuring spoon/funnel

For the days I work out in the evening and shower at home

I’ll pack a smaller gym bag with my workout clothes, running shoes, gym towel, water bottle, iPod, and a resistance band.

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What are your tips for saving precious time during the week?

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IMCdA Training Summary: February 17 – February 23

This week was a failure in time management. My training plan continues to build and I didn’t manage to make time for all of my workouts between the work that pays the bills and my final physical therapy sessions. I’m not going to beat myself up over two workouts but I’m also not going to make excuses. It’s time to move on and do better next week!

On Friday, I convinced a couple of friends to join me for an open water swim at Shadow Cliffs. Word on the street is Lake Coeur d’Alene can be pretty damn cold on race day so I wanted to start acclimating as soon as possible. The water temp at the beach was about 58 degrees F and a few degrees colder in the deeper areas. By the end of our short (~1,000 yards) swim, my hands and feet were completely numb (I didn’t wear booties or gloves). I’ll need to start testing strategies to heat up my extremities on race day. I’m thinking hand and toe warmers will be good. Any other suggestions?

Super sexy wetsuit pose

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Monday
Swim: 3,000 yards
Bike: 1 hour on the trainer

Tuesday
90 minutes of strength training
Run: 2 miles

Wednesday
Swim: 3,000 yards
Bike: 1 hour on the trainer

Thursday
90 minutes of strength training
Run: 2 miles

Friday
Swim: 1,000 yards in open water
Bike: 90 minutes on the trainer

Saturday
Bike: 60 miles

Sunday
Bike: 40 miles

14 hours total

IMCdA Training Summary: February 10 – February 16

I’m a little late in posting my recap from last week, but deal with it 🙂

Signing up for Masters Swimming a few months ago is proving to be a great decision. For years, I heard that the best way to improve in the water but I didn’t have the motivation to follow through and my swim splits suffered for it. Now, I am consistently going to Masters workouts 2-3 times per week and my yardage is gradually building. I swam 9,000 yards in the pool this week and felt like I could’ve gone farther. For me, this is monumental progress. Perhaps, I won’t drown in Lake Coeur d’Alene after all!

Saturday, my coach had us ride hill repeats. It was painful, but I need to become a stronger climber.

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Monday
Swim: 3,000 yards

Tuesday
Run: 3 slow miles on the treadmill
Bike: 20 minutes on the trainer

Wednesday
Swim: 3,000 yards
Bike: 60 minutes on the trainer

Thursday
90 minutes of strength training

Friday
Swim: 3,000 yards

Saturday
Bike: 30 miles with hill repeats

Sunday
Bike: 2 hours on the trainer