EM is at a point where unless you get it just right, you’ll burn out and hate every minute of it in about 5-10 years. Really really really make a point to get everything set up now, so that you can have success (and 4.5w/SL7) in the future.
If you’re killing yourself to get 8hrs of training in a week, going to the hospital tired and crusty, it wont end well. Prioritize EM first, then everything else is second.
My background is EM attending at a SDG (actually moderate sized demo group), community sites with residents sometimes. 7 years prior to that an attending at a large teaching hospital, resident from 2006-2009. I’ve seen plenty of residents do exactly as you are, and overall it is a poor plan (worrying about improving a non-medicine hobby). Obviously keep doing the hobby (biking), but do not ever sacrifice your time at the hospital for it.
This is the most important post in the thread. Thank you.
I started as a resident at at time when there were no work hour restrictions and 36-on 12-off for a month was the norm on some rotations. I was mostly a gym bro then but at least weights were easier to mix in as work allowed. TrainNow seems like a better play than trying to stick to a plan. But, if the workout interferes with sleep, skip it. You need that sleep to put away the stuff you’re learning during your shifts into long term memory, to maintain a positive attitude about work, prevent burnout etc.
I like to do the “10 years” question when faced with a decision. In 10 years, would you rather look back on standing on a podium in some local crit or having been the best resident you could have been?
Personally, I wouldn’t want to risk injury for minor crit glory. And you aren’t going to be very fast on 5 hours per week anyway. The hard hitters are doing 10-15 hours per week and treating training like a part time job if not full time.
My wife is a physician so we’ve been through residency. There was zero flexibility to be sick or off or anything. You had to be on your death bed to miss work. They’d give her a hard time about going to a doctor’s appt or trying to schedule a routine mammogram or anything.
As said above, focus on the job. Ride your bike for fun during your training. Join a bike club and test yourself in casual group rides if you like.
One of the reasons I chose Anesthesia. A couple brand new attendings I’ve spoken to talking about working 30-35 hours a week not knowing what to do with all their free time gives me motivation to keep going.
Tysoncook has some of the best advice ive heard in a good while. You absolutely need to bust your ass to the best resident you can, but also remember, now is the time that your network needs to spread. Only knowing the folks at the hospital doesnt do you any favors.
Dumb personal anecdote… mine was hockey but could just as easily be cycling. My first real job was a complete dead end. So dead end that I gave my notice I was leaving before I got my first paycheck. Everything looked great during the recruitment period but it wasnt even red flags…it was bombs going off from day 1. I didnt leave…I ran…
I met up with a buddy I played hockey with in college one night, who introduced me to another guy on the bench. We were chatting about how im recently out of work. He asked the right questions and put me in touch with a buddy he grew up with. He was at a large institution and knew the onboarding process was at least 6 mo and couldnt be of much help, so he put me in touch with a guy he knew from tennis, who put a contract infront of me within 3 weeks of meeting. Ive been with this group now for 8 years, and its been 8 great years. I got this job from a guy I knew in college, who introduced me to another guy at hockey, who introduced me to a buddy of his back home, who put me in touch with a buddy of his…point being, you need to know people, and they need to have a good reason to say great things about you!
This thread has great value, and I appreciate the insight as a partner of a soon-to-be surgery (hopefully CT surgery) resident. I’ve been doing the lion’s share of maintaining life/family/etc during med school for a high achieving surgery hopeful. Even the 4am-8pm M4 rotations were awful to try to pace and train (while being a full-time lawyer, myself). On the plus side, it made early morning rides more accessible.
I think it’s lost that partners also endure residency in their own special way. There’s something to be said for finding balance of life-enjoyment and career fulfillment. And that’s gotta be the goal (said as an attorney at a top tier global litigation firm). I love the TR model, which allows for the best use of whatever time you have. It’s truly a life saver!
welcome to the training life! once you get the work schedule, plan the bike hours around that (obvi) and make sure you leave time for sleep! i know plenty of insanely busy people (other surgeons, CEO/COO’s, financial traders) that find even 10-12h to train, and lots of time it’s a lot of 60-90m rides and try to get 1 long ride in every 10 days or so…work schedule dependent.
@thyroxine – checking in down the road. How did your plan and fitness end up? Guessing you are nearing/recently finished residency. New grad EM PA here with similar questions and concerns and hopes…