I need to know it's possible to train/ race with children (Page 2)

I think it all depends on your schedule. One of my blogger/FB friends just scored a Kona slot at Honu 70.3 and her baby is 6 months old. She'll be back at Kona again before her daughter turns 1 - she definitely got back to training pretty quick with a newborn. The plus for her is she stays at home and her husband works.

You are definitely very young and have lots of time to have kids, I hate to think you are feeling rushed

Most important for me is my husband's support, with 4,6,6, and 10 yr olds, that is the most crucial!

Best wishes!

Agreed. An understanding spouse is a treasure.

I am training for my first tri, but have been running and for 3.5 years and racing quite a bit.  I have two kids, ages 7 and 4.  I am a stay-at- home mom and my husband travels ALL THE TIME.  I figure it out.  I either get my workouts done before he leaves for work in the morning..so early.. or I take the kids with me to the gym (they have daycare) or I would run outside with my daughter in the jogger.. my indoor pool also has a daycare.. you will figure it out.  If it is important to you and you make it a priority, you can do it!  No doubt!!!

33 years old.  3 year old daughter (in the avatar).   My wife and I both do triathlon and marathon training at the same time.   It just takes some scheduling practice to find time for both of us to workout but after 2 years, we don't have any problems finding the time.  The downside...days like yesterday when I had run 5m at lunchtime in 90 heat and then bike after work in 93 degree heat because that was when my schedule allowed it!

Don't worry about not having time to train when the baby is born...you will be so freaking tired and delrious you won't even know what day it is.

Good luck with "trying"!   

Edited by bgraboski 2009-06-20 7:29 AM

It is definietly possible but you will find that you will (1) have more training toys (2) become more organized and (3) support from your partner is a must.  I am a mom of a 3 and 1 yr old, both my husband and I work full time and we both race.  As the previous posts have said, while nursing it will be tough to go for more than 2 hours or so at a time, not just for the baby but for you too.  A bike trainer and good jogging stroller are a must, and a kid carrier for the bike does help.  The baby can come with you on runs and you can ride the trainer while the baby is napping.  I find that I can get in a solid hour after I put the kids to bed...it just takes desire and organization. 

I have not done an IM since before the 1st was born but my husband has done one every other year and I will probably do one within the next 2 years.  I have kept myself to Oly and shorter mainly because of training time.  We have done up to 50 miles on the bike as a family, stopping often for snacks and play time but it is possible to pull the kids for a couple of hours, especially during nap time.

So yes, it is possible. and you have a great coach as they get older.  My 3 year old like to say "faster, mommy, faster" on our runs together.  She will be ready for a tag along bike or will be my stoker on a tandum with pedal extensions pretty soon.

It is definietly possible but you will find that you will (1) have more training toys (2) become more organized and (3) support from your partner is a must.  I am a mom of a 3 and 1 yr old, both my husband and I work full time and we both race.  As the previous posts have said, while nursing it will be tough to go for more than 2 hours or so at a time, not just for the baby but for you too.  A bike trainer and good jogging stroller are a must, and a kid carrier for the bike does help.  The baby can come with you on runs and you can ride the trainer while the baby is napping.  I find that I can get in a solid hour after I put the kids to bed...it just takes desire and organization. 

I have not done an IM since before the 1st was born but my husband has done one every other year and I will probably do one within the next 2 years.  I have kept myself to Oly and shorter mainly because of training time.  We have done up to 50 miles on the bike as a family, stopping often for snacks and play time but it is possible to pull the kids for a couple of hours, especially during nap time.

So yes, it is possible. and you have a great coach as they get older.  My 3 year old like to say "faster, mommy, faster" on our runs together.  She will be ready for a tag along bike or will be my stoker on a tandum with pedal extensions pretty soon.

Hey I know how you feel! I love sport and the thought of having a baby up until 2 years ago terrified me. Parts of it still do but I'm counting on pregnancy hormones to fix some of that! But SOOOO many friends this past year have had kids or are pregnant that I'm feeling a little bit more maternal (not heaps though, enough for me to recognise I might be able to cope with the Mum thing on my own terms). Hubby and I both agree that with our lifestyle there will never be a "perfect" time for kids...so, once my first ever IM is out of the way in August and I've recovered we will likely start the baby process; I also told myself years ago that I wanted to have kids before 35 (I'm 32) IF I was going to have them, more for the health factor (and being able to enjoy retirement with grown kids rather than teenagers around!). I've done some reading which has eased my fears a lot: one is "Exercising through your Pregnancy" by James F Clapp; the other is just trying to find websites or forums with athlete mums - and there are many inspiring athlete Mums out there believe me!!. Gordo's wife Monica over at Endurance Corner (http://www.endurancecorner.com) gave birth 6 months ago and he discusses some of her training through pregnancy in there; he also has a free webinar in which they both discuss pregnancy, nutrition, exercise etc. Good luck - feel free to PM me if you want, I intend to blog my journey

I have 3 kids, a 3 year old and twin 2 year olds.  It is not easy and some days I don't want to do it but it is totally possible if you want it!!

Totally possible. as everyone else said, it's all about planning and the support of your spouse. So, its like everything else involving parenthood. Just fits right in.