Team #3 - August 4 is More Challenge (Page 8)

I hope you had a an excellent vacation!  Welcome to the team!

Great job so far!  Glad to see I'm not the only one who has to work this weekend   I'm heading in for a few hours today.

I got a nice ride in this morning.  I almost made it back before the rain hit.  Had to do the last 5 miles in a pretty good downpour.  Fun times!

I looked like I'd been caught in a downpour after my run this morning. Gotta love South Carolina in August. Nothing like the feel of running with a wet blanket over your head.

Oh and I had TOPPAGE!!

Wowwwzwer! Got my strength session in, darn near made me hurl, but kept it together. Rearranged furniture and cleaned today. I get to REST in the morning...watch I probably won't be able to sleep in.

Yes, wrong, but very impressive at the same time

That must have been one intense strength session.

I hope you're sleeping in right now!

It was, I love to pump iron but that was hard!

Today is a rest day.....still have the urge to run. So here is my thoughts. I read everyones logs, and they have long 2-4 hour sessions of run/bike. How does the family react to that, and are they into the tri thing too? My HB is NOT active at all, nor is any of my family supportive (extended). I have to get up at stupid hours and do it while they are sleeping. They do not understand why I do this to myself and often get cheated out of planned races. Kind of a serious topic, but a struggle. I will not be racing next weekend as planned.... . He wants to travel in the opposite direction for a carshow. weeee. I will get a long run in anyway.

Edited by ilucy2 2009-08-10 9:18 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. My extended family is very supportive. Without my parents (and even my in-laws at times), competing in the ironman would have been impossible. In my immediate family, we have the opposite problem. We are all into something that requires give and take from everybody. Hubby is an avid cyclist, kiddos are on swim team and also do tris. I am focusing on short course racing next year even though I would love to do another ironman. The training just takes way too much time and everyone sacrficed for me last year. Now it's my turn to give up a little so that the other family members can achieve some of their dreams

I have friends that love it that their SO's are not athletic, because there isn't a fight for training time. It is hard to balance the time for training and the guilt that comes along with it. My family has come to realize that I am happier, more relaxed and a better person when I workout regularly. You know the old saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". It is all about compromise.

It's a journey.  I first started marathon training in 2003.  My wife was very supportive, but started to get a little annoyed when my 20-milers (3+ hours) crept into the Saturday afternoon hours.  Time I wasn't spending with the kids or doing typical Saturday morning work on house projects.

What I started doing was waking up super early (6am) to get my long runs in, getting back home just as the family was waking up.  I started doing the same during the workweek.  Early morning workouts before work.  I was finding that the family was getting ready for school or sleeping in during the summer anyway, and I found my morning commute was much quicker since I got on the road earlier (I worked out at a fitness center on the way to work or at the small fitness center at work).

After a few years, my wife got tired of seeing me go out the door every morning without her.  I told her she should lace up the shoes and go running with me.  She did.  I WENT AT HER PACE.  I threw out my own training schedule, and just went at her pace.  We just went a mile.  Out to the school and back.  We enjoyed the time together, then I asked if I could go finish my workout.  I just subtracted the mileage we did together from my scheduled workout.

This went on for a few weeks and we built up the mileage.  I convinced her she could easily do a 5K.  She wanted to go straight to a 10K!  So, we wrote up a schedule for her and signed her up for the race.  I trained with her as much as possible AT HER PACE, and we ran the race together.  I had no goal of a PR, just made sure my wife enjoyed the race.  I was probably pretty annoying...I would run ahead of her and snap pictures, then run with her for another half mile, then do the same.  She got hooked.  It was family time together, and we were staying in shape.

Next she wanted to do a tri.  I coached her through swimming and biking and modified my schedule to include her workouts as PART of mine.  She is in her 3rd season of triathlons.  I just built her a new bike.  It's a tri frame and we'll switch out to aero bars and clipless pedals when she's ready.  We're doing Square Lake tri together next month.

Be patient and supportive.  It's worth it. 

P.S. I'm still working out with my wife on the Saturdays that we can:

I went riding with her last Saturday morning (at her pace), and ran 5 miles with her (at her pace):

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/index-weekly.asp?memberid=18439&year=&month=&day=

I did my LSD (long slow distance) run while she went shopping with my son.  Didn't skip a beat.  We both got back home at about the same time of day.

There's always plenty of time for speedwork during the week...

Edited by sparco 2009-08-10 10:02 AM

Well, being single I am not going to be a whole lot of help on this topic since usually only I dictate how I spend my time. 

I have always marveled at how those with a family find the time to get in their training.  It has always seemed like a such a delicate balance and I cannot begin to understand all of the sacrifices that must be made on both sides.

Best of luck in making it work.

Quiet afternoon in here.

Everyone must be out training hard

I got in a nice short run today.  No taper madness here.......yet

Sparco, utter SUCKAGE at the Turtleman mixup! Ugh, to have credit card nastiness in the first place, and then to have it screw up a race a year later - stinks!

ilucy2, a lot of people really struggle with that. I even struggle with it just with my BFF who demands a lot of my time. I managed to do a lot of training when I was married because I could work out at work. She started whining about my fencing, though, which was really tough. Now I get to do whatever I want whenever I want, which is awesome! Good luck figuring out a system that works for you and your family. Remember, WE support you, you aren't in this alone!

Had an awesome backpack this weekend. I'm really struggling with the limitations of my body and mind right now. Got a call from the MS office right before I hit the trail confirming that I need to have a lumbar puncture. I knew it, but now it is official. Whatever, I just want to get it overwith.

I've decided to skip work next Sunday night to go backpacking again. I had to wrestle a vacation day from work to be able to do the lumbar puncture so I won't get paid, but I'm going anyway. I've worked out how to carry the absolute minimum weight possible, so I really hope I'll be able to do the whole thing. I may be feeling crummy now, but I won't let this stupid disease keep me down for long!

Slugger, I admire your courage facing this.  It looks like you have a great attitude and are not going to let the disease stop you from doing the things you enjoy.  Good for you!

Happy Tuesday everyone!