General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Getting to the Start without waking spouse Rss Feed  
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2014-05-01 3:12 PM

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Subject: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
So, I try to be considerate of my wife and children when I work out. Go early and sneak out or go late after kids in bed. But, when traveling to a race (next one is 70.3) we're all piled into two rooms and the hotel is normally at least 2 to 3 miles from the start. I hate to wake my wife to take me to the start. And, I can't leave my wife and kids at hotel without a vehicle for 6+ hours while I complete the race since they'd like to see me along the course, and at least at the finish. I'm thinking of taking along an extra bike and just ride to the transition area and the start. Anyone else do this? Other ideas?


2014-05-01 3:16 PM
in reply to: jmcquigg

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse

My first thought was to find a hotel with a shuttle service. If the event is big enough, they might be planning on having a number of guests that are participating and may be ready for that.

2014-05-01 3:17 PM
in reply to: jmcquigg

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
Find another athlete staying at the hotel and beg for a ride to the start?
2014-05-01 3:24 PM
in reply to: RunningJoke

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse

As honorable as your intentions are, if it was me I'd wake them the one time of the year you have a big race.  Have you asked your wife her thoughts?  Maybe she wouldn't mind.

2014-05-01 3:43 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
She doesn't mind. I just hate to start her day off that early on her vacation
2014-05-01 3:54 PM
in reply to: jmcquigg

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
Originally posted by jmcquigg

So, I try to be considerate of my wife and children when I work out. Go early and sneak out or go late after kids in bed. But, when traveling to a race (next one is 70.3) we're all piled into two rooms and the hotel is normally at least 2 to 3 miles from the start. I hate to wake my wife to take me to the start. And, I can't leave my wife and kids at hotel without a vehicle for 6+ hours while I complete the race since they'd like to see me along the course, and at least at the finish. I'm thinking of taking along an extra bike and just ride to the transition area and the start. Anyone else do this? Other ideas?

I almost always travel with my family so I have experience with this.

If it's only 2-3 miles from the race start, an extra bike is a viable option.

I've posted in state forums and asked for a ride from someone I hoped was not a serial killer and it worked out fine (be sure to ask and make sure they aren't a serial killer). My wife has also taken me to transition and sat in the car with the kids (all 4 of them) and let them / hoped they would / wished they would sleep for a couple of hours. I've also contemplated taking a sitter along with us to stay in the room with the kids while the wife took me early. Lastly, I have also tricked other families into going on a "road trip" with us while I did this triathlon thing. I successfully convinced them that it was a trip for "fun" and this triathlon was a minor thing I was doing on Sunday morning. This gave us flexibility to let them watch the kids while I went to transition. That strategy has worked well for me on the rare occasion that I am successful in finding someone to fall for it. (One of these was to Omaha where I said the purpose of the trip was the Omaha zoo for the kids--we went after the triathlon). A 70.3 will be a trickier deal given the length of time you'll be "out of pocket" so your story/plan may have to get more elaborate.


2014-05-01 4:04 PM
in reply to: jmcquigg

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse

Originally posted by jmcquigg She doesn't mind. I just hate to start her day off that early on her vacation

you sir, are a better man than I. 

2014-05-01 8:25 PM
in reply to: #4990312

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
2014-05-01 10:46 PM
in reply to: ultramike

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
Let your wife and kids take you. You will be excited, and they will see that. In 20 years they will remember waking up stupid early in the morning on vacation to "help" their dad rock a huge race. They will remember that way more than anything else they do on vacation.
2014-05-02 1:08 AM
in reply to: jmcquigg

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
for my ironman I had the same concern but didn't have much choice but to wake them. It was a small local one so not muh fanfare around it but my 2yr old daughter loved it (once she woke up properly!) - going out in the dark that early, there was a huge full moon that she was fasinated with and then the sun started to rise and she was in amazement! As someone else said above, yes it was early for them too, but they got to share my excitement (and nerves!) If they've been supportive of all your training so far then I'm sure they'll want to see you off!
2014-05-02 7:37 AM
in reply to: Mtnwesttri

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse
I agree that the kids will likely be excited to wake up early for the race and will remember it going forward. I tend to go alone since all i have done are local races, but they still talk about the time they woke up when it was still dark, had hot chocolate and pop tarts, and watched daddy swim in the dark with all his friends (it was a very overcast morning).


2014-05-02 8:10 AM
in reply to: BigDLobo

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Subject: RE: Getting to the Start without waking spouse

I have three kids and a wife and NONE of them can even be closely considered "morning people".  That being said, if they have traveled with me to a race, they want to see the race. I pile all 4 of the crabby apples into the car with me, drive to the race site, and head to transition.  My wife then lays the seats down in the back of my SUV and they all go back to sleep for an hour or two depending on the time available.  The boys love it.  It's like camping out.

 

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