Parenthood and Triathlon
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Member
1318 days
RV posted 51 weeks ago.
Don't expect it to get too much easier as they get older ... I squeeze workouts in and around my daughters sporting events, school activities etc. Time management becomes more and more important. Flexibility in your workout schedule is a must. Lack of sleep becomes normal. Really just a matter of priorities. You don't want to miss the time with the kids - you can always reschedule a workout or occasionally skip one. My race schedule will accommodate the family.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
4438
Member
1632 days
beads1985 posted 51 weeks ago.
As RV stated it won't get any easier.
I have 2 daughters, 9 and 6. I have been doing triathlons and running marathons for the last 5 years. I have learned to survive on less sleep, to squeeze in workouts and events where I can, and just be adaptable, and realize your kids are going to take your time away from your extra activities, and that is okay.
I certainly don't have amazing race times but I keep in pretty good shape, which is my primary goal anyway.
Now the kids do some events too. Am I feeling unfullfilled with my races and results? Sometimes.
Am I feeling unfullfilled as a parent? Not at all.
I have a great time with my kids and still manage to have a good time doing my events!:D
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
223
Member
652 days
JRH posted 51 weeks ago.
got a 4.5 yr old and 2 yr old and if it isn't the family it's work. This was another disappointing tri season but the way I see it they will not want to be near in another 8-10 yrs so I might as well enjoy them now. races can wait kids won't
proud and high or low and humble - many miles before I go
http://www.insidetri.com/portal/blogs/blog.asp?strSession=60050327224390...
134
Member
1177 days
zcowgirl3 posted 51 weeks ago.
You guys are talking about how being a parent and doing what you love takes into LIFE all around. I was lucky enough to have my folks watch my daughter when I went away back to school *college* to finish. Long story. I then came home after working out all the time, was in thebest shape after having my kid and BOOM. Down hill. I had alot take on to me like doin' the mom thing, working a job, wanting a social life-which in fact that took over for a year-and attempting to come back has been a pain in the butt.
Now my daughter is 4. She is goin' to school 3 days a week, plays soccer on Saturday mornings and I work M-F 8-5 like any adult in this world. I'm such a weenie. I so could squeeze in time, I'm too tired. I could get up at 5:00am and be back in an hour for my boyfriend to leavefor work. I could go to the rec. after work and swim for an hour. I have all these ideas, then I'm like I can't do it.
Great positive thinking huh? I want to be home w/ my daughter when Icome home. I want to be around things I missed while in school but I hate how I look and what I've become. I'm anathlete. I loved Tri's and now to get back is like ONE of the hardest things ever.
I know that sorrow of no time, yet I can make it. WHy haven't I? I could tell you.
466
Member
390 days
TryScott posted 51 weeks ago.
We already bought the cart to pull behind the bike for my soon to be 4 year old daughter, and next is the running stroller. Hopefully she will enjoy going with me a few days a week on my low intensity workouts, and it will give my wife a break.
My wife hasn't expressed any problems with me leaving her alone with our little girl for an hour or two every night, but I'd feel better if my daughter could be with me while I train sometimes. The races themselves are family events. Every race I tell my mom, dad, brother, in-laws, and of course my daughter and wife.
524
Member
637 days
Ironmom posted 51 weeks ago.
I definitely don't do nearly the tri season that I did before having kids. I usually fit in 3 - 4 races a year, before kids it was 8 - 10. Part of that is that where I live there are no local races, so every race involves travel, hotels or camping, expense, etc. Our family has so many things we love to be doing in the summer, I don't really feel like I want to take up more than one weekend a month in doing triathlons.
As for training, that has gotten easier to fit in as the kids get older. I've always tried to be creative about getting in my training time. When the kids were younger, that meant jogging strollers, bike trailers, and riding my bike on the trainer at home while they napped. Now they're older (10 and 7), they can bike while I run, and it's easier to fit in my training time in many ways. On the other hand, they have a lot of activities and I'm a homeschooling mom, so I'm involved in everything they're doing from robotics competitions to dance team to violin lessons. So all of that takes time, and that wasn't really an issue when they were younger. I guess things change, but maybe it doesn't get a lot easier!
Regardless, for me it's about making it a priority to get my training in for what I'm trying to accomplish, yet also balancing it with all the other priorities in our family. And balancing my racing times with the other things we all want to do in the summer - camping, beach trips, etc.
The cool thing is seeing the kids getting into stuff. My son has done a kids' duathlon and my daughter did her first kids' tri this year. We got tandem bikes and have started doing some small-scale bike touring with the kids, and my daughter wants to try a tandem time trial with me next year. Now that's cool!
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
1619
Member
995 days
tri-ac posted 51 weeks ago.
the hardest thing is scheduling the family's free time around races when they may or may not really want to go. you've got to give them their fun events too.
the daily challenge is getting my wife her personal time too. i try to restrict my training to early mornings and it also means limiting my races to Olympic distance to keep training time to a reasonable volume
16
Member
421 days
PNine posted 50 weeks ago.
This is the beautiful thing about TriFuel - not feeling alone and being able to see others are experiencing the same as I.
I am new to tri (3 years) and even newer to parenthood (a 9 month old). I really cut back on this last season as I try to master the juggling act of personal pursuits and parenthood. I am very lucky to have a supportive wife who lets me chase my addiction. Nevertheless, there are times (often while training) that I have an odd guilt about taking time away from my family. I can't wait until my kid is old enough for the Burley!
I have asked others how they have managed the juggling act also, and the best advice I have recieved is to make the most of the time you have to train - i.e.: train harder when you can train. This can be good and bad, but has been helpful as part of the bigger puzzle that is allowing me to put things in a bit more of a perspective.
Thanks to all. . . . and best of luck. . . .
Pnine
I just finished my third full tri season and am feeling a bit unfulfilled in the quanity of races I was able to do and my general performance. As a parent-triathlete I was pretty spoiled for a few years when my wife stayed home with my now 4 year old son and 1 1/2 year old daughter and I had ample time to train. With her back at work this past year and I now taking on the morning and early evening child care responsibilities, I haven't had near the time I was use to.
Now I am just wondering how being being the parent of younger children has affect others train and racing goals. Have you had to scale back the number or length of races? Or has 8 hours of sleep and a social life gone by the wayside? Do you find that as your kids get older you have more tri time or do you just get better at making the time?
Googles, Out.
The Battle does not always go to the stronger or faster man,
Because sooner or later the man that wins
Is the man that thinks he can.