How do we do it? If you, like me, are an entry level Triathlete/runner. This is a question you will have asked yourself on many occasions. If you are a parent, husband or wife then this question is asked of yourself more often.
Finding the balance between training and family is an issue that has come to the fore more recently to me. I am currently training for the Brighton Marathon in April. The runs are getting longer. The training, harder. The fatigue, greater.
I work as a chef. This line of work in itself does not lend itself well to a lot of free time. It involves working split shifts (e.g. 930am-2.30 then 5.30-11pm). Throw into this three kids and a wife who also works full time…Feel my pain!
So, to my main point. Finding the balance. There is no magic cure. Only that I had to realise my ’Actual Realistic Goal’ I am not going to qualify for an Olympic marathon place. I will (probably) never qualify for Kona Ironman world championships. Doing the best I can has to include my life limiters. I don’t want my kids to resent my hobby. I love triathlon and I love running. But when they say stop or “dad I need help” I will be there. I want to get to the end of the Brighton Marathon with my legs and my family in tact. I have NO time goal.
I now try to avoid doing long training sessions while the kids are about. This means my long runs are on my (week) days off or very early morning. No more sneaky afternoon Turbo sessions. Which I don’t miss.
Until the time comes that I win the lotto. Or one of these sport companies decides to start sponsoring ’Crap’ athletes. I will have to keep working to pay my bills and for my hobby.
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