Part VI: The Other Half

This is a triathlon, but it is not an IRONMAN

(The difference being?)

A triathlon is three events: swimming, biking & running.

An IRONMAN is 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, 26.2 miles of running.

This triathlon has those three events, but a 1/3 of the calories.

(Distances)

Sorry, a third of those distances.

(So, you will finish before midnight?)

I hope so. I would like to take my wife sightseeing. She is the one who will be waiting for me to finish the race.

As the perpetual third wheel growing up with only sisters, I am sensitive to include others in what I'm into.

(How does one include their spouse in a race that only you can compete in?)

By letting her into your world.

My wife knows my workouts.

She knows my bike & run split times.

(Why would you do a split during a race?)

She knows how fast I swim, I bike & I run. So, she knows how well I am doing by how ahead or behind I am from my projected pace.

She is captain, cheerleader & medical staff for…

(Team Dave?)

After every workout, we debrief & discuss what worked.

She once called me DURING a marathon because my pace dropped.

(What did she say?)

"Your pace dropped. You must be in trouble. Do you want me to come get you?"

"I'm walking off a cramp & no, I'm going to finish this thing."

(Did you?)
Yes, thank you. I met my wife at the finish. Which is my point. She always meets me at the finish.

Being a tri wife has been described as being an Ironman Widow.

Training requires me to be away from my family for hours at a time.

(So, what if she needs you during a training ride?)

I have my cell phone & my GPS watch.

(How does your GPS watch help your wife?)

It came with “Husband Tracking”. She can simply check her computer to see which zip code I have crossed into.

I will clue my wife in on where I am running the night before & she may ask me to bring things back from store.

(But how do you include your wife while you are racing?)

On race day the mantra is, “Hurry & wait.”

(Wait for what?)
Your athlete to pass by on the bike or run.

(That seems like a lot of work.)

Which is why I have always said, “You kept he kids safe, I will keep myself safe & I will see you at the finish line.”

The way to make your day, "their day" is to let them in on the planning.

Pick destinations your wife might like.

Heck ask her to pick the destination race.

Reward her with a spa treatment while you are out there killing yourself.

Give her spending cash to enjoy while you are racing & show her in advance where to meet you down by the finish.

The average triathlon has 3,000 competitors, with another 3,000 of their family members.

If you think your wife will be able to find you if you don't tell her where to look, you have an overblown sense of self...even for a triathlete.