Okay....my wife is wonderful, patient, kind, understanding, forebearing, sweet, loving, forgiving, (and very sexy!, but I digress)......

My workout schedule is pretty much everyday now, with Sunday being a rest day....
I get up early before work and either go to the gym or swim in the ocean or run.....and after work, I ride my bike a couple times a week and now I have started to swim the masters swiim class.

We’ll this last development, (the master swim class I just started last week) created a little tension at the Carlsbad home of Tom........

She wanted to know if I thought my workout schedule was ‘balanced’......I told her I was training for the tri in 3 weeks and I would back off a little...but that did not seem to be what she meant.....just the overall training program seemed a little too much......

I know there is a balance...so I am willing to back off.....(if only work didn’t take up so much of the day)....

Let me know what you guys think...since you know my workout schedule better than most!

Tom, is there a way you can “alter” your scheduele so you can spend more time with your wife? Tom you a training for a very demanding event, and maybe after it is done you can spend more time at home?

Tom

You’re training for an event and not looking at making this a forever schedule.  Can you communicate this to her and also ask for her support (flowers with the request may help).  Balance in a relationship shifts - kind of like the old see-saw, some days you give, some days you ask your partner to give.  It’s only out of balance if all the give on one side.  What if you plan some time after the event where you can have some special time with the Carlsbad home of Tom. 

I have a similar situation with my BF - 6 out of 7 weeks abroad, the first weekend home in a kayak clinic, the second weekend home on a ski club raft trip (planned a long time ago and he has no interest in the ski club), third and fourth weekends at a volleyball tournament in Kentucky.  I know I need to make a special effort to spend time with him during the week for the next few weeks and show my appreciation for how wonderfully understanding he really is.

Thanks guys....I’m a pretty smart guy, and do balance .....most of the time....We’ve talked (yes with flowers in hand - chocolate from Trader Joe’s too).....and overall she wants me to be happy, just to back it off a little.......it’s reasonable for her to ask this........but my tendancy is to go for it......

Realisitically......I’m not going to win a race.....but just to compete is a great feeling......

today is gym in the morning (she’s asleep before I leave for work usually ....and tonight she works until 6:00 pm.....I’ll be home around then after my ride.......and I’ll make dinner (salmon fillets).........

this will be HER night!

Sounds like a plan. Just keep making some special time for her. 

Hi Tom,

The closest I’ve ever come to the type of training you’re doing was when I was training for karate demonstration shows, but that was ‘way back when I was 17 and had no boyfriend.  So I’ll just echo what all the other fine people on this thread have said.

One more thing I’ll add: why not plan to have a super-romantic evening with your wife on the day you finish the triathlon (or maybe the day after, if you think you’ll be too sore)?  Candlelit dinner, flowers, the works.  Just something to say “thank you” for being so patient and understanding.  If she knows that she’s getting your complete attention right after you finish the race, she might be more willing to put up with your intense training schedule.

Let me know how it goes!

Cheers,
Julie

Thanks Jenni and Julie…

Great idea to let her know it will be HER night…

But this issue goes to the long term of my workouts.....and the balance I need to work into my life regarding them.....regardless of whether I’m training for a particular race or not.....Balance in all we do....something I’ve been working on my whole life...and continue......

Thanks for the suggestions.....it’s much appreciated!