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No IM Lou for me in 2011
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 2010-09-01 9:44 AM |
Expert  1023  Ft Gordon, GA |  Subject: No IM Lou for me in 2011No IM for me next year. After speaking with my wife as I was getting ready to sign up (taking everyone's advice to clear it witrh the SO first), I realize that it would be way too much time training away from my family. My wife, who is wonderful and truly a saint, told me straight up that it was NOT to her liking and that she would not be at all supportive of it. Cannot say that I blame her at all as I have been deployed twice to Iraq in the last 24 months (12 months total time deployed) and we have 5 kids all under the age of 10. Time for me to get my priorities straight. The real time killer is cycling. Even when I ride the trainer, it is still time NOT spent with my wife and kids. I am able to run at work during lunch but long runs/rides, even very early (0400) do not work b/c if the kids wake up at 0600 (and usually one of them does) I am gone and not there for her. Also, if I am dead every night from training so much, she is sad that I do not have any real awake time to spend with her after the kids are in bed. Looks like it will be a few more years before I head down the HIM/full IM trail. Consequently, I am swithcing my focus to doing some ultras over the next year, where I can do most of my running during my hour long lunches and maybe steal just one long run on the weekend at 0400. She truly is a saint! I'm bummed but totally understand. Now to get back to running! |
| 2010-09-01 9:49 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Extreme Veteran 877   Pa | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 She already goes without you for so long while you're on deployment. I understand where she's coming from. 5 kids all under 10 is a lot (coming from someone without any). Ultras are just as exciting, as I'm learning :-) |
| 2010-09-01 9:57 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Expert 2180 Boise, Idaho | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 I made a similiar decision in 2009; kids, jobs, relationships-all would have suffered greatly. Looking back I know it was the right decision. The sport of triathlon isn't going anywhere-you'll get your shot at an IM...at a time in your life when EVERYONE can celebrate your accomplishment. Good Luck. Enjoy your family. and THANK YOU for wearing the uniform. |
| 2010-09-01 9:57 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
| Extreme Veteran 664 Minneapolis | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 No worries - there will plenty of HIM and IM in the future! I think you'll be well served by continuing to build your s/b/r base (just doing what you can in your time available) - that way, HIM/IM prep down the road will be much easier when you are coming from a strong foundation. I came to triathlon from a distance-running background, and my tri training is all still run-heavy. Back in the day, I would "train" for a marathon, but these days, if I want to run a marathon, I just go do it. I can get away with that because of the solid base I have built up over the years - very little (if any) additional marathon-specific "training" is needed anymore. Hope that makes sense - my point is that any base-building you can do will serve you well in the future - yeah, I know that ain't rocket science, but sometimes it helps to see that perspective again  Be safe over there in The Sandbox, and Godspeed home, brother! Cheers, Chris |
| 2010-09-01 10:04 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Expert 1002 | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 It's disappointing, but great advice. This year I trained 10-20 HPW with 2 kids, full time in school, 20-30 hours at the job and the wife also in school and at work. It was a struggle and I am not doing IM next year because of it. The family has been great this whole year, so I'm going to be great to them in return. I can't even imagine what it must be like for your family to have you gone in such a dangerous position, so you absolutely, positively, 110% made the right choice. Ironman isn't going anywhere. Good luck with training for ultras! |
| 2010-09-01 10:06 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Regular 288 Doylestown, PA | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 You did the right thing - and clearly have your priorities straight. Welcome back state side... thanks for your service... enjoy the time ahead with your family. |
| 2010-09-01 10:10 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
| NH | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Again, thanks for serving us. We sleep soundly at night in no small part due to your efforts. As far as IM postponement, looks like a great decision. Perspective and priority is the key. IM is a full family undertaking, and you really want to hold off until everyone will be at the finish line totally in support of the effort. And I know it's been said a million times, but IM's will be around. Good luck. |
| 2010-09-01 10:12 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Elite 3515 Romeoville, Il | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 I've come to the same decision, sadly.  But the decision was mine. My wife is supportive. I'm going to do some HIM's next season and keep the IM on the table for 2012. Doing that should give me a good base for IM training. If nothing else, that'll make putting the training time for IM in more tolerable and me less irritable!  |
| 2010-09-01 10:19 AM in reply to: #3075762 |
Regular 288 Doylestown, PA | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Meulen - 2010-09-01 11:12 AM I've come to the same decision, sadly. But the decision was mine. My wife is supportive. I'm going to do some HIM's next season and keep the IM on the table for 2012. Doing that should give me a good base for IM training. If nothing else, that'll make putting the training time for IM in more tolerable and me less irritable! Also not a bad thing... you need to be fully committed. |
| 2010-09-01 11:15 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Master 2210 Columbus, OhioCoaching member | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Sounds like you have a great attitude! Thanks for your service to our country. Five under 10. Wow. I think you made a good call. It won't be long until they can drive themselves around and don't want anything to do with you. Time flies. I'm doing this year (IM) but am voluntarily giving it up until my youngest has his driver's license and doing short course for awhile, where those killer 7-hour bike rides aren't a factor. I can train for short course mostly before they wake up, or on lunch hour. |
| 2010-09-01 11:21 AM in reply to: #3075998 |
Veteran 351 Bucks County | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Sprint and Olympic distances for me. 4 hours of commuting a day doesn't give me barely enough time to train for Olympic distances. Did Timberman 70.3 a week ago and that was it for me - a terrific experience but you just need to be able to set aside sooooo much time to train and I can't do it - makes me feel way too guilty. |
| 2010-09-01 11:25 AM in reply to: #3075743 |
Master 2426 Central Indiana | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 ironman2284 - 2010-09-01 11:06 AM You did the right thing - and clearly have your priorities straight. Welcome back state side... thanks for your service... enjoy the time ahead with your family. ^^^^^ Long course tri's will always be there, but the kids are only young once. And there are plenty of great stories of folks doing their 1st HIM/IM with one of their kids. |
| 2010-09-01 11:41 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
| Master 2009 Charlotte, NC | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 That's a shame but I understand. I have 4 kids under 4 and I gave my husband the chance to say no but he didn't (this time). |
| 2010-09-01 11:43 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Extreme Veteran 547 Canyon Hills (Lake Elsinore), CA | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Time to focus on FAST! After a similar conversation with my wife I thnk she is scaling back to mostly running races and I'm going to race a couple reverse sprints and a few Du's next year. Family first will never be a regret IMO. |
| 2010-09-01 12:55 PM in reply to: #3075674 |
Regular 853 | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Again, THANK-YOU for serving!!!!! I have 2 kids ages 14 and 11. They are very different children and are involved in tons of extra-curricular activities. My husband works long hours and trains as well. We are heavily involved in our church and I am an officer with the local band boosters organization. This is football season, so my fridays are spent working concessions, and I am also one of the cooks at the concession stand. I trained for a marathon last spring, and that was time consuming enough. There is no way that I could train even for a HIM right now. If you look at my logs you can tell that I agree with the statement that the bike is the big time killer. I might get in 2 rides a week, but usually I am lucky to get 1. My long ride is about 25 miles right now. The running is so much easier for me, because I can get that done early in the a.m. and still be a good wife/mother. The long course stuff will only grow in popularity in the coming years, and your family will thank you for spending time with them. I plan to just do sprints and olys until mine are a bit older. I think you made the best decision. jami |
| 2010-09-01 8:25 PM in reply to: #3075674 |
Extreme Veteran 688 | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Triathlons will always be here but family may not. I think you made the right choice! |
| 2010-09-02 3:22 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Expert 1023 Ft Gordon, GA | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Thanks everyone for the replies. I was obviously down a bit but you have all made me feel much better about the whole situation. Running really does require so much less time and effort for training than tri's (by effort I mean prep as in driving to the pool, changing into swim suit, multiple hours on the bike to get a work out in, etc). You are all very correct, long course is not going anywhere, I've already spent a lot of time away and my kids are only getting older and more independent by the day. Thanks for all the life advice and encouragement. Truly makes me feel a lot better. And only 2 months to go until I get to leave Iraq, hopefully for ever!!! |
| 2010-09-02 5:11 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
| Fishers, IN | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Good call, you have your priorities straight. You only have one shot at being with your family - particularly when they are young. They grow up way too fast and at this point your spouse really needs you and your help. With 5 under 10years, no way in the world I would consider it. There is a big diff between IM and HIM w.r.t. the killer long weekends, but the sprints can be done with much less time. At that stage, I just did marathons. Most of the year I did not need the long runs and when I was peaking I got the long runs in starting before sun up and was done before the got out of bed (usually). Either way was home before 8:00AM. Much easier to train for. Ultras? I don't know about their long runs. I will tell you, the fanfare at the marathon distance is the greatest I have seen. That is a blast. Enjoy the family, enjoy being healthy, and best wishes. |
| 2010-09-02 6:55 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 We have 5 children as well and it gets easier to train once they are older. Our kids are 21-12 and I can't imagine training for an IM when they were more like 11-0...not time to do much. Still lots of goals to set and achieve doing shorter races. Thanks for serving! |
| 2010-09-02 9:36 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Master 2158 | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 Thanks for your service! As others said, a good decision. Family counts, and doing it with their support will be worth the wait. In the meantime, build your base, maybe some oly's, and get fast! Good luck! |
| 2010-09-02 10:31 AM in reply to: #3075674 |
Veteran 348 Cincinnati | Subject: RE: No IM Lou for me in 2011 You're and IRONMAN in my book for what you have done for our country. You dont need a race to prove to anyone that you are an IRONMAN. I think everyone in BT would agree with me as well. Thank you very much for what you have done for our country!!! |
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