Yes. Believe it or not.
Now, I'm just as OCD about my tri training and participation as most others. I think it is important to have as plan, stick to it, and be constant in your training. But, let's face it, most of our chances of going pro as slim. Triathlon is a great way to get, and keep, one's body healthy. It is a great group of people to hang out with. And, it is just plain old fun.
But, there is a point of diminishing returns. What I am talking about here is both over training and about negatively impacting one's non-triathlon life. The second, of course, assumes that you have a life. If you don't, that sucks for you. Get one, you'll like one.
First, to the second. With Ironman Wisconsin around the corner, I have witnesses a lot of triathletes not talking about tapers, runs, or bike rides. They are talking about how their families are all looking forward to when, "Ironman is over." Now, I don't know what their family dynamics are like, but I can speak to mine.
I would like to do Ironman. At least one, but I know myself and one would probably start a trend. My wife knows this too. I've sat down with the numbers and with my training schedule. For me, personally, to do an Ironman would require about an extra eight (8) hours of training a week. Side note: When I say "do" an Ironman I speak to maximizing my personal performance at one. I would not like to "just do one to finish it". That is not to say that just finishing an Ironman is not an accomplishment. I just feel that if I am going to do that volume of training, I want to maximize whatever my performance would be at that race distance. Back to the story: So, I need about eight more hours a week for about three months. For Ironman Wisconsin, that would mean for the months of June, July, and August I would have to keep my training schedule about the same as it is now during the week, but would have to add Saturday and Sunday training. See, right now, I only train for two hours on Saturday. I do a kind of long run and a short swim on Saturday and Sunday is my off day. I think for Ironman I would need Saturday for a long bike and medium run and would have to add a long run on Sunday. I would make Monday an off day, but still. Now, what does that have to do with the subject? In order for me to change my training as such, I would seriously impact my family's schedule. And, I would make seeing Daddy on the weekend more difficult. Believe me, Julie and I have discussed this at length. She understands that I want to do Ironman. And, I understand what function I play in our family unit. Together, right now, I remain content to race one Half Iron distance and a bunch of sprints. Maybe next year I'll do a couple or three halfs (not halves). We'll see.
So, to the second point from above, I have a lot of fun training for and racing triathlons. But, I have a lot of fun being a husband and father. I do what I can to prioritize and get in my tri training done. But, through much negotiation with Julie and some actual understanding, I know that husband and father are better life titles than triathlete. Some of the guys I've recently overheard talking along with what they are saying about their families, have lead me to think that either one, some, or all of the following may have taken place in their lives:
1. They did not really understand how much training is necessary to do an IM.
2. They did not express how much training is necessary to do an IM to their family.
3. Their family did not really understand how much training is necessary to do an IM.
4. There was not a family discussion about doing an IM.
5. Real life priorities were not kept during IM training.
I can definitely see how any or all of those above could happen. A couple of those are holes that could just keep getting deeper if you let them.
In the end, as non-professional athletes, what are those fifteen minutes off your Ironman time worth? If you want to go to Hawaii, I'll bet just about any travel agent will book the flights for you. Heck, what is that silly piece of tin with an attached ribbon from your local tri worth? What are they worth when you weigh them against your life outside of triathlon?
As for over training. I'll touch on that in an upcoming post. I have to admit that I am just tired of typing right now.
See ya.
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