ATHLETE AND ATHLETE SUPPORTER-They are equally dedicated
Athletes that are preparing for a triathlon or marathon have put in many hours of training for their goal event. The early morning workouts often spill into late night training, as they try to fit in several sessions in one day. This is repeated over and over for weeks, months and sometimes years in order to reach their fitness goal.
Often overlooked in the process is the support network that an athlete needs to have in order to be successful on race day. If an athlete is married or has a significant other, their partner often is the one responsible to take care of the items neglected by the athlete who is out the door as the sun comes up. From making the bed, picking up the house, transporting the children to their events and doing the laundry (oh, the laundry with three workouts a day). When the alarm goes off for the athlete at 0530, it also goes off for the spouse.
Some in the sport may choose the single life or life without children to accommodate their lifestyle. This can work, but I truly can attest to the fact that it is much nicer to share you finish line triumph with someone that has invested time in what you are doing.
Throughout the past 25 years of racing in over 400 competitions, my wife has been there as a dedicated supporter. Without her and the support of my children, I would not have been able to compete with the success and drive that I had. Support can come in many subtle ways from grocery shopping and cooking healthy foods, attend school and social functions as the sole representative of the household or maybe most important, keeping your sport in proper perspective.
There are a number of ways that a family member can support their athlete prior to race day. Sometimes it may be training directly with them: on runs or swimming and riding. There have been occasions that my wife or children rode along side me providing drinks on a long run. At other times, they may drop drinks at strategic locations on your long run or ride so that you can refuel without much delay. There are other examples where I have done a long run of 20 miles or a 100 mile ride that was point to point and my family meet me on the other end with a change of clothes, hygiene items and food to then join in on the already in progress family activity
It is vital to any relationship that communication takes place often and in detail. Athletes that are trying to prepare for endurance events need to realize that even if everyone in your circle of acquaintances thinks similar to you, most the rest of the world does not revolve around your schedule. If you have chosen a partner that enjoys the same fitness likes as you this can be a blessing or curse in that they also need/want time to work out. If you have children this requires balancing two demanding schedules outside life’s normal busy routine.
If you have a major event that you have been shooting for all year make sure to include the family or friends in as much of the build up as possible. Once the big day finally comes, family support may be crucial for you to get across the finish line. As long as the day may seem for the athlete, it can seem even longer for the athlete supporter. This is especially true for an Ironman event which can take from 10-17 hours for most people. From an early morning greeting prior to a dip in the water for 2.4 miles (breakfast time) to a quick glance as they go out on the bike for 112 miles (lunchtime) to one more glance mid afternoon before the final 26.2 miles of the
Often the exhausted athlete crosses the finish line and falls into the hugs and cheers of an elated family member reveling in their athlete’s accomplishment and happy that their long day is also over as well. The family who has waited the whole day for their hero is met with a trip to medical, massage and then a story of their athlete’s long day. Although a marathon is much shorter than an Ironman, the time to travel to an event, arrive at the starting line and complete the race is equally time consuming.
So a message to the family, schedule your day around the activities of the race and make the most of it. See the local sites, enjoy the local eateries and support the local economy with purchases of your own that don’t have to have the Dot M logo. |
