How do we manage?

It’s hard to be an athlete. How do we manage when it’s simply a hobby? To be a successful athlete, we need to put in the hours of training, travel on weekends, get proper rest, eat right — we have to be pretty selfish. We all have goals we want to reach, from finishing a one-mile run to running a personal best at the Boston Marathon. Our work to reach these goals takes time away from our family, time away from our work. The money? Do I need to even mention the travel, equipment, massages and entry fees? It all ads up.

How are we to manage? How can we be at our son’s baseball practice, daughter’s recital, work, mow the lawn, finish the basement, plant the garden, grocery shop, wash the car, clean the garage… and still have time to train, not to mention the time to compete?

It’s hard to prioritize. Every year I look at the calendar, checking off races that I would enjoy participating in. I’ve got a long list, filling just about every weekend between March and December. Ambitions run high in January.

As I work to squeeze in workouts at 5 a.m. or noon or 7:30 p.m., many planned workouts get bumped by other activities. Then when the first competitions of the season roll around, I often find myself a bit out of shape. Or there is a swim meet or baseball game. Or all of the above.

My desires as an athlete are far greater than the reality of available time and money.

How do we manage?

I wish I had an answer. I remember the days when I’d hop in a car with a few buddies, drive off to some obscure race for the weekend, pile into a hotel room (all of us on the cheap) and race to my heart’s content. Not anymore. Family responsibilities require me to work weekends, miss my workout to be at my kids’ events, spend money on braces, college, football camp, swim club, etc., leaving little to pay for my entry fees, travel and equipment.

I suppose it all comes down to priorities. Every one of us is forced to choose between time spent with our kids, time working on the “honey do” list, and time earning enough to pay the bills and feed our family and time training. All of these choices are value based. When it comes down to it, what do we value? Our individual values guide where we go on the weekends — work, baseball game, band competition, church.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it seems when the planets align, when all is good and right with the world, we get to squeeze in a long bike ride or a long run followed by breakfast at Dahl’s or maybe an open water swim with friends. And when we’re really fortunate, we show up at the starting line. Not in the best shape of our lives, albeit, but we’re there, happy to toe the line and be among friends.

Yes, it’s hard to be an athlete. But the challenge isn’t always in the event itself. It’s more often in getting to the event and being ready to compete.

But most or reading this won’t wait for the stars to line up. You find ways to make it all work. Good luck, everyone, and I hope to see you at the starting line or out on the trial a time or two this year

 

Dave and Dee Mable
Iowa Momentum Endurance Sports Magazine

 

Editor’s note: While I may serve as the editor of this magazine, I must also give credit to my wife and partner, Dee Mable. She serves as your Advertising Account Executive and is responsible for working with our great customers who support this magazine. Without her efforts, we would not have Iowa Momentum Endurance Sports Magazine each month. As such, I’ve changed my “Editorial” photo to include both of us.

 

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