Time to shave?

Shaving your legs is just a part of being a triathlete. Don't ask, just shave. It saves time. Easier to get off your wetsuit. It shows that you are a triathlete. It hurts far less if you crash. It makes you fast. It is…. Ahhhhh…..Oh no……

I did it again. I was looking from the WRONG side again. Let’s back up. I promised I would look at the world from the IronWidow point of view. (I'm doing better right?)

Ok. It’s time to tell the truth. I have heard many wives say they actually like the shaved legs. I have also heard wives say they resent the leg shaving because it makes them have to keep up. So what is it? Do you mind? Do you like it? Let's be honest. In a 15 hour Ironman, does the hair on your legs really matter? "I think if it was just the legs, we would be ok" said one wife to me. She continued to say "I just can't take the arms, chest and other areas. What the heck." So I dare to ask, what is "ok" in your mind. Legs? Arms? Chest?

Let’s hear it. Let it all off your chest!

Before you cast your vote, let me tell you the ultimate quote I heard this year. "Stu, I just don't get it, but I accept it. My husband shaves his legs, arms, chest and EVEN feet. When he took the razor to his feet, I know he had lost his mind." Her husband later came up to me and said, "Stu, the feet shaving is just a ploy to get her mind off my crazy looking Speedo!"

Ok, time to cast the vote!

Lessons Learned

This will be my 3rd Ironman start. The first 2 Ironman journeys where awesome for me, but not the same for my family. The family is often the forgotten part of this journey. They are the ones that get to stay home on countless weekends, while we do multiple hour rides, runs, and brick workouts. I have made a commitment to do another Ironman but have one additional goal this year. To focus more on the family journey as well. They are every bit as involved with this. They do not, however, always get as excited as I do about the process. Let me give you some examples:

What NOT to do:

1) I had just come home from a 6 hour ride. It was 80 degrees and sunny out. The day was perfect. My new bike rides like a dream. My new nutrition plan came off without a hitch! I come home with wet workout clothes, looked at my wife and started talking about my awesome day on the bike. She looked at me as if she would rather listen to me talk about how fast the grass grows.

2) Not 2 weeks later - My first long brick workout of the year (a brick is a combination workout the involves at least 2 sports like a swim and a bike, or a bike followed by a run). This was awesome. I tried my new Fuel belt (a way to carry water on your waist) and salt tablets to help deal with heat. Another great day - can't wait to tell my wife and kids about this 5 hour workout. I get home, start the same conversation of a week ago, and get the same looks. I think this conversation ended with "I'm going shopping with my girlfriends. The kids are outside. See you later."

Lesson Learned:

I think what I've learned from this is that she would be MUCH more open to the conversation if I would NOT talk about it 24 hours a day. Note to self - make sure every other sentence DOES NOT contain the words "workout", "Ironman", " Bike", "Run", or "Swim". How is that for a start? I will tell you that I absolutely love the sport of Triathlon, get so super geeked up about it, so I need YOUR help to make sure I do the right thing with my family and try to help yours as well.
What are lessons that every Endurance Athlete NEED to learn? What have YOUR learned? Care to share?