The end or just the beginning?

Kona is typically the "end" of the triathlon season. It is the day I love to see, not because it is the "end" of the season, but really the "beginning." It is like the 1st day of Winter. Many people look at this as the start of a long haul of cold and snow (if you live in the Midwest). To me, however, it is really the day when days actually get longer. How cool is that? By the official start of Winter we have really gone through the worst of it, and are on the other side. When I enter Spring of 2007, I want to have done the following:

1) Have a happy and healthy family (See - IronWidow is really helping)
2) Continue to learn about the "Other Side" of Triathlon training (Yes - that is you)
3) Be in the best shape of my life.

This is serious business training for an Ironman. It is serious for us (the ones training) and even more so for YOU. I have seen all kinds of things happen. Yes people are very supportive, but things tend to surface in the thick of the training. I have really made an attempt to be up front before the real training starts. One of my goals was to talk less about it (Ironman), look more at her eyes when I talk, and take a deep interest in all she does. This is NOT a switch from how I have been in the past (honest), but at a conscience level it is a change. Maybe this Ironwidow thing is a lesson in life, no matter what the training involves. I guess the key is NOW. don't wait until Spring when the training starts to hit high gear. Make the changes now. Talk about it. A little prep now will save a LOT later. Trust me on this one! Remember, "The Sun ALWAYS shines, above the clouds." Just remember that sometimes you have to scale a mountain to get above them.

Take out the trash Tuesday!

Ok. I have received many E-Mails asking if I could talk about different things. Here is a list of just a few.

1) Q: Have you found a way to get that "Nasty" smell out of my husband's workout clothes. STU: My wife complains about this too. I would love to find the answer to this. P.S. I do a lot of the laundry (just for the record).

2) Q: Why does his shoes stink so much the day after a run? STU: I find that anytime you run and shoes get wet, just put newspaper in them and that will keep them from smelling.

3) Q: Why can't my spouse put on a NON "Dry fit" shirt when we go to the movies or out to dinner? STU: I love the feel of those shirts. I will try and do better on this.

4) Q: Can I get a spouses guide to Triathlon lingo? For example, my husband was on the phone last night and the conversation went like this. "I'm doing a tempo run today followed by some spin-ups on the bike." What the heck is he talking about? I will make an attempt to learn, but need some help. If I do this he better stop complaining about my trips to the mall. STU: Good idea. I know some newbies that might like to see this as well. I also make the attempt to get the lingo down from my wife and her job.

5) Q: My wife says she gets a runners high all the time. I have tried but feel like a "hangover" when I run. What's the deal? STU: Hmmmm. I get the "high" about 90% of all workouts. Maybe that’s why I like it so much. Hard to explain this one.

6) Q: I would love to know what other spouses do for a living. Will you let me know? I do research on Cancer research for a major drug company. It would be interesting to see the demographics of triathlete spouses. STU: Ok, I can tell you that my wife is an awesome science teacher for 8th graders. How cool is that! And you?

Money

This is a delicate subject. Money. It is the cause of many problems, and cannot be ignored in Triathlon. How do you deal with the money situation? The bike, the wheels, the gear, the nutrition? Do you shop when he or she buys new tri gear? How do you deal with it?