Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Alton
A few things from a fellow 50/50 parent, rec athlete... 
Great job on doing what it takes to get to parent your daughter min 50%. Shows you have your priorities straight. Too bad there are not more parents like you out there. I am sure you maximize the time you have with your daughter as well. I know I do with my son.
For the training, make sure you mix it up. Train multiple ways. Ensure you mix speed work with endurance work, and keep up the core and some resistance training.
For the race, DO NOT worry about the location or pace of others in your age group during the race. Their is plenty of historical data (repeatable) to show what sort of time will get you to your goal. You have found this data already. Race against the data and your goal, not others in our group. Do you really know anything about your fellow competitors strenghts? Probably not, so don't pay any attention to them. Your goal should be based on a finishing time that nets you a placing you are hoping for. This will also help you keep your goal realistic and achievable, two of the most important factors of goal setting. Race your race, not anyone elses.
Why track someone (you don't know) through the swim and bike. Later you find out they were a collegiate swimmer and rode in a cylcing club but can't run worth a darn. You waste energy trying to pace them only to get spent and realize they can't run..... Again, pick a finishing time goal, and stick to it. Keep and an eye on your event times and segment times, know where your strenghts are and beat your goal.
Another thing to consider. When push comes to shove out on the course, it is really mind over matter. That is something you have already demonstrated being able to do. With the sacrifices and choices you made to do "what is right" when it comes to your child you will have no trouble overcoming the mind game of meeting your goal on race day. You know you can complete the events and you will.
I am training with my (almost) 11 year old son for his second triathalon. We train his mind as much as his body when we are out training.
Can't wait to read your post where you beat your finishing time goal! |
Thanks Jeff,
I think there are more parents (fathers) like us. The problem is many don't have the means to see it through or get frustrated and give up. I guess fortunately for me I am the only child of divorced parents. I was raised in the 60's-80's when it wasn't chic to be a single mother or a child with out a father. What I did notice was the kids whose fathers would show up at football, baseball, basketball practice were playing in the games and I wasn't. I learned real quick that if I wanted to play I needed to play twice as hard even if I was hurt, take, risks and think faster than the other kids if I wanted to play.
The family court system is stacked against us. If you approach it from a traditional stand point you will wallow and get no where. The lawyers will take your money and the judges won't change a thing. Again, I learned the system. Most judges are old white guys. Most of the attorneys are men. How do you win? Hire a hot young accomplished woman attorney. A man can not argue from a woman's point of view. I made up the most ground when the judge became a woman., Now I have a woman attorney arguing for me to a woman judge and a male attorney trying to argue a woman's point of view.
Of course you also need to be willing and able to make sacrifices and take risks. On more than one occasion I have filed ethics complaints against opposing counsel and the judge.