How difficult is living with a triathlete? - Part 1

Unlike most other athletes, triathletes do not just do one sport, but three! All of which should of course be trained accordingly. However, since work also takes up a certain amount of time, help in the household and free time together with the family often leave a lot to be desired. Here are some tongue-in-cheek tips for harmonious coexistence with ambitious triathletes.

There are very different "points of friction" between life partners, one of whom has been infected with the triathlon virus, but the other is wondering why one burns so many calories just by unnecessary walking back and forth. For example, the non-triathlete is wondering:

• Is the constant urge to move a disease?
• How and what should I talk to my partner about?
• Help! The sport eats up so much time (and the athlete so much food)
• Who should actually pay for the expensive material?
• What? Do you want me to watch the whole thing?

Triathletes are welcome to take this post to heart. However, it is primarily aimed at their life partners. And to people who are still thinking about starting triathlon and how to just explain it to their partner. By the way, these tips have already saved many a marriage...

Understand the urge to move

Dear triathlon partner, in order to understand your athlete's urge to move, you could try to move a little more yourself. Maybe that will awaken an undreamt-of enthusiasm for it. It doesn't have to be a triathlon either. Running or cycling alone is fine too. Handball or figure skating, on the other hand, could bring new problems if you suddenly licked blood and started training properly yourself. The disadvantage of this is that it usually takes a few weeks for undiminished joy, and without a certain persistence, you could only find the urge to exercise even crazier.

Learn Tri-Speak

What do ambitious triathletes like to talk about most? Of course, about their sport! So if you want to have a sensible conversation with your partner, you need the right vocabulary. You can look up terms like Aero, Agegrouper, Ironman, coupling training, negative split, Neo, W1 and W2 in any triathlon book. But it is important not only to know the meaning of these technical terms, but also to use them in sentences. In correct, triathlon-specific sentences!

To make your partner feel fast, say something like, "Hey, you were super aero on the bike." Aero is good, but only to be used in the context of cycling.

If you hear that the water temperature is 16.5 degrees on the day of the competition, say something like: "Oh, you must be swimming with a neoprene cap, right?" On the one hand, this shows sympathy for the terrible conditions your partner is dealing with will have to fight. On the other hand, it does suggest that you are concerned that his or her brain could freeze and that there could be some noticeable repercussions.

"What time does your starting group start?" proves that you know the complex logistical processes involved in triathlon.

The art of multifunctional training

When the lawn at home mutates into a meadow and the mountains of laundry grow sky high, a triathlon partner can confidently point out the advantages of recreational sports such as lawn mowing, ironing, weeding, street sweeping or clearing out the basement.

A joint excursion is also a great opportunity for a harmonious family day: the triathlete, for example, rides his bike to the destination or even to his parents-in-law, where the calorie deposits are then refilled to the general enthusiasm.

Not only training belongs on the schedule

Time together with your partner or family is important and is just as much a part of the schedule for every ambitious triathlete as training! It doesn't matter whether you eat together or go to the cinema, spend a weekend in the mountains, at the beach or at the lake - triathletes should also show that their partner and their relationship are important to them!

There is more here!

So, that's enough suggestions for now on how you can better coordinate your sports addiction and family life. Next time it's about the two points "Accepting the toy" and "The triathlon spectator".

Incidentally, these tips and some of the formulations come from a book that is primarily aimed at those who are not yet triathletes, but which, among other things, dedicates an entire chapter “For partners of triathletes – tips for a harmonious coexistence” to triathletes’ life partners . A good investment in the future of your partnership for triathletes too: This is how you get going – triathlon for couch potatoes. Don't wait until the divorce attorney is at the door to buy it. ;-) And maybe your loved ones will also be inspired by the triathlon...