Keeping Your Family Happy

Swim, bike, run, eat, sleep, and repeat. If this describes you, then you probably have family members that are feeling a little ignored and maybe, well frankly, tired of losing you to training, then having to hear about your training, then being dragged to watch you race, then having to hear about your race. If your significant other is screaming "enough already" it is time to bring balance back to your life and to your running. Here are a few things to think about:
- Competitive running is seasonal, so work your schedule accordingly. It is easier to be understanding when it involves 16 or 20 weeks versus 52. Plan your racing season for the time of year that works better with your family's schedule. Planning vacations around marathons does not set the stage for relaxation.
- Run before everyone gets up or after they have gone to bed so you can be involved in family happenings.
- Take the kids with you. Go to a track so they can play, run, skip, kick a ball or cheer you on. If you are doing intervals, between repeats play with them.
- Have your children bike alongside you and involve them in your interval work. They can speed up for a distance or time while you try to stay with them. Stop to recover and share some water.
- Place a TV near your treadmill or bike trainer so you can watch a favourite movie together, or set them up to work on homework so you can help.
- Be present and available for their important activities.
- Involve them in races by having them volunteer. This way they will feel like they have participated and will be more likely to enjoy listening to racing stories as well as contributing some of their own.
- Every once in a while, blow off a run or bike and do something family oriented.
The bottom line to balancing your athletic life and your family life is to prioritize. The best solutions for your family will come to you.

Sarah Boggett ran the Robbie Burns 8k, her first competitive event in 43:16 placing her 9th out of 26 finishers in her age group.
Must attend upcoming events:
-Feb 21 Snowflake Shuffle 5k; 10am start; Riverside Trail Belleville
-Mar 21 Sears National Kids Cancer Run 5k and kids 1k; 10am start; Quinte Rowing Club
-April 11 Pitter Patter 5k/10k; Loyalist College Belleville
-April 25 Quinte West Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, walking events and a special kids program; staggered start beginning at 9am; proceed by a pancake breakfast and followed by a BBQ.
-May 9 Spring Thaw 4k/10k; George St Boat launch Belleville.
-June 11 Surf & Turf; swim, bike, run and paddle 55k as a relay teams of eight or two, or go solo.
-June 13 the ?I Do Run? in celebration of marriage from Tri & Run Sports in Trenton; details to come.
-July 1 Canada Day 5k in Zwicks Park.