Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Question for the Singletons

Here's a question for all of my single gal blogging pals, although guys, feel free to weigh in too. The scenario is Tuesday night is coach's spin class night. Arrive at 6 pm to set up, start spinning at 6:30, off the bike and head home at 8:30 pm. It doesn't leave time for much else. I was invited on date #3 with a really nice guy on Tuesday night to go see a play (completely last minute, but irrelevant). Obviously it wasn't possible to do both and I chose spin class over the date. Not because I didn't want to see the guy again, but I knew I couldn't make up my spin class at any other point during the week and I didn't want to miss out on working out with the team. So what do you do when you want to date and train? And will you often pick training over dating if a conflict arises? Figuring out a balance is tricky (especially considering my work load is about to pick up too), and sometimes I'm afraid to tell guys that I can't get together because I'm too busy running hill repeats. I'm a little worried that I'll freak them out if I tell them exactly how much I do... So anyhow, how do you balance life, work, dating and training?

18 comments:

RunToTheFinish said...

Well I'm not single anymore but when I was single I did a lot of reallllly early morning training sessions so that I could go out that night or I would say no, but suggest another night that was better because I knew that I needed to train that night.

Not to be all philosophical but with the right guy he gets the training and doesn't really care when you say no, as long as you also balance it with yes's.

Lily on the Road said...

It's all about balance, you have to be upfront and honest and tell him why...if he bolts..well...

if he understands, ask him to join you!

Rainmaker said...

I balance it through priorities. All my training always gets done - there are no exceptions to that. But there are exceptions as to when in a given day it gets done. Most of the time I do it in the evening. But I'll move things around to make it fit. The problem is that there are simply good times of year and bad times of year. The summer is bad, the fall/winter I have more flexibility. A 6+ hour ride on a Sunday will always win over a date (including the previous Saturday night). But a Tuesday night run with my running group I'm willing to sacrifice and move to earlier in the day.

I treat it very much like travel. I have to travel for work, so I just fit things around that. Stuff gets dropped off the plate (i.e. blogging or TV), but there's time for dating if ya are creative in scheduling.

wac said...

I haven't really trained with a team like that, so I've been able to train on my on schedule, which usually means hitting the road around 5.

I, obviously, don't have your discipline, and always choose the social activity over a solo evening of running. But knowing that about myself makes me run before normal people get out of bed. Or combine it with my social activities.

Personally, I have to have a balance. I can't feel like I'm missing out on too much, and I'm okay missing a workout here and there because I know I'll still be in great shape.

Good Luck! I hope you get a rematch for Date #3 that's not so last minute! :)

wac said...

5 in the morning, I mean :)

Laurel said...

LOL, just get married, then you'll have plenty of time to train :)

Alexandra said...

I believe there has to be compromise to make things work! You can get all your workouts in, but they may not always be when you want them to be. If you are like me, if you want something bad enough, you will find a way!

Good luck!

Unknown said...

Hee hee, love Laurel's comment - it's true! I think balance is best and having love in your life is just as beneficial as getting in a training session. Maybe you should just start dating guys from your team! Ha ha.

cinc said...

I'm not single anymore and my husband and I do train a lot together - but in my opinion, it's only OCTOBER! Your race isn't until July - keep a balance - having a social life is impt too (check out Jasper Blake's article in the latest Impact magazine - he makes some really great points on this regarding triathlon training...)
Missing a workout now and then isn't a bad thing!

Marcy said...

Ahhhhhh to be single again. Fun times, fun time hehe.

Dawn - Pink Chick Tris said...

Okay so I'm not single now but heh...I was training when I met Darren. He just kind of came to understand it was important to me. Sometimes there was a bit of juggling but just like now Darren knows when I'm committed to a race or a training session that comes first.

If he's the right guy he'll understand.

And if I'm ever single again well ...wait, let's not go there...lol.

Run For Life said...

I choose the training first. I may move it if it's possible but if not - I reschedule the date. One time I opted out of a run with my group for a date that I couldn't make up and felt completely guilty about it. (Might have not helped that the date turned out to be mind-numbingly boring.)

Danielle said...

Well, it's been a long time since I really dated, but I do know, depending on where I am in a cycle, the training is more important to me and any guy I'm with would have to understand that. I'll pick my training run over laying in bed and snuggling and/or other things you can do in bed, which has boggled people. It's why I think now it's more important than ever to me that I date someone who is into athletics.

Sonia said...

I don't balance much at this time, I don't date or work-out LOL But I will definitely choose running out of a date. Hopefully, the next guy I am dating will be into sports and will understand the need for hills repeat LOL

P-S sorry to hear you broke up with your BF.

ShirleyPerly said...

I wish you the best of luck in finding the right guy. Maybe you'll meet him at a race or at a workout and not have to explain a thing :-)

Richelle Love said...

Being a triathlete is great. Being a lonely triathlete is not. Be careful and remember that triathlon doesn't always come #1. It has been hard for me to figure ou this balance but like a said I would rather be an OK triathlete with an amazing relationship than a great triathlete with nobody waiting at the finish line for me.

Unknown said...

Well said, Richelle Love. We agree.

rocketpants said...

I think you will find the balance as you date the person. But you did gloss over the fact that is was last minute. You had other plans...it could have been going out with friends or training, but you had plans already. I think if he had asked you with enough time that you could have worked around it...you would have worked around it...let him know you are still interested in seeing him, but just not this time. If he's worth it...he will stick around for date number 3. I hope it goes well!

And with time that balance will come...training isn't everything.