dragon--involving the kids is EXACTLY what I'm doing!!! Son #1 (14yo)has done the 2day 210mile ride with me the past 3yrs. He's also taken up running, having run a 5K, 4m and 5m already this season. We'll be racing against each other in a couple weeks! Sons 2, 3, and 4 have been doing a kids 1m race series this season. I'll also snag a kid or two for an easy ride. Last weekend #3 (10yo) did a 32m on his new mountain bike with me.

Part of it is if I take a kid with me, it's considered 'kid time', not 'play time'. Mostly, though, I want the kids to learn a healthy life style.

I wish my SO was more active. Getting him out of bed is hard enough. Ugh.

Right now, it would be cool for him to be a triathlete. But could you imagine once kids are involved? Both get home from work, and both want to go train. Does take a lot of time... without kids, y'all can do it at the same time, but with kids-- someone has to watch the kids.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by DonSwBkRn:
but she can't swim at all so a tri will never be in the cards for her.<HR>

Tell your DW if she wants to swim, there is hope! I learned for the first time at age 34. Never was afraid of water--just never learned as a kid. It took me tons of time and some $, but now I swim with my masters group regularly, and my IM swim was no trouble. It was just sheer dogged determination to learn and progress--year in and year out. Still is because it sure ain't talent. Paid off, though. I can't imagine not having swimming in my life.

One thing that inspired me to learn (besides the desire to do triathlon) is that here I was making my little boys learn for their own safety, and I couldn't swim. Kinda made me feel personally irresponsible since I was always around water with them. So I antied up and learned. Triathlon was a big bonus

Conquering the swim is an accomplishment in my adult life I'm quite proud of.

"Tell your DW if she wants to swim, there is hope! "

I'm sure she "could" learn to swim, but she doesn't have any desire to do so. She's not afraid of the water and we have done some snorkeling in Hawaii several times, but she wears a flotation device for safety. Taking lessons would be difficult for her to fit into her already busy schedule. But who knows - maybe after she does a du she'll want to do a tri. I doubt it though.

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Don
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Finding someone athletic to date is difficult. Had a marathon boyfriend once which was super cool cause we'd go to races together, uncool thing was it was long distance. Had a cyclist boyfriend too, which was cool since he put SPD pedals on my bike 14 years ago .

Ex-husband was not athletic at all and a smoker. Though he's given up smoking (I think ... he quits often), his not being into sports makes it hard for me to get the kids into sports. Though the kids admire my medals, they don't quite get what mommy does ... yet. Wish I could get them more into sports but non-athletic ex won't even bring them to swim classes or let me take them when he has them. And according to him, soccer is violent and competitive and of course, doesn't fit into the kids' summer schedule (read: he doesn't want to be a soccer dad). Weekends and after daycamp is time to relax, not be active.

I have an Ironman friend. His wife did her first marathon last year and is starting to do tris. Their kids think that sports is just a way of life and even dive competetively. It's interesting how much influence parents can have on their children.

So the best I can hope for with my kids is that I set a good example and give them opportunities while they're with me.

With regards to meeting a prospective mate, I don't know if you girls have the same problem as I do ... men feel overshadowed and intimidated by my passion in sports and how much I can train during certain periods. Why do men have to compare themselves to us? I am not in competition with him and I definitely won't show him my medal rack until past the infatuation stage ... LOL!

I've decided though that the guy I date would have to be into at least one of my sports (there's a huge list) or be a serious dancer that'll attend events with me. But most of all, he has to encourage me and give me space to do what I need to do, what I love to do ... but that's the way it's supposed to be in a relationship, regardless of activity.

Sally

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"Follow your bliss"
My Ironwoman Inklings[/URL" target="_blank">

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Silly Sally:
Finding someone athletic to date is difficult.
Sally

<HR>

Well, when you go to the gym, don't wear headphones. And don't wear extremely loose, baggy workout clothes or the opposite extreme; tight, form fitting spandex. Guys think that the headphones and loose fitting clothes mean you don't want to be bothered. Supertight spandex is just too intimidating for most guys to approach. Good luck.

As for the spouse, I know exactly where you're at. My ex is a couch potato. One of our sons, 15, lives with her in Florida, one, 17, lives with me in Colorado (long story.) The one here is into track, weightlifting and eating healthy. The one in Florida isn't into anything. He is up here visiting for the summer and he's been running and lifting with his brother. The desire is there, just not the motivation when he is with his mom.