When my husband got home from work tonight, I asked him if he ran. No, he said; he’s running tomorrow.
“Me neither. I was going to but my legs are tired.”
“Really? Why?” he asked.
Was I hearing this correctly?
“Because I ran 13 and 1/2 miles yesterday – in that heat. And, I rode 15 miles on Saturday, and I ran on Friday, and it was my fourth workout in a row.” I stopped myself – short.
There are many days when my husband doesn’t hear and remember what I say. Call it select hearing, hard of hearing, missing memory space, anything. When it comes to my running schedule, though, he really has no idea what I’m up to. Honestly, some of my Daily Mile buddies are better attuned. Wait! Hubs is a DM “friend”. Houston, we have a problem.
When it comes to my race schedule, though, he is on the game plan. Besides the odd mornings when he starts work at 6:00 a.m., my race mornings are the only times that he will get out of bed before 9:00 without a battle; he gets up, showers, eats a huge breakfast (He’s the only one I know who will eat oatmeal, toast and bacon and drink 12 oz. of o.j. in the hours before a race. Can’t he just eat oatmeal and pack a snack?), visits the bathroom again and, then, we can leave. In his own way, he is as ready for the race as I am.
Now, I’m not ranting in any way about his “pre-race” routine. In fact, I should probably be glad that he is taking the time to eat; a hungry dad is a cranky dad. But, I’ve also been up an hour earlier than he, showered, got the boys up, fed the boys, packed bags with extra clothes and snacks – you get the picture. I’m ready to run.
But the boys come to almost every race with me (this year, they’ve only missed two) and hubs loves to look after the logistical details of how to get there, where to park the car, and where to watch with the boys (with clean bathrooms nearby). Once we plan on a venue and I’ve registered, he starts on his game plan. For the past few weeks, for example, he has been “negotiating” with a friend of his to taxi us on his boat to this weekend’s Island 10K rather than drive and take the ferry. Yes, the latter would be simpler but this “makes it interesting”. He’s already looking at the Hamilton Marathon – and that’s in November.
So, thanks, honey, for looking after the little things. It really does mean a lot to me. But, geesh, if your wife runs 13 miles, couldn’t you try a little harder to remember it?
thats neat that your hubs gets involved in the planning. My husband and I are training for our first marathon together and yet I doubt he could tell you the exact date, where we are staying or any other detail other than the month and distance.
I like that your husband is an adventure race planner! That is too funny!
My hubbs wants the plan in place. I wish he'd love getting involved with the process, make it more a family adventure but…
I am sure he didn't mean to gap the memory of your long run, he was probably a little low of blood sugar. Because every husband knows that you never ask Why? when you don't already know the answer.
Sounds like it's time to display your training plan on the fridge. Easy reminder for the family.
But like the previous poster suggested, your attitude following a long training run probably affects the family's perception. I find it unlikely that you run 13 miles and then sit around the house all day. Afterwards, if you resume being supermom/wife, your run might not even stick on the radar.
We really are fortunate to have such supportive spouses aren't we?
Your race results over in the sidebar are as much a testament to your training and ability as they are to your family accommodating those hectic race-day mornings and giving you the opportunity to succeed (partial credit also given to your husband's spectacular race-day breakfast).
My husband is starting to get that glazed look when I talk about my runs….I like how your hubs like to make the races “interesting.”
Too funny…my hubs can be like that as well. Yesterday I said I was tired and really not looking forward to spin/core. He was like: Why? I said…well I did do 34km total over the weekend…remember??
He is supportive just a bit naive I think.
Your long runs are no longer unique or worth commenting on, shows how much he respects the progress you've made. If he's there for you on race day, and even tries to make things more interesting, that's great.
So true! My husband is the same way. I will have run 16 miles the day before and then we'll go ride the next day and I have to remind him that if I pull on the ride, it isn't going to be all out like he thinks. Poor thing, he forgets. But like your hubby, he is awesome on race day when my head is going in a thousand different directions, he's the one asking me, do you have your chip, your number, etc…and of course, I forgot them back in the car. Can't complain about great supports. By the way, love the boating over to the race site idea a lot!