Balance

Basta said tonight that he's thinking about skipping his annual ski trip with the guys.

He's been doing this ski trip for something like 15 years now. Same group of guys. They have a routine. Same week every year. Nearly everyone makes it every time. They are all on the pushing-geezerly side so they ski hard all day and then spend their nights listening to jazz at the local club. This opposed to some things a group of men together in a après-active ski town away from their wives could be doing. I actually believe that, too.

Anyway, this year he said he was thinking about skipping the trip because it would interfere with his training. We could call his time on the slopes "cross-training" but really, we all know it wouldn't be. It'd beat up his legs and do nothing for his cardio conditioning or his speed. So a week away would affect his training. So if he wants to dedicate his life to nothing but triathlon, he shouldn't ski.

But what kind of a life is that? I mean really. Even the pros must have fun sometime. As an age-grouper aspiring to a podium one must make sacrifices, sure. But one must still live their lives, too. Balance. Training is not everything. There are a number of people in our triathlon club who make triathlon their lives. They can't keep a girlfriend, much less a wife, and they have chosen jobs that allow them the flexibility to train long hours during the day, every day. They are successful triathletes and have great bodies, yes. But is this living a full life? I don't think so.

I think Basta will achieve burnout pretty quickly if he avoids all of the things he used to enjoy because of his training. Right now that's all he can talk about. Anyone he hasn't talked to in a while gets regaled with detailed tales of his training, his goals, his intervals, his distances, and his speed. Zzzzz. He doesn't notice his dear friends' eyes rolling back into their heads and them nodding off as he talks. But he will. And he'll tire of this himself, one of these days.

Unless he learns about that ever-difficult balance. We talked about this. I told him I thought he should ski. Enjoy life to the fullest and all. He still thinks he should skip it because he doesn't want to blow his training. I worry that's he's setting himself up for huge disappointment if he doesn't podium after he gives up everything for training.

I know that anything can happen in an event. Even if he is extremely well trained he could have a bad event. Get smacked hard or follow the wrong feet in the swim. Have a lousy transition. Flat on the bike. Have the nutritional plan rise up and meet the asphalt in a colorful display. Or cause delays in a much less colorful but equally dehydrating way behind a handy bush or port-a-potty. Throw the race plan out the window in the excitement of the day and burn out too early. Many, many things.

As his coach, I need to find a way to convince him this isn't his one and only triathlon. It might be a great one or it might be a learning experience. You just never know. We do intend to do triathlon for many years to come. He tends to approach things with single-minded focus, though, so this could prove a challenge for me. On the one hand, it's great because he follows my training plans almost to a T. But on the other, he needs balance. He needs to make triathlon part of his life, not his whole life. As his coach, I know I can influence that.