Fans can be fanatics. We can shift our lifestyle from decent
to decadent within seconds. Elimination and simplicity may be our excuses to
fulfill a personal goal instead of being considerate. We have heard of
golf-widows, however it no different from families of endurance athletes, who ‘suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous behaviors’.
Endurance athletes can be indulgent. We can be so
single-minded in our physical pursuits that we deliberately miss many moments
of the day, while chasing other tasks that revolve around routine (but
disciplined). Triathletes are creatures of habit. We seem to engage by a
clockwork-mechanism that lets a scheduled day dictate our activities. And, we
are horrified and petrified when our routine is affected by other exigencies or,
heaven forbid, acts of God. Inclement weather throws a celestial spanner in our
un-shuffled mortal coil, and mucks up the delicate machinery of an online
coaching program.
With our highly developed tunnel vision, we see the world in
various shades of branded tri-gear. We shriek like school-kids when we are
presented with the latest toys (for adults). Remember the sensation of holding
your Garmin 910 watch for the very first time? What about that feather-light
pair of Brooks runners? Or, those carbon-soled riding shoes that had a
comfortable toe-box that did not strangle your near-arthritic toes? Not to
mention, the personal best (PBs) times you earned this year.
And, our ‘partners-in-life’ and ‘in-crime’ – they bear with
it through their well-acted smiles of apparent approval. We always wonder when
that Chesire Cat grin will deteriorate into a mangled mess of facial contortions.
Are we exceeding our boundaries of what’s appropriate?
Here is a very good piece by an empathetic sports-spouse.
Shall we band together – just for this week – and throttle
down our unbridled enthusiasm, passion and lust for our lives and spare a
thought for our supportive family and friends? This could mean more rest, and
more chance of recovering from our badges of injury. After I finish my deep,
static, calf stretches would you mind rolling me that golf-ball from your foot
to mine? This plantar fasciitis is giving me grief, and I have hill repeats to
do this evening. I mean, next week…
There’s always next week to catch up.
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