If your athlete is training hard for a long-distance event or to make a great improvement on their time at a shorter-distance race, you know all about the long hours they log in. But what happens when long training is coupled with long work hours? Or when non-triathlon stresses pop up unexpectedly? How do you help your athlete avoid burn out without burning yourself out?

Being a grown-up can get in the way sometimes of the things we’d like to do. Given the chance, Mr. TheyTri would happily spend all day training, but, alas, he has to bring home some of the bacon. But, lately, the hours he’s been having to log at the office are crushing. Couple that with the fact that he’s into his second peak time of the season and he’s just plain pooped. 

We don’t have a great solution other than to stop and really consider how much time you need when planning to do a tri for training, work and both pre-race rest and post-race recovery. It may mean taking an extra vacation day where possible. It may mean that the non-athlete part of the equation has take on a bit more of the load in the days leading up to a race or just following one. You as a spouse/partner/parent/friend cannot fix their work schedule if the big project has gone pear-shaped. You have to help where you can outside the office.

No one wants to be a nag. But, if nagging helps your athlete to maybe skip a workout to get some rest or to tell their boss they need a personal day or to consider a sleep aid pill to quiet their mind enough to allow for a full-nights rest, then so be it. We’ll nag! We here at TheyTri don’t really advocate the use of sleep aids in general but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures! Be a nag. Argue the point. Appeal to their goals for both triathlon and work and that exhaustion will be a detriment to both.

And never underestimate the power of the nap.