The Running Mike

Passing Time on the Side

Like some of you, I spend a lot of time on the sideline, twiddling my thumbs and waiting for Mike to come across the line (or into transition, depending on the type of event he’s doing that weekend). I’ve already talked about the awesomeness that is the Kindle, but I thought it might be good to discuss more generally the things I do to pass the time on the sideline:

1. Read – um Kindle again.

2. Friends – If you’re a sideline spouse, you’ll start to see some of the same people at every event. Say hi, ask about their runner/athlete, even offer to share a chair or whatever. It’s a great way to pass the time and maybe meet some friends with something in common with you.

Also, if you have friends with you that you bring, that’s also good. Especially with triathlons, we had lots of friends who were interested in how the events work. A few times they rode along with us or met us at events. Family is great, too. At the Rock n Roll Arizona Marathon in Phoenix, Mike’s entire family joined us and that made the finish line a lot more fun for him and for me.

3. Watching the race – Come on now, don’t be THAT person, the one who comes to an event and just doesn’t care. Check out transitions. Especially the professional athletes are REMARKABLE to watch (and you might even get pointers for your own athlete in their future events). I find the finishing line lots of fun to watch. Sometimes people grab their kids, cry hysterically or wear funny costumes. It’s a party at the finish and I love being an observer of that. Oh and in a big race, sometimes getting to the finish earlier than your athlete actually means you’ll make your way up to the sideline and SEE your person.

4. Music or games – this is especially important if you have kids with you. Sometimes the finish line will have live or recorded music, but have a player with you and headphones in case they don’t. And games or cards can help pass the time for long events. Make sure the kids have something to do, otherwise they get crazy eye and no one wants that (especially people who don’t have kids and don’t find their racing around to be charming).

Just remember that when you make a list of stuff to take with you that you also take stuff for you. You’re going to be out there as much as your athlete and you won’t have all the working out to pass the time.

Dealing with Injuries… that you get on the sideline

In September 2010, Mike took part in the event he had been training for for months. We headed to Washington D.C. for the Nation’s Tri. The day before the event was clear and gorgeous, the perfect weather for a swim, bike and run.

Unfortunately, yeah, that wasn’t what happened on the race day. The morning dawned with heavy clouds that soon opened up. For a couple of hours, hundreds of athletes and spectators were treated to a deluge of nearly biblical proportions. People hid under whatever cover they could take, while those who were less than prepared worried over their gear.

We were very pleased that we were prepared. We had rain slicks, covers for the gear and a backpack to hold everything we needed. Mike loaded into the water once thunder and lightning passed by and he was off. He did great and I loved seeing all his transitions and the moment where he finally crossed the finish line.

Meanwhile, back on the sidelines: I was learning a valuable lesson. As heavily as I prepared for all contingencies for my athlete, I should have also prepared for myself. I was wearing capris and soon my legs were soaked. My keds, which were very cute, soaked through in about five minutes and my socks beneath rubbed my feet into raw, blister-laden stumps.

Standing on hard ground and then carrying the big backpack around under my rain slick gave me a case of sciatica that lasted the rest of our time in DC.

In short, he crossed the finishline in great shape… and I stood by throbbing, wincing and faking that I felt awesome. In fact it wasn’t until we got back to the hotel room and he saw my feet that he realized what I had done to myself.

If you’re a sideline support team, you definitely have to be prepared for any injuries that might befall your athlete. But you also have to protect yourself. Because if you’re hurt, you’re no good for your runner.

The Training Widow

When people talk about running or triathlon, they almost always talk about events. Chicago Marathon, people get… Nation’s Tri, they’re all for that… but what they often don’t get is how much training and preparation goes into the events. It’s not like you can just walk on up and run a marathon (okay, you could but you’d probably pass out at some point and need to be taken to the med tent).

So if you’re going to be on the Sideline Support Team for your runner or triathlete, you have to know, that means you’re going to be on the support team for training, too. So what happens at home while your athlete trains?

1. Time away – When Mike was training for his marathons and especially for the Nation’s Tri, a lot of hours of his week were dedicated to training. Weekends and evenings were often designated especially for running, swimming and biking and little else.

2. Brain Freeze – When your athlete gets home from his or her training, he/she might not really be able to talk. At least not reasonably. Blood has been shifting to extremities and focus has been put on one leg in front of the other. Even simple questions like, “Do you want a recovery drink or chocolate milk?” may be met with a blank stare and a lot of blinking.

3. Pain and Suffering — It’s bound to happen: injuries. Your athlete may suffer minor or even major injury and as support staff, you’ll end up a part of recovery.

So what can you, as a sideline support team, do for your athlete when it comes to these things?

Well, first take the time you have and use it. We actually moved Mike’s bike upstairs into our front room, I set up my scrapbooking table and my computer, we added a television and suddenly we had a hobby room instead of a formal living room. We’d watch a movie or television together and talk while he worked out and I worked on projects, or even my books (I’m a writer by trade). Same could be said for a treadmill if you’re working with a runner and they use that equiptment at home. Just being able to spend that time together both involves you more in the training and allows you to spend time together.

Secondly, be prepared for the brain freeze. Once I realized Mike was not capable of answering questions in the first half hour or so after his workouts, I stopped asking questions. Be ready to pick what they’re going to eat or drink, or ask before they depart so that you can have recovery elements ready the moment they come home. And don’t think just because they don’t ask that they don’t need that stuff. Rehydrating and refueling is vital to the health and recovery of any endurance athlete.

Finally, be a part of the recovery system to prevent injury. Keep antibiotic spray or cream, sunscreen, ibuprofen and ice packs ready and accessible in your home (or travel) support kit. Something as simple as icing and taking ibuprofen can prevent a slight ache from becoming a full-blown injury. And if your athlete does suffer a more serious injury, keep an eye out. In the midst of serious training, your athlete may not be willing to say he or she needs help because they’re so focused on their upcoming event. You don’t want something to escalate into something serious.

Being the support “staff” for your runner can actually be a lot of fun and bring your relationship even closer together if you roll with the punches of training and keep yourself involved.

Introducing: The Support Team

So Mike has talked about me a little on the blog thus far so I thought I should introduce myself. I’m Jesse (also known as Jesse Marie) and although Mike has mentioned I’m training, I am slow, methodical, whine and grunt my way through running more than train. Mostly my job in our training is to be the sideline guru.

Running and triathlons are both very intensive sports for the athelete. They have a lot to think about and if they have a good sideline support team, hopefully that makes their job a lot easier. I tend to organize the sideline kit, make sure everything is packed, make the supportive signs, take the pictures, hand out the ice and drive to and from the event… all in the hope that it makes Mike less worried about the other stuff and more focused on safely and efficiently finishing his event for that day.

So yeah, I might talk about my struggles with calf pain and moderating my heart rate and how my hair gets crazy when I sweat… but I also hope I’ll be able to share my tips and products that help make our event days “run” smoothly.