PMS vs. Bad Training Day

So often you hear husbands/boyfriends etc complain about having to “put up with” PMS but I believe crankiness from a bad training day is a much bigger risk and this happens to both sexes.  Now what happens if both happen to fall on the same day?  I am not responsible for that one! 

      Here are some signs Ironmates can look out for:

       

     1. You hear the keys jingling uncontrollably as they panic to get in the door, the door flies open as they run by throwing sunglasses, mp3 player, keys and run straight to the bathroom.  Be careful at this point they may not even remember to close the bathroom door.  Your best bet is to leave the house for a couple of hours and wait for everything to clear.  Also do not offer to do the laundry that week in case they earned their SMP sticker.

      2.  You come home and see a bike lying on the garage floor, you walk a little further and see a cracked helmet (at this point you start to panic) then you see shoes thrown, and just as you are about to call 911 you see your missing rider sitting on the back porch step with their head in their hands.  No they did not just have an accident instead they had a flat, followed by a nutrition malfunction, a bonk, being dropped, puking and all during a peak training week which caused them to throw a temper tantrum when they got home.  Remedy: give them some advil, a bowl of carbs, and send them to the shower.

  

      3.       You hear a barely audible sob or you walk in to see their eyes wide open in dismay then you hear the beep of scale turning off.  Oh Oh they are about to have an “I’m not at race weight!” moment.  Instead of saying what you’re thinking “Is 1-2 lbs really going to make you that much faster? Come on it’s not like you’re a pro”  or  “Come on have a slice of pizza I think you look great”  just slowly back away and make sure they don’t see you.  Don’t bring it up ever and possibly take the batteries out of the scale for a couple of weeks.             

      

      4.      You get the call.  “Can you come pick me up?” Just say yes ask for exact location and give them an estimated time of arrival.  Once they are in the car it’s best not to speak.   Give them some advil, a bowl of pasta, and send them to the shower.

      5.      Race Day.  Don’t take anything they say personally, they are a ball of nerves and aren’t thinking clearly.  The more seasoned triathlete knows how to mask their emotions with that teeth grinding smile and an overzealous wave that says if I wave hard enough and smile big enough they will think I’m fine.  But there may be bouts of crankiness for no apparent reason especially right before the race and if they think they are not leaving the house on time or if you forgot something at the house that is not race related for the love of all that is holy leave it! 

          

          Happy Training!  And a special thank you to all of you Ironmates out there that have put up with us!