How to Live With an Athlete

Sure she can outrun a gazelle and he can shoot free throws with his eyes closed, but can they coexist in the same household? Here are some pointers on maintaining a happy, sporty love nest.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Agree to a limit on the dinner table talk regarding VO2 Max, recovery drinks and delayed onset muscle soreness. Even if you, too, are fascinated by the intricate details of the zone defense, try branching out every so often.
2. Generally speaking, your role as partner/spouse is to be head cheerleader, not head coach. Make sure that the only advice you give is solicited. And even then, watch for clues that you're giving helpful, not annoying, suggestions.
3. Learn how to be encouraging and enthusiastic without being patronizing or flippant. Avoid empty or trite phrases such as, “You gave it your best shot” or “You’ll win next time.”
4. Negotiate training time and schedules. Agree to talk openly and often about this topic since requirements can change with the training season or with other commitments such as work and family.
5. If you start to feel resentful of your athlete’s training time, step back a moment before you attack. Try to identify all the factors that are stressing you out. It still might be his busy training schedule, but sometimes it’s too easy to argue that the training is the sole cause of the friction.
6. Discuss and plan for equipment costs.
7. Negotiate placement of the gear. Nobody likes having their prized possessions relegated to a dark storage closet, but is it really fair to keep the sweaty hockey skates underneath a shared bed?
8. If you choose to exercise together, make the focus on spending time together, not competing.
9. If possible, turn some of the athletic events into vacations. If you’re lucky, your spouse will be an accomplished triathlete and you’ll be heading to Hawaii.
10. Agree that both of you will need to make some compromises and sacrifices to live and train happily ever after. This may mean exercising before dawn or skipping an occasional race. If you both decide the lifestyle is worth the hassle, then make it happen.