Balancing life’s demands: Work, training and helping others

As of late, my available “spare” time has dwindled to almost nonexistent. Despite a reduced load in training, I’m experiencing an increased load in work expectations. So, that “extra time” I dreamed of after the Bassman? It’s never appeared.

Photo courtesy of H is for Home, Flickr photostream available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_is_for_home/2460111952/.
Photo courtesy of H is for Home, Flickr photostream available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_is_for_home/2460111952/.

But, I suppose that is the rhythm of life, our priorities and expectations ebb and flow into and out of the different responsibilities and interests that make up a life. At least, that’s what I’ve been thinking lately: priorities need to be organized and reorganized as we hit each major and minor goal we set for ourselves.

Even as the pressures of my career require me to put my focus there at this time, my ironman goal is ever-present before me. I haven’t even begun the official training for the Ironman, and I am already  wondering how I will find the time to balance my priorities. Over the past several months of multi-sport training, it has become clear that it takes more time out of my schedule than single-sport training. Balancing the demands of training with work and personal life has been had its challenges, leading to sacrifices in all areas. As I consider my commitment to finish Ironman Lake Placid 2010, I am beginning to realize the sacrifices will only multiply in number and type.  While triathlon season is over, and I have turned my focus back to running in preparation for the Philadelphia Marathon, I am still working to incorporate at least a little bit of swimming and biking each week in order to avoid losing too much fitness in those areas. After all, I will begin base period training for the Ironman on December 28, which is only 10 weeks away. As such, the time demands remain–even during the off season.

Despite the dwindling time resources, I am committed to this goal. I daydream about the race. I fret over training and ability. I think about the screaming downhill on the course and hope I can muster the courage to let ‘er eat. Each workout I do involves visualization of that day, pulling through the swim, coasting on the bike, and running toward the moment when I cross the finish line. Yesterday, I took a spin class and the instructor (a 12-time Ironman himself who recently returned from the World Championships in Kona) was focusing on a hill strength workout. I closed my eyes and imagined myself pushing up those hills on the Lake Placid course. As we stood, I could hear the cheers from the spectators, pushing me onward through the 112 mile trek.

In addition to the demands of training, I am committing to training and racing in the name of a good cause: The Iron Scholarship Fund.

This scholarship will provide assistance to students with severe financial hardship. I’ve been a professor for a little more than a decade (and a student for most of my life), and in that time, I have met and worked with students who struggle to find money for housing and food, along with tuition and books and other costs associated with college. These students are bright, hardworking individuals, with ambitious goals. They want to be journalists, lawyers, doctors, social workers–and even professors. Yet, the stress of constant worries about money, working full time (sometimes with more than one job), and attending school full time poses challenges that many of us could not imagine. For example, one of my students last year was faced with living in a homeless shelter during the summer months. That stress is more than 20-something students should have to bear – especially when they are working hard toward achieving their goals.

As I work toward my goal of finishing the Ironman, I want to help these students achieve theirs. Right now, I am in the process of working with my colleagues at Rowan University to coordinate the details of this scholarship. In the coming weeks and months, I’ll write more about it. For those of you that want to support my efforts, I’ll provide the details about how you can donate.

Given my goals, I have no doubt that the next 40 weeks will be busy. But, I’m looking forward to the challenge–and I’m motivated by the opportunity to reach outward and support others, as I’ve been supported in my life’s goals.

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