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Living a sporting life in the Methow Valley can present certain…hurdles, when it comes to managing your significant relationships. It may seem that your life is very full and rich with family and work, but what it really comes down to is: you're only as good as your last bike ride (or run, ski, paddle, etc.). Maybe its the clean mountain air in the valley that causes sane people to forsake all that is dear, to run with the coyotes or climb with the goats, instead of remembering that you were supposed to pick up the kids at 3:00 (oops, its 4:00 already!). After extensive interviews with many Valley residents, I have compiled a list of stratagies that walk the fine line between maintaining life at home, and providing a rational for play. Many of these are professional techniques that should be attempted with the utmost caution. There is an underlying point system that would take an Andersen audit to decipher. You can score points that allow for future activity, but woe to the person that is in deficit points. For women: planning phone calls should be made out of earshot of the husband. The steady stream of calls at night is a sure sign that some serious coordination is taking place. Preparation is of course crucial. Plan early, announce late, act surprised. What, didn't you remember the girl's weekend trip starts tomorrow! Advanced techniques go much beyond this. The pros not only leave their kids with the husband, but also invite their friend's kids to be with the husband, thus assuring a partner to play with. Workout planning requires not only partners, but careful meal planning as well. A Costco lasagna equals a 90 min. run. Men can gain major points by cooking, going out for dinner counts as a cooked meal. Timing is also important. Early mornings give you a number of options if you leave before the husband is functioning. "I'll run now and then you can have the rest of the day". Of course this gives you the whole morning without all of the distractions later in the day that prevent you from getting out. The first one out of the house wins! Men have their own strategies that are used with varying levels of success. You have to be creative when you find out you are going to have a child, and the first thing you think about is how you will schedule your rides to avoid divorce. Of course you were out running when your kid was born. One valley resident is obviously operating at a higher level than the rest of us, he is a helicopter powder guide: sorry dear, gotta go to work! Carpenters can always manage to be 'out at a job site', when they are in fact paddling class 4. The local wildlife biologist does his road kill inventory by bike assuring completion of the wellness program at work. Real estate provides ample opportunity by showing property, in the Methow this always takes all day and involves a trailhead somewhere. . Men and their gear hold a relationship that is mystical. You put your bike in the car, and the value of the total package increases by a factor of 4. In order to justify the full suspension, it's best to refer to it as a 'Safety Issue'. Remember Men, it's not about going faster, it's about being safer (yeah, right). This reminds your wife that you only have her best interests at heart, and are always thinking about her as you thumb through the latest gear catalog. Injuries can be a plus for the time strapped weekend warrior. Its not a workout if you are injured, it's REHAB! This health related concerns can open all sorts of opportunities for the savvy husband and is closely associated with the 'Safety Issue'. Being first out the door in the morning before it heats up will give you more energy for home projects in the afternoon (if you wake up from your nap in time). Stealth activities can help lower your athletic profile. Sporting equipment and clothes are best left in the car at all times so that you aren't caught loading up in the morning. Leave the bike on the car rack at all times so that it becomes part of the landscape. Spending time with your kids is always a juggling act when getting ready for your next ultra. Dragging your kid behind you on a tag-a-long for a century counts for 'quality time', especially if you throw in a few intervals. Also remember that working out together with your partner doesn't count against you. It counts as a date. Of course there is a risk to intimacy when, unlike most men in the world, getting the bonk isn't sex related. For the single person in the Valley, all dates are centered on serious sport activity. Women should be prepared that a simple 'bike ride' has more in common with adventure racing than a pastoral spin around the block. Being seen in public with a member of the opposite sex counts as being in a serious relationship, to those that pass you on the road. This can make for embarrassing explanations to your actual squeeze. There you have it, the training strategies that allow for fun in the Methow Valley. Hopefully this has given some insight into the sacrifices that are made for living where the trails are long, the mountains high, and the running shoes are always on. Peter Dickinson MS, PT, SCS |
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