I’ve had a week to digest my first out-of-state sports road trip with Phoenix. We traveled over 800 miles by car to Ohio where he competed in a triathlon for the USAT Youth and Junior National Championships. No doubt it was a learning experience for us both.
So what did I learn besides it’s a long drive from Florida to Ohio?
So what did I learn besides it’s a long drive from Florida to Ohio?
Well, I confirmed for myself, and my youngest son, that I’m not the only dad trying to give his kid a competitive edge. Shortly after Phoenix and I arrived at the race venue—fifty hours before his race—I was biking alongside Phoenix familiarizing him with the course and transition areas. I had him practicing his mounts, dismounts, riding angles on the S curves, gear shifts with and against the wind, adjustments in and out of the saddle to attack the rolling hills, etc. It was refreshing to see a couple other dads doing much the same and seemingly with the same type of energy. If nothing else, it showed Phoenix that even though my training style may sometimes be a bit intense, I’m not one-of-a-kind.
Our road trip also reminded me how much thought and effort a dad (or mom) must devote to make sure his kid eats healthy on a multi-day sporting trip. I packed lots of fresh fruit, sandwiches, cereal, trail mix, and water but I was limited by not having room for a cooler in my car. Fortunately, we located a supermarket in West Chester that enabled us to restock our supplies and eat well on the fly. I was still confronted with a reality check one night in Kentucky when Phoenix and I left I 75 to find a hotel room and food. I asked the hotel clerk where we might go nearby to get a healthy meal. With a smirk and half chuckle, he said, “This is Clinton, just fast food around here.” We found a Subway shop and made the best of it.
I was often challenged on the road to figure out how we could accomplish all we wanted to while keeping some semblance of normalcy to Phoenix’s sleep schedule, especially in light of his demanding race obligations. Aware that Phoenix, like many kids, often does poorly when his sleep routine is interrupted, I pondered several times how to prioritize the short-term joy of his evening fun time with the likely lethargy and grumpiness I would face the next morning if I extended Phoenix’s bed curfew. Truth be told, I compromised once on his bedtime, when, on the night following his race, he found himself playing water games with several older girls he befriended in the hotel pool. I reasoned the unique “vacation” experience would have some developmental value and it seemed a just reward for the recent effort he had put into training and competing.
Traveling and making trips to out-of-town rest stops, hotels, supermarkets, drug stores, and other public places gave Phoenix many chances to venture beyond his usual social circles. In doing so, he was quick to notice the ever expanding waistlines and risk-taking behavior (e.g., smoking, riding motorcycles without a helmet) of many Americans. His sensitivity to others’ disregard for fitness and their penchant for risky behaviors reassures me that he is committed to adopting a healthy lifestyle.
On the flip side, our trip surrounded Phoenix with a sea of 850 extremely fit, young athletes. Seeing so many dedicated athletes helped reinforce Phoenix’s conviction to be healthy and fit. He, too, saw more clearly that he was not one-of-a-kind.
I was often challenged on the road to figure out how we could accomplish all we wanted to while keeping some semblance of normalcy to Phoenix’s sleep schedule, especially in light of his demanding race obligations. Aware that Phoenix, like many kids, often does poorly when his sleep routine is interrupted, I pondered several times how to prioritize the short-term joy of his evening fun time with the likely lethargy and grumpiness I would face the next morning if I extended Phoenix’s bed curfew. Truth be told, I compromised once on his bedtime, when, on the night following his race, he found himself playing water games with several older girls he befriended in the hotel pool. I reasoned the unique “vacation” experience would have some developmental value and it seemed a just reward for the recent effort he had put into training and competing.
Traveling and making trips to out-of-town rest stops, hotels, supermarkets, drug stores, and other public places gave Phoenix many chances to venture beyond his usual social circles. In doing so, he was quick to notice the ever expanding waistlines and risk-taking behavior (e.g., smoking, riding motorcycles without a helmet) of many Americans. His sensitivity to others’ disregard for fitness and their penchant for risky behaviors reassures me that he is committed to adopting a healthy lifestyle.
On the flip side, our trip surrounded Phoenix with a sea of 850 extremely fit, young athletes. Seeing so many dedicated athletes helped reinforce Phoenix’s conviction to be healthy and fit. He, too, saw more clearly that he was not one-of-a-kind.
My health sensibilities on this trip also came into play in my exchanges with my older son, Scott, who we stopped to visit in Atlanta. Aside from catching up face-to-face with him, I was able to execute my plan to have my two sons do their first joint running session. An unexpected twist to the family health matrix occurred in Scott’s kitchen after the run when he confronted me about the low-fat peanut butter I had packed to make sandwiches for Phoenix and me. He gave me a quick “lecture” on the negatives of rapeseed oil, encouraging me to use his organic peanut butter instead, which I did. When I returned home, I jumped on the internet to learn more about my son’s admonition (see http://draxe.com/canola-oil-gm/). While reading, I smiled thinking about how my older son had stepped in to help me, and his little brother. In the meantime, I've started to purchase a different style of peanut butter.
Because Phoenix wants to revisit West Chester next August for the 2015 USAT championships, I’ll be thinking more about my strategy to keep Phoenix healthy, rested, and happy on our sequel journey.
August 9, 2014
August 9, 2014
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