[Closed] is it possible to be a parent and win races?

Bradley wiggins ? He has won a race or 2

10-14 hrs a week here during the summer. I win as many races now as I did before being a parent (admittedly that's still not many but I'm generally a top 5 regional XC and CX rider in a very strong area), if anything I'm stronger and train smarter now because of the lack of time. For e.g. I was up at 5.30 this morning to do a 64 mile ride in to work to get some extra miles in, as I know I'll only manage to squeeze in an hour on the rollers tomorrow.

I can't claim to have won. 18th in a 10k is my best effort off a total of 8-10 hrs a week training. You have to be creative and diciplined even to achive that with 2 young kids and a wife that works, lots of commuting and running at lunch time / after kids in bed / before they get up

Not bike racing, but I did win a big national level event as a parent - though that was when we only had 1, haven't won anything nearly comparable since the second came along (though to be honest I was on the verge of retiring from competing seriously at that level at that point anyway). Though still occasionally win lower level localish events.

I'm sure I would be faster and win more if I didn't have kids - though age also comes into it (my big issue recently has been injury - partly down to age in terms of propensity to injury and time to recover, but more sporadic training due to kids has I'm sure also been a factor).

cheers guys 🙂

I'm not a parent and have only ever managed to get top 20% in mtb races and top 10% in 10k runs. I could've pushed that a little bit further with real serious commitment but would never have been able to get further than the top 5%, they're just too far in front. I knew I'd never win a race but I certainly used to enjoy participating and beating my own PBs. It's the taking part that counts, not racing round on you're own pretending.

Phil,

Did I miss an announcement where you told us all that the lovely Mrsphilconsequence was in the family way? 🙂

If so, congratulations 8)

Cheers, Rich

nope, she aint preggers... well we hope not!

to clarify again, this thread is definitely not about me being interested in racing and trying to balance it against a family 🙂

OK, I will defer my congratulations to when she is 😆

Cheers, Rich

I think you also need to throw into the mix what job people have.
Its Ride/Work/Kids/Wife balance that needs to be considered.

definitely.... for example working a strict 9-5 would give you a structure to work around, working away from home or travelling for work owuld make it much harder i imagine. although, take my dad when i was growing up as an example... he spent about 5-6 days on average away from home and that would mean that he would've had his evenings completely free (providing his managed his time at work well enough not to need to spend all evening working too i guess) to train as he was away from home and didnt need to worry about spending time with us kids or my mum.

Sorry, haven't read the above - tired from an early start... 😉

The answer is yes. The problem is that it won't be yes for everyone. 'Being a parent' is not some standard situation that's the same for everyone. Some kids are brilliant, sleep well, are easy to look after while others are the complete opposite and some change from one mode to the other from month to month, day to day, etc. Add to that that parents aren't all the same - some mums love nothing more to spend every waking moment with their kids, having no life other than that while others feel totally trapped and desperately need some time to themselves.

So really it depends on your ability to be motivated to train when you're tired and don't feel like it, your need for sleep, your partner's willingness to look after the child for x hours while you're out training and so on. It can be done but not for everyone (at least not while maintaining some semblance of harmony at home!)

I found last year (before the birth of child 2 in Feb) that riding before work (up at 5am, out of the door asap, back in at 7am) was a brilliant way to get some riding/training in without impacting time I could spend with my son or leaving my wife to do all the work but then I'm lucky enough not to need lots of sleep.

Commuting seems to be another method that works for many though obviously this depends very much on circumstances and where you live.

The other thing is that the parents I know who do race successfully have had to make considered changes/compromises to their training - typically fewer long, steady rides, more high intensity sessions.

exactly, a 9-5 would help. 9-5ers also tend to get lunch breaks where a crafty session could be had.
Forgive my generalisation, but it still tends to be mostly white collar workers that turn up at my evening races. I'm still envious of how clean and refreshed they look.
So yes basically it's a combination of having a suitable job and understanding partner. If you only have ten hours to wash, eat and sleep as well as spend a moment with the family it will go pear shaped...as it did for me.

being a perant and even compeating your already a winner
i try and get most of my riding done on my commute,running and swimming i do when she goes to bed when not doing stupid shifts.
The last 6 months has got harder with her now being out of sleep pants so have to break sleep 3 times a night to put her on toilet which really dousent help getting motivated to train as to tierd after work and dealing with the misses/dinner/bedtime routines.

but iv just done a triathlon and oktoberfest round the corner
just have to accept the fact u have to lower your targets a little untill more time apears but still taking part for me is a big deal.

Depends who and what you're racing.

I've got kids of 1 and nearly 3. I'm not winning races but I'm coming closeish - top 20 in Leeds Half Marathon, a few 2nds and thirds in road and fell races.

Being a parent has made me think much more about how to make my training more effective given limited time - even though I'm not motivated/ selfish/ talented (delete as appropriate!) enough to do enough training to win things, I'm actually by far the fittest I've ever been which, for me, is a pretty good result.

I think in some ways its a blessing. My ex had a kid and it forced me to use my time constructively. Being a single bloke now, I tend to sleep in on a weekend thinking I'll go training in the afternoon, which nine times out of ten doesn't happen.

Being forced to have a structured day isn't a bad thing when you're training.

I only started winning races after I became a parent, but you do have to pick the small events.

So far:
Guernsey Mountain Bike race (veterans)
3 times Big Bike Bash Night Race winner. Seeing my boy so proud of his Dad that he had to tell EVERYBODY was both touching and a little embarrassing.

No specific training, just ride when I can because I enjoy it.

I won my first race (beginner's gorrick) whilst waiting for my son to finish the junior event 😳 . So yes you can. Mid-placed since this rare first win.

Saw some guy, Wiggins, I think his name is, on the podium and I believe he has kids.

Its Ride/Work/Kids/Wife balance

I definately think you can win races being a Parent. Whether you can be good Mum/Dad or Husband/Wife is a different matter all together.

IMO you cant do the training to be good without sacrificing some thing else.

Edit:

Saw some guy, Wiggins, I think his name is, on the podium and I believe he has kids.

That Wiggins fella doesnt have to do a job too though does he, so he can go out getting fir 9-5 Monday to Friday riding a bike. I could get pretty dam fast on a bike if I didnt have to go to work...

I could get pretty dam fast on a bike if I didnt have to go to work...

Yes it is!

Not for Cancellara it's not...

yes it is definately possible - just depends how much you :

a - want to win races
b - want to spend time with your kids

Ive got a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl because I work all week I see them in the morning for about an hour and then again just over an hour before they go to bed so my weekends I spend all day with the kids, and when Im racing it's usually a family job with picnics their bikes etc...

Regards to training most sundays Im up at 5am and then approx 90 minutes at race pace on the turbo, (tacx Fortious - so I can actually 'race' against people) and thats all year round, and other than that its commuting, or saturday rides with the littluns with LOCT seats...

I've just remembered. Smurf Mat was a Dad IIRC and he was AWESOMZ! 😀

Steve Peat, Sam Hill...

Steve Peat, Sam Hill...

Who are both professional riders. Bit different when you have to fit riding in around work that isn't sport related. Hats of to people like Terrahawk who have families, work a 9-5 and still turn up and rinse people at races.

I remember John Tanner winning most Crits and road races he turned up to in the late 90's/early 00's and he was still working full time at Woolworths.

Podium place at Mayhem last year. It was father's day. cards were ready at the finish line. ace 🙂
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terra, as much as i appreciate its worth stopping racing for a quick crotch grab from the missus (as indicated by the photo above)... maybe not in front of the kids 😆

She was stopping my bike falling over by grabbing the handlebars! you filthy swine 😉

is that what you kids call it nowadays 😉

I need something to motivate me to the finish 😉

Sorry, but that does look like you are receiving happy time in public!

Terrahawk - awesome photo

Not for the crotch grab bit tho

for the avoidance of any doubt and hopefully an end to the preoccupation with my undercarriage..
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Nice grip.

There's a local rider to these parts.Owns a small bike shop,4 kids,mid 40's....Elite Cat roady 😯

I actually think zooming in on the photo makes it worse

And there are children present for gods sake

alright. Enough now. the point I was making....oh sod it.

I have 6 and 7 year olds, and was hugely suprised to squeak onto the torchbearer solo podium at the 24/12 last weekend.

I am however now a bit disappoinmted that mrs julian (whose laydeez team also came 2nd) didn't grab my er, 'bar' like that on the finish line.

For me training consists of commuting including 'bastid big hill' (1 mile at 1:12) to work four times a week, and I suppose a few hours a week of ss/geared xc and/or downhill per week.