Can ambitious, driven triathletes-who are also wives and mothers-continue advancing and excelling in their sport without sacrificing their goals, humanity, or family and personal lives? Read on...
"The deeply personal stories in Tri-Mom had me laughing out loud and identifying with the struggles of these accomplished triathletes as they balance work, motherhood, and family with their desires to achieve. Anyone-male or female-who has ever juggled the personal, professional, and athletic aspects of their life will enjoy Tri-Mom. Conversational, motivational, and inspirational!"
~ Triathlete Sue Hecht-Dziuban, Owner, Multisport Madness Triathlon Club
"After a ten-year professional career, I chose to retire in order to start a family. I was excited at the prospect of sharing with my twins the joys of a body in motion, but scared to death of the extreme life changes motherhood would inevitably bring. I envisioned a life where I'd lost my killer racing instinct and competitive edge-a life of sleep deprivation, low energy, and very little time for myself. But, being a mother of twin boys rocks! Tri-Mom shares the honest, raw emotions of women just like us, who have struggled and triumphed through this amazing life transition. Read Tri-Mom and you'll know you are not alone."
~Barb Lindquist, 2004 Olympic Triathlete
"Brave and witty, Tri-Mom peels back all pretense to reveal the miraculous, exhilarating, and exhausting transformation from athlete to mother-and back again. These personal accounts of trimoms juggling their various roles teem with honest introspection. I was taken back to my own days as a tri-mom, when I was sleep-deprived, guilt-ridden, and nursing behind trees at races. Anyone seeking to balance the giving to oneself with the giving of oneself will find inspiration in this sisterhood of strength."
~ Cheryl Hart, Sport Psychology Consultant, Owner, 2nd Wind Motivation
Review: When an athlete in any sport undergoes a major lifestyle change such as getting married, having a child or undergoing a career change, this will also change how that athlete trains and competes. Debra Hodgett shares her tales of what it takes to balance family life and her athletic goals in this quick and easy read.
The book is targeted to women who are training and competing in triathlete events while trying to also be a wife, mother and friend. It is not an easy balance to maintain, and Hodgett’s stories about some of her adventures with her husband and sons will leave the reader laughing out loud. I especially loved the story about the shark bites while she was swimming and had to bring her sons to the training session. That was one of the many times I was laughing out loud while reading this book. The humor of Hodgett and her co-authors make this book fun to read.
There are many practical tips that can be adapted by any woman who is trying to balance various aspects of her life with something else, not just being a triathlete. The stories and sections that describe the triathlete lifestyle are very good, as the reader can feel that he or she is in the pool or on a bike alongside the athlete.
Not all of the stories are Hodgett’s experiences. Six other female triathletes shared their stories of balancing training, competing and family life as well and the common bonds all of these ladies share in addition to being athletes was intriguing. This was the only section of the book where I had trouble while reading. The reader has to be careful and realize when one of the co-authors is now speaking and not get caught thinking that it is a story of Hodgett’s. She tells a brief story about each of her co-authors before their contributions. All of the other contributors’ stories are toward the end of the book, so that is where the reader will need to be on his or her toes to realize that this story is a little different perspective.
By the end of the book, I realized what these amazing women have done and had nothing but admiration and respect for what they accomplished. This book is highly recommended for any woman who is looking for a way to balance participating in a sport and her family.
I wish to thank Ms. Hodgett for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim? No.
Pace of the book: Very good. No chapter or story is very long and the writing style is such that the reader will not get bogged down in too many details.
Do I recommend? Yes, if the reader is looking for a book of not only what it takes to be a triathlete, but also what some great stories about everyday situations that you make you laugh, then pick up this book.