Nintendo Wii hurt my training while adding a competitive environment to my relationship.
Purchasing the Wii allowed my girlfriend and I to have something in common. I run and she does pilates and yoga. She could care less about running, which I respect. Our relationship was becoming dull, and I intended to spice it up!
My best friend loves Guitar Hero. His wife, while not a fanatic, occasionally joins in. The competitive environment allowed the couple to bond - their relationship seemed to flourish.
I am no fan of Guitar Hero. However, at Best Buy I had tons of fun playing Wii. I decided to buy the combo pack which included two games: Wii Sports and Super Smash Bros. My girlfriend and I immediately became over-engrossed.
My training began to slack. The combination of exhilarating fun and my girlfriend was too strong. I no longer cross-train. And excluding my long run and tempo, the running quality and volume plummeted.
This week I ran a summer 5k. Normally this race is a "rust buster". However my lack of training became apparent. Much to my shagrin, I ran a full minute slower than last year!
Question: is it possible to balance a professional life, Wii gaming, a relationship, and running? Will I need to make sacrifices?