Huge Deposit in the SAU account
My wife is a saint. I am doing CdA in just under 2 weeks and she has been extremely tolerant of my OS and IM training. IM widow and single mother of 2 doesn't begin to describe the last 8 months for her.
So, what did you do for your S.O. when you completed your IM. 
0
Comments
I've done a family vacation post-Ironman before. It's a good way to unwind for everyone involved.
Date nights are always good anytime.
1) Give the wife input on the IM selection. It's costing me big bucks to go to IM Regensburg this year, but an overseas trip gets major SAUs.
2) Always take the family out to dinner every weekend while in training.
3) Day trip to Discovery Cove two weeks after we return. Wife and daughter have never been.
4) Jewelry
Last year: Partial payback for the family last year at IMCDA:
- Toured Wallace, Idaho...don't miss the whorehouse museum. I had to buy the heads/tails coin!
- Toured the oldest church in the state (on the way back from Wallace)
- Spent a day at Silverwood theme park
- Went to four movies in the days before the race and some nice restaurants.
WARNING: Don't let your wife read this post: What did I do for my wife? One word: Diamonds!
I do make sure that during each trip we take at least a day to do whatever she wants though. Typically the days before a race are for me and everything we do after the race is what she wants to do.
The biggest thing I can do to build SAUs during training is to get myself out on the bike before 7AM on saturday morning (usually closer to 6) so that I'm ready to have lunch with her and spend the afternoon with my family.
Do all the things around the house that have needed to get done but couldn't during training (cleaning the deck, mulching the beds).
Enjoy sleeping in and having breakfast together on the weekends.
Plan date nights during and after training.
My wife is into horses. I want her to ride a bike and run and she wants me to ride horses. So we compromise-I will ride my bike for a couple hours and meet her and the horse for a trail run. While she rides her horse, I will run along side sometimes with our dogs. It makes for a nice family outing. Plus last year, I took her to the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. It was the first time that it was held in the US. Atmosphere like the Olympics. Lots of SAUs for that. Bottom line-find out what hobbies or activities that SHE likes and give to her. Day spa trips, shopping trips to her favorite stores without the kids, girls night out-just some thoughts. Celebrating 21 years of wedding bliss, so I must be doing something right (OK she is very tolerant!!!
David,
Like others I typically try to play time after the IM to relax and see the area we are in. Other things I do are a trip to a hot destination in the winter bi-annually. I let her pick the destination and activities within our budget constraints.
Other than that there is the usual stuff like date nights, pick up on the cooking as she really does not like to do that and inlaw family time. Oh yes when in heavy IM training I try to cut most other personal activities that I do solo, such a computer gaming, few less poker nights or hanging out with my brother and even use the odd holiday to get long training days in.
Gordon
My post IMWI 2012 will probably involve a trip to a warm place in January when it's cold in Michigan. I'm tempted to do the Goofy Challenge at Disney and follow it up with a trip to Puerto Rico. I think I got involved in a challenge to the 2013 NYC Marathon, so she'll get a trip there too.
But, I feel really lucky to have my wife because she is extremely tolerant of all the training I've been doing. She was TOTALLY awesome with my training for the Glass City Marathon this spring.
I also have to find the time to do some of the house projects that have been on the list for a couple of years...
In general...us guys want to feel like heros and our wives want to feel loved and secure above all else. Doesn't mean that is all women want, but usually that is the first 'need' they have - and, similarly, when we feel like we are heroes to our spouses, we will do about anything for them.
Funny how that works- establish and honor a regular date night.
I'm SAG'ing Joanne for her final long runs before the SG Marathon. Going with to the race and will use the moto to be everywhere I can. After the race she's getting a ride back to LA with friends while I get all Mad Max in UT for about 5-7 days, mostly solo and doing roach motels in small towns.
We're then going to register for some half marathons to do together, a couple snowboarding trips to Mammoth before a family trip to Big Sky for Xmas.
I have not let to much slip during my training but I did buy her some nice jewelry for her bday. Last weekend after 5 hours of training on Saturday I hosted her work party for a bbq, standing of feet for 6 hours after bbq'ing, cleaning and setting up earned huge points.