This blog post is probably the most personal one I’ve written. Last year was life-changing for my wife and me. And I want to speak to something that many of us can relate to: how to keep up with training or stay active while navigating the wild, beautiful ride of becoming a new parent.
My wife, Christine, and I welcomed our first child last year. Becoming a Girl Dad has been one of the greatest joys of my life. There’s a kind of happiness that only comes from holding your child in your arms for the first time and knowing that your life has forever changed—and changed for the better.
A Few Thank-Yous First
I wouldn’t have made it to Iceman last year without a few key people.
My first thank you goes to my wife. When I learned Christine’s due date was November 15th, I immediately asked, “Wait… what’s the date of Iceman again?” Iceman was on November 2nd 2024, my daughter was born on November 9th, that’s how close we were. Thankfully, she is nothing short of amazing. She looked me dead in the eye and said, “As long as I’m not in labor, you’re going to race.” When our doctor gave the final all-clear, I knew I was good to go.
I also need to give a massive shout-out to Kat Paye. If delivery started early, she said that she would send a search and rescue team to pull me off the course mid-race so I could get back to Grand Rapids. That’s real support.
Thank you also to Lance and Kayla Gallagher, close friends who were ready to drop everything immediately to help me get home in time if needed.
Now, with my daughter taking up much of my time and heart, the question becomes: How do I train while being a husband, a father, and a friend and still maintain a love of racing? Here are a few thoughts that might help other new parents trying to find that balance.
Redefining “Training”
Before my daughter arrived, my schedule was pretty dialed in. I’d hit the gym in the early morning, lift, run, and then head out to the trails after work. That’s not realistic anymore.
I had to redefine what “training” looks like.
The first big step I took was hiring a coach — Justin Marzean (IG: @just_tri_n) — who builds workouts tailored to my race schedule and the time I actually have available. He’s helped me stay in shape, stay sharp, and keep a healthy mindset during this new season of life. If you’re considering getting a coach, I highly recommend contacting Justin. He’s been a huge asset (and he’s pretty solid on the bike, too!).
The second big step was incorporating my daughter into my training schedule. My favorite new “training sessions” are long stroller walks with my daughter. It’s active recovery, it gets the heart rate up, and it’s quality daddy-daughter time.
She’s also not the world’s best napper unless she’s being held. So, I started using those 30-minute napping windows to stretch. It might not seem like much, but 30 minutes of focused mobility work keeps the muscles loose and helps me feel refreshed.
Embracing the Trainer
The trainer used to be a winter-only thing, a necessary evil. Now, it’s a lifeline.
My coach builds workouts based on FTP and race terrain, but he also trims two-hour rides into efficient 75-minute sessions. That way I’m not losing time commuting to the trailhead, and I’m still home if Christine needs a hand with our daughter.
Is it ideal? No. But my legs stay sharp, and I’m still race-ready.
One of the trainer’s underrated perks is being able to target exactly what you need: VO2 max, hill repeats, and endurance spins. A 40-minute VO2 max session on the trainer can be just as productive as a longer outdoor ride and sometimes more so.
Sleep Is Training Now
One of the most complex adjustments has been dealing with disrupted sleep. Recovery is critical for performance, and the best recovery tool is quality sleep, which can be hard to come by in those early months.
I had to shift my mindset completely: sleep isn’t just something that supports my training — it is my training.
My daughter was unpredictable with her sleep at first. There were many nights of holding her for hours, knowing I was losing rest, missing workouts. At first, I thought skipping a ride for a nap meant I was getting weaker. But Justin told me something that stuck: “You’re not being weak. You’re being smart.” You don’t lose fitness overnight. Missing a ride to take care of your body and your family is part of being a real athlete.
Partner Buy-In: The Real Key
None of this works without my wife Christine. Period.
Going from a relatively open schedule to navigating the chaos of new parenthood means the most important piece of any training plan isn’t long rides or watts — it’s communication.
Christine supports this part of my life because she knows it’s not just a hobby. She’s seen what happens when I don’t move my body for a few days — I’m not myself. I’m very quiet, I’m restless, and emotionally off. One day, early on, she looked at me and said, “Go for a run. Go ride. I’ve got her.” I came back an hour later, and she said something I’ll never forget:
“Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your family.”
That’s how deeply she gets it.
Before our daughter was born, we had honest conversations about what racing and training would look like after her arrival, and we continue to have those talks today. It’s not about asking for “permission.” It’s about being open, building a routine, and knowing when to adjust.
We use a shared calendar now. If a long ride is planned, it goes on there. If Christine needs a Saturday morning to herself, that goes on there, too. And if a conflict comes up, we talk it through and make it work. That mutual respect that give and take is everything.
And here’s the truth: if Christine ever needed me to stop riding or racing, I would drop it all in a heartbeat. But the thing is, she won’t let me. Because she knows how important this is to me, and she wants me to keep being the best version of myself for our family.
That kind of support? It means everything. There is no Team CCM without the first “C.”
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Final Thoughts
My little sugarplum is now seven months old. She’s sleeping better, and I’m slowly finding pieces of my old routine again—early runs, quick gym sessions, and the occasional
outdoor ride. But everything I do now is more intentional. Every ride matters. Every hour has a purpose. And every moment with my family is treasured more than ever.
To Christine: thank you for being the heart and soul of this household. You are the reason I get to keep chasing this passion—and the reason I want to be better every day.
Her first birthday is the day after Iceman, so we will be celebrating her first birthday while at Iceman.
To any new parent reading this: you’re not alone. If you ever need someone to talk to about balancing racing with parenting, feel free to reach out. We’re all figuring it out one ride, one nap, one bottle at a time.
See you in the woods.
Thank you to Chris Mutnansky @the_racing_ref for being our 2025 Iceman Cometh Challenge Trailblazer.