The Art of The Long Ride
How to go far and come home with energy to give
Most athletes think The Long Ride is just a test of grit and fitness.
But if you’re building an endurance lifestyle, it becomes something more:
A ritual
A logistical puzzle
A communication exercise
And when you get it right?
It’s one of the best parts of endurance.
But when you get it wrong…?
Your wife feels unsupported at home, you’re not getting fit and you’re overwhelmed with your entire approach.
Let’s avoid that.
Here’s how to Master The Art of The Long Ride in 4 simple steps:
1. Communicate with your spouse
is the most consistent athlete I coach.And he has one secret hack for balancing 70.3 and 50 mile ultra training with being a…
husband
father of 4
business owner
involved member at his church
It’s called The Schedule Sit Down.
At the start of each week, he and his wife sit down at the kitchen table to review the family’s upcoming schedule.
And he brings his training plan to the table.
This is where he finds his open time slot for The Long Ride.
This is where he offers to front load dad duty, so his wife isn’t stretched thin.
He might move The Long Ride from Saturday to Thursday morning. That’s fine.
It’s not about being rigid with the plan.
It’s about creating the plan that works with the family, so he can show up as the husband and father he wants to be.
This kind of communication builds trust in marriage.
It says:
“This ride matters to me. But so do you, the kids, and peace in our home.
2. Prep your gear the night before
I have an athlete who’s been a part of Tribal for 2+ years.
And he still says this Tribal Law the most important thing he’s learned being part of the team:
“If it takes you 30+ minutes to get out the door for every training session, you’re never gonna make it in endurance”
This is especially true for The Long Ride.
Waking up and scrambling to find your bottles, food, and socks adds stress to something that should be automatic.
And it turns a 3 hour ride into a 4.5+ hour operation.
Let’s avoid that.
Here’s what I do the night before my Long Ride:
Get my pre-ride breakfast ready
Bottles filled and in the fridge
Bars on the counter
Watch charged
Route mapped
Kit laid out
It looks like this…
Pro Tip: remove thinking and guess work
3. Pick a route that gives you space
My first 60-mile ride was a mess.
I lived in Fishtown, a dense Philly neighborhood, and planned to cross the city to reach the Schuylkill River Trail.
But I ran into a huge problem…
It took me 30 minutes just to reach the trail.
dodging cars
stopping at red lights
praying I didn’t get hit
Even on the trail, I was weaving through walkers, dogs, and other riders.
I wasn’t safe. It wasn’t peaceful. And I wasn’t even a good workout.
So the next weekend, I tried something new:
I expanded my map.
I woke up 30 minutes earlier, packed up the car and drove to the suburbs where I could ride big, open, country roads.
Not only did this make for a better riding experience…
I got better at planning, riding and prioritizing the lifestyle I wanted.
It took up more time in the day, - and that was a good thing.
I wasn’t a dad yet. Most of my Saturdays were spent at breweries or watching sports.
Now… every Saturday became an adventure.
Eventually my wife started tagging along.
And I started to find cool coffee shops for us to stop at mid-ride.
Not just for calories—but for joy.
Espresso + Pastries = Spiritual Refuel
Pro Tip: Expand Your Map
Drive 30-60 minutes outside of your city or suburb to find more open roads.
Wake up early and drive out so you can start as soon as it’s light out.
Be willing to seek adventure.
BONUS: Plan a family meet up at the coffee shop
In my first Ironman build after becoming a dad, my values reached a crossroad…
I was committed to training and wanted to do well in my race
But I didn’t want to disappear every Saturday for 3 to 5 hours
So I tried something new…
I suggested my wife and son meet me at a coffee shop 90 minutes into my ride.
I’d leave at sunrise, ride strong, check my phone mid-ride, and time it so I arrived just a few minutes before them—no training time wasted.
This allowed me be the dad and husband I wanted to be:
creating adventure for my fam
breaking up my wife’s solo parenting
still prioritizing my own goals and development
Live Life On Offense.
Because The Long Ride isn’t just about going far—it’s about creating space to live the life you want.
4. Return home radiant
The family meet up at the coffee shop is great.
But that doesn’t happen every time.
And during that first Ironman build as a dad, I learned that the hard way.
I went out for a 4+ hour ride - and I crushed it.
My legs felt like they had the juice to ride all the way to Wyoming.
And I came home buzzing.
But when I walked in the door, the vibe shifted...
The house was quiet
The sink was full of dirty dishes
My wife was fried from a full morning of solo parenting
I could tell - my ride had cost her more than it gave me.
So the next weekend, I tried something new:
I carved out a few minutes on my way home to stop at a coffee shop and get my wife’s favorite latte and a pastry.
Then I burst through the door like the Kool-Aid Man — with a handful of treats, a smile on my face, and good vibes.
I put Jack Johnson on the speaker
I tucked away my gear
I tidied the kitchen
And I asked about their morning.
Because that’s the real art of going long:
Returning home not just with stronger legs. But a fuller heart.
P.S.
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