Lance Gossip Alert---oprah 5/9!!!!!!!!!!!

[slinkedog]

Well, he used to do tri's before he started focusing on cycling, so I think it's a rather natural outlet for his competetive nature.

I found that whole thing on Oprah to be kind of whiney. It kind of struck me like, "Oh, I was so enamored of being engaged and so was everyone else and NO ONE told me how hard it was really going to be! Why didn't anyone tell me?" I don't know. There are a jillion 'what-to-expect-now-that-you're-engaged' books out there. Relationships are hard, but if you still believe in Cinderella romances and outcomes, you're too naive to get married, imho.

[margo49]

[QUOTE! Why didn't anyone tell me?" I don't know. There are a jillion 'what-to-expect-now-that-you're-engaged' books out there. Relationships are hard, but if you still believe in Cinderella romances and outcomes, you're too naive to get married, imho. [/QUOTE]

Yeah...I mean when all is said and done at the end of the day a relationship is between 2 sentient beings.

[allabouteva]

Do you think we might be a bit hard on the woman? I read Lance's book It's not about the Bike, and in between the lines, geez it would have been a really hard life. Imagine giving up everything, being stuck in an apartment in France, not speaking the language, not necessarily understanding the culture, not having family nearby, not being able to have a job, because of the itinerate nature of cycling. I think it would've been a tough lonely gig. It would have been ALL about Lance, and nothing about you. And to top it all, being married to Lance who sounds like a very intense, black and white no shades of gray, very single minded about cycling sort of guy - would've been pretty tough.

I think Lance's track record with relationships isn't all that great either.

Anyway my 0.02 worth.

[tulip]

Imagine giving up everything, being stuck in an apartment in France, not speaking the language, not necessarily understanding the culture, not having family nearby, not being able to have a job, because of the itinerate nature of cycling. I think it would've been a tough lonely gig. It would have been ALL about Lance, and nothing about you.

I don't know. You live in France and don't know the language and culture and make little effort to do so? Then yeah, you're going to be bummed. But get out, learn the language, study the culture, meet people, get involved, no matter where you are--that's key. Can't blame it on the place.

I did not see the show. I do not watch Oprah. But I cannot accept such excuses, either. Life takes effort.

[allabouteva]

I don't know. You live in France and don't know the language and culture and make little effort to do so? Then yeah, you're going to be bummed. But get out, learn the language, study the culture, meet people, get involved, no matter where you are--that's key. Can't blame it on the place.

I did not see the show. I do not watch Oprah. But I cannot accept such excuses, either. Life takes effort.

My sister lived in France for 6 months, and yes she did try to learn the language, study the culture and meet people. She is a very friendly person but it was still very hard for her. She said the people were very nice, this is not about the country. It's about not having the networks of people that you take for granted some times, like family etc, and also not knowing the language.

She had her partner who came home everyday and a small child who was there with her. She found it very lonely not having her extended family there. It's very hard to sustain friendships in a different country when you don't speak the language fluently. She found even the French systems very different, like enrolling her child in a school, like connecting the electricity, etc. And to do it all in a different language, it was difficult.

I'm not making excuses, but to live in a foreign country pretty much all alone for great stretches of time. Well, it wouldn't be easy, is all I'm saying. Of course you make an effort, I don't discount that.

[margo49]

I don't know. You live in France and don't know the language and culture and make little effort to do so? Then yeah, you're going to be bummed. But get out, learn the language, study the culture, meet people, get involved, no matter where you are--that's key. Can't blame it on the place.


Yeah that is what I felt like saying Tulip, when I read allabouteva's post.

I did that - came to a country where I knew no one except my SO and I got up , got out, met people, learned the language and culture (which I was also living in a sub-culture)... Sure I cried my eyes out at times but its one amazing ride if you take it in the right spirit you can make it - both as a couple and as an individual . I am an integral part of the community in which
I live ; I just happen to have been born somewhere else .
I worked hard and mostly joyfully at the challenge of it all .
But I have also seen a lot of women over the years *not* get to where I am. It is not a journey for anyone and every one. Just look at the Book of Ruth -anthroplogically not necessarily religiously. One daughter-in-law turned back and is not thought less of for that.
The *place* does have its "contribution to the dynamic" (to use diplomatic language); But you can't blame it all on the place. If you make an effort people make an effort back to include and accept you. It's that simple.

[allabouteva]

But you can't blame it all on the place. If you make an effort people make an effort back to include and accept you. It's that simple.

I didn't think I was saying that.... or trying to blame it all on the place. And I totally agree with you in terms of you get what you put in.

I was trying to use the move to a different country as an example of how lopsided I thought the marriage was (I'm getting all this from my impressions of Lance's book, I didn't see Oprah). And trying (not very well) to express what a significant contribution she made to Lance's success. OK, she gave up her marketing career, moved to another country, moved away from her family, friends, worked hard to learn the language, created a home environment and supported him. He had his cycling, and single mindedly pursued his goals, and I couldn't see what he compromised for her.

Elite athletes make huge sacrifices to achieve what they want to achieve. We forget that families, partners, SOs sometimes even more unselfishly make big sacrifices too, because they're not doing it for themselves, they're doing it for their loved ones.

I think that makes it 0.04c worth! So I'll shut up now!

[VenusdeVelo]

2 years ago me and the HB left the US as expats for Europe. Of course, did not know the language and culture and I will admit it's been very hard at times, but it was not til we got out there and learned and met people that we started to integrate. All these countries have extensive expat communities as well where you can meet friends from all over, in the same boat as you. Esp expats with kids, which is why many are female based as many of the "trailing spouses" as they call it are female (in my case the tables were turned).

So honestly I can't fully empathize with a woe is me when you move somewhere because you have to be ready to work hard when you get there. If you think everyone is just going to speak english to you and this new country will be just like the old one, I would question whether you thought it through. What I can empathize with is that she did not realize the devastating effect of it's "all about Lance" would have on her, and with Lance probably always gone, you start to make your own life and your 2 lives appear to drift apart.

There are ways to fix and manage it but usually it's realized once it's too late.

[jeannierides]

I didn't see Oprah, but I have read several of Kristen Armstrong's articles in Runner's World magazine. I admire her for running Boston (last year, I think). Being married is difficult. Period. Add to that all the *stuff* that Lance's career brought to the table...

[bouncybouncy]

i did not watch the show but i read the article on oprahs website...i also read the article in runners mag...
my $0.02:

the whining spewed out even in text...in a society where marriage has become so disposable it is such a shame we have an icon of a woman {oprah} saying "that is exactly why i have not married, and probably will not" for such a strong, successful woman it makes me sad to hear her say that! i am a divorcee and have thoughts of regret...and wish someone had shook me and made me look at my ex for what he really was i would not have lost those 3 years (yeah, i do consider myself lucky it was ONLY 3 years...could've been more) he was verbally abusive and it was leading more and more to physically...i got out!!! that experience did make me look at marriage a whole lot differently!!!
my second marriage (4 wonderful months so far) i put lines in the sand...gave ultimatums...put my foot down...and voiced my goals, wants & needs......BUT you know what??? SO DID HE!!! because i truely believe in give and take we have compromised so little of ourselves yet have given ALL of ourselves to each other!!!
i am not sure my point to all of this is... i just hope that girls in the threshold of marriage would not shy away from the whole thing but understand they do not have to loose themselves to the other person...but continue to be the person they fell in love with...and grow together!!!

btw: cause i am such a mushy romantic...what about this ending...(lance & kristin live 2 miles apart) because he has retired from cycling and altho his new passion is as time consuming he still makes a point to be with his children...do you think by some glimmer they might make amends and be a happy family??? maybe??? does anyone else have this little hope??? now...THAT would make me cry

[Jo-n-NY]

quote....
btw: cause i am such a mushy romantic...what about this ending...(lance & kristin live 2 miles apart) because he has retired from cycling and altho his new passion is as time consuming he still makes a point to be with his children...do you think by some glimmer they might make amends and be a happy family??? maybe??? does anyone else have this little hope??? now...THAT would make me cry[/QUOTE]


The thought has occured to me. They probably have a better understanding of each other now than they ever did before. As they say, never say never so one never knows.

~ JoAnn

[bikerchick68]

interesting topic... I didn't see this show, and am only going on what I read here and what I know for myself to be true...

I got divorced in 2004. I am a strong, successful business woman... but I'm telling you... it hurt. Bad. And I was no doubt a little whiney, too. BUT, like Kristen and Lance, the ex and I ended with very little fighting, no attorney's used (even tho we owned a house etc!) and have done well with not bad mouthing each other. Yes, I comment on some of the things that made me unhappy, but I know he is a good person in many ways, and I comment on that too... he just wasn't good for ME. Or me for him.

I actually admire them both for how they handled the divorce. It's much, much easier to be hateful than to be nice... mostly because anger is a VERY real stage of the grieving process.

[slinkedog]

I totally respect Kristin and Lance for not bad-mouthing each other and I think they've handled the divorce incredibly well. I know marriage is hard and divorce sucks. Been there. It's not the divorce thing that bothers me. It wasn't even just Kristin's comments. It was the whole show. I do believe they had a good point in that we need to be realistic about marriage and what it takes. I didn't like the tone of, "No one told me how hard it was going to be. I was too enamored of the rock on my hand and they were all too excited about my wedding." I believe the responsiblity for the success of the failure of a relationship is based, fundamentally, on the people in the relationship. I guess I just get frustrated when it seems like people aren't willing to take responsiblity for their own actions and decisions, and that's what I felt was coming through on the entire show.