What happens when your spouse’s passion, career, or sport demands as much devotion as your marriage?

In this candid episode of Brutiful Marriage, we pull back the curtain on the "other woman" who shared our marriage for 13 years: professional track and field. We share the untold reality of navigating intense travel schedules, feeling second-best, solo parenting through major life milestones, and the mental weight of living out high-stakes athletic pressure together.

Plus, we discuss how demanding corporate careers can bring that exact same tension—and why anchoring your identity in your spouse and family is the only way to stay united.

Key discussion points:

• Navigating identity when an athletic career consumes daily life

• The emotional toll on the spouse holding down home and family

• Handling public scrutiny, performance pressure, and international distance

• Why communication delivery matters more than raw frustration

• Lessons for anyone feeling in competition with a partner’s job or hobby

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION

Podcast Companion Guide

Our Brutiful Marriage Podcast Companion Guide takes the most powerful themes, verbatims, and moments from our most popular episodes and turn them into practical, heart‑centered tools you can use together.

frequently asked questions

What does it mean when something becomes "the other woman" in a marriage?

The "other woman" doesn't always have to be another person. Sometimes it's a career. Sometimes it's a business. Sometimes it's a hobby. Sometimes it's a dream. In Episode 33, Doc and Crystal jokingly refer to track and field as "the other woman" because of how much time, attention, energy, travel, and emotional investment it required throughout his professional career. The real question is whether something outside the marriage is receiving so much attention that the relationship begins feeling neglected.

Can a career compete with a marriage?

Yes. Not because careers are bad, but because time and attention are limited. When one spouse is fully consumed by work, athletics, business, ministry, or another passion, the other spouse can begin feeling like they are competing for emotional space. Crystal describes feeling second class at times because track required so much of Doc's attention and energy. The challenge wasn't the career itself. It was finding balance.

How do you balance a demanding career and marriage?

Balance requires intentionality. In Episode 33, Doc explains that finding balance didn't happen naturally. It happened because trusted people challenged him to prioritize both his professional responsibilities and his family responsibilities. Strong marriages rarely survive on leftovers. The goal is not simply giving your spouse whatever time remains after work. The goal is making sure the marriage receives intentional investment too.

What happens when your identity becomes tied to your career?

Your career becomes difficult to separate from your sense of self. Doc shares that track became part of his identity, particularly after turning professional. The discipline, preparation, travel, competition, and pursuit of excellence consumed much of his daily life for years. When identity becomes heavily connected to one pursuit, success feels incredibly personal, but so do failures.

Is it possible to support a spouse's dream and still feel overlooked?

Absolutely. One of the most honest moments in Episode 33 is Crystal describing how difficult it was to share her husband with not only the sport itself, but the travel schedule, coaches, competitors, media, fans, successes, and disappointments that came along with it. You can be proud of your spouse while simultaneously wishing you had more of them. Those feelings can exist together.

What is it like being married to a professional athlete?

According to Crystal, it's an emotional roller coaster. You're celebrating victories. You're carrying disappointments. You're reading criticism. You're defending someone you love. You're watching them carry pressure that most people never see. And often, you're doing all of it without fully understanding the experience yourself. Being married to an athlete means you're connected to a journey that becomes your journey too.

How do athletes protect their marriages?

One word: balance. Doc emphasizes that athletes need people who remind them that their worth extends beyond performance. Careers eventually end. Records get broken. Competitions come and go. The people who love you remain. Athletes who prioritize healthy relationships often find greater stability when the inevitable highs and lows of performance occur.

Why do spouses sometimes feel disconnected from highly driven partners?

Highly driven people often become intensely focused. That focus can create success, but it can also unintentionally create distance. Crystal explains that there were moments when she felt disconnected because she couldn't fully understand what Doc was experiencing on the track, and she wasn't always sure how to support him through the pressure, scrutiny, and disappointment. Sometimes disconnection happens not because love is absent, but because understanding feels difficult.

How can you support your spouse during a difficult career season?

Support doesn't always require fixing the problem. One of the most powerful insights from Episode 33 is that Doc wasn't always looking for solutions. Sometimes he simply needed connection. Talking about the kids. Hearing about Crystal's day. Laughing together. Remembering there was life beyond the next race. Sometimes presence is more valuable than advice.

What sacrifices do spouses make for each other's dreams?

More than most people realize. Doc acknowledges the sacrifices Crystal made while raising children, traveling alone, managing the household, and carrying responsibilities while he competed internationally. Crystal acknowledges the sacrifices Doc made through years of discipline, pressure, travel, and performance expectations.

Healthy marriages stop keeping score and start appreciating sacrifice from both sides.

Should your spouse be your anchor?

According to Episode 33, yes. Jobs change. Careers end. Sports retire you eventually. Opportunities come and go. The person you come home to should remain your anchor. Doc explains that athletes need someone who can pull them away from the noise of competition and remind them that they are more than their performance. Everyone needs that anchor.

Can hobbies become "the other woman" too?

Absolutely. Toward the end of the episode, Doc and Crystal point out that it doesn't have to be a sport. It could be:

• Golf

• Work

• Gaming

• Fitness

• Social media

• Business

• A side hustle

• A favorite hobby

Anything that consistently receives more attention than the relationship can eventually create tension. The issue isn't the activity. The issue is priority.

How do you know when something is taking too much space in your marriage?

Ask yourself:

• Does my spouse regularly feel neglected?

• Am I more emotionally available for my passion than my partner?

• Do I consistently prioritize the activity over the relationship?

• Does my spouse feel like they're competing for my attention?

If the answer is yes, the issue may not be the activity itself.

The issue may be how much room it's occupying.

What is the biggest lesson from Episode 33?

The biggest lesson is that even good things can become unhealthy when they take precedence over the people we love. Ambition isn't bad. Passion isn't bad. Success isn't bad. But eventually every athlete retires. Every career changes. Every season ends. The people who remain are the people who loved you beyond what you achieved. That's why your spouse should never be an afterthought. They should be the anchor that keeps you grounded while you're chasing everything else.

full transcript

00:00 So, we're talking about a little. indiscretion here. And yeah, we've. letting the cat out the bag because. there has been another woman in our. relationship. I don't know if everybody. knows that, but I played second. fiddle [laughter] to her for 13 years. And I just. remember feeling so second class. And. you know.

00:30 really. that Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Track was the second woman, [laughter] y'all. Track was in our marriage big and. thick and heavy and. heavy. strong. She was getting all the attention all. the time. She was getting the special. attention and. you [laughter] know, I just felt away. about it. And you know, she's just. always hovering there, lurking in the. shadows. Goodness. Yeah. Okay. You think that's funny?

01:00 I mean, first off, I didn't know she was. the other woman. you know. So, I mean, but Okay, let's. rock with it. Mhm. So, I This is going to be me. interviewing you for a change, sir. All right. So, I want to know. Let's rock with it. I want to know when did you realize. that being an athlete was more than just. being an athlete? that it was part of. who you part of who you are. Oh, that's a good question. I would.

01:30 probably say when I got a scholarship. offer, yeah, that's that made. it serious. because I've always. been somewhat athletic. competitive, good at sports, bat. mitten, volleyball, basketball. football. So, I've always been athletic. You do play volleyball really. Yeah, I play volleyball a lot. But. anyway, I've always been athletic, but. it wasn't serious until. I got a scholarship offer to college. And so I'll say that's where it.

02:00 started. And where did it go from there? Well, from there it just kind of. you know. the heights that I never even imagined. Let me ask the question a little bit. differently. Okay. This isn't necessarily about. you being an athlete, but track being a. part of your identity. When did you. realize that track was part of your. identity? Ah. that's a good one. I would I would say.

02:30 I honestly when I turned pro when I. turned pro because it consumed me. like I knew that. it took up so much of my life from. having to be disciplined. from eating to not going out as much to. you name all the cliches that. are out there to be to be to perform. at a high level. I knew I had to do all. that and it became my life.

03:00 Like track and field became my life, you. know. Well, how would you say that you being. an athlete kind of fell into our. marriage then? because you just said. it consumed you. It did. And so now, you. know, here I come, wifey. And I'm like. Mrs. Doc Patton, and you're this person. who is consumed with your athletic. career. How did that fit into our. marriage?

03:30 You know what? I guess you know we. were making it work. So I thought so I. just realized she was the other woman. as in today [laughter] right now today I found out she. was the other woman. But you know I say. that tongue-in-cheek. I knew that. with me traveling gone for long periods. of time. I knew that was tough on. you. And I would say that it became. somewhat of a challenge to try to. balance, you know, the competitive side.

04:00 of me. taking track serious all the time and. to let that down. when I walk into the house because it's. hard to turn that off sometimes and then. to turn around and be a husband. I. mean, I guess like any other job, right? But this was just a little different. because this took me across the world. and sometimes I'm coming off, you know. a 13 hour plane ride and you know you. you're excited. I'm excited to see you. and all I want to do is go to sleep.

04:30 [laughter] Like I just want to go to. bed. That's it. And I know you need the. attention, but it's like the pillow is. way more attractive than you are right. now. [laughter] It's cold blooded. It is what it is. So talk a little bit more about. that. So, you know, transitioning from. that I'm. pro athlete go mode, I'm about to beat. these people's head in on the track to. coming home to regular life with a wife.

05:00 and two kids looking at you in the face. Like, what was that like? But you know what though, it's it. became a good balance. It became a good. balance because I was so focused on. track and field. Like I said, it was my. life. It consumed me in a good way. because it ended up being a blessing and. being beneficial and you know I was. able to see things and accomplish things. that one can only dream of but at the. same time I knew I wanted a wife and. kids and so coming home to a wife and. kids was just as rewarding. so which.

05:30 is being able to find that balance was. probably a little difficult but once I. figured that out they were equally as. rewarding. What was the balance finding journey. like? Help. Finding help. Need someone telling. me, "Hey dog, so you better you better. figure this out or you going to lose. your family.". Like I know you love track and field.

06:00 but you got to figure this part out. I know you say you love these things. but you have to find some. balance. So figuring that part out for. me was like I said seeking. some type of counsel to help me. understand what balance looks like. because to me track was probably more. important because that's also how we. were eating. you know so it's like where is that. balance like well I got to go run I got. to go make this bread but I also got to.

06:30 be a father and a husband and so but. it was difficult it was I can't tell the. exact time when I found that balance, I. knew I just had to find it quick. I will give you that much in credit to. say that being a professional athlete is. very difficult from say being or maybe. it's not so different, but your job is. also your hobby. [laughter] your natural. inclination. Yeah. You know what it No, it's not a.

07:00 hobby. It's not It's not a hobby. You don't run for fun. It's fun when I win, but [laughter] no cause because sometimes you don't. always win. So it, you know, I got my. head beaten a lot, you know. So, but it. definitely was not a hobby. It I mean. it's it's like I would say it's like any. other demanding job. It really is. And when that becomes kind of like. your you put so much work, so much time. spent in trying to be the best ever.

07:30 right? I was trying to be one of the. best in the world. it takes a lot to. do that. Yeah. And then trying to balance that with. family. It was rough. What would you say, And this is a hard. one. Oh, here we go. Let's go. What would you say track gives you that. I don't? Oh, man. What you trying to do to me. right now? Like the people. I won't I won't hold you to it. You will.

08:00 not He will not be punished. charmed or. otherwise by virtue of answering this. question. Yeah, I heard that right. I have witnesses. I'll say. back then. they didn't want me. Now I'm hot. They. all [laughter] stop it. Okay. Track didn't talk back. Track didn't. Okay, I might need to rephrase what just. said. Track didn't say anything. Track just. took me as it was. Say more. It just is there. I mean I mean track.

08:30 beat me up, you know what I'm saying. from that standpoint. But there was. no there was no back and forth with. track and field. I didn't have I didn't. have no arguments. There was no. disagreements. There was no, you know. just there wasn't a lot of back and. forth. You just knew what you needed to do. I knew I and it was going to happen. regardless as I put the work in. So let's pull that thread. Okay. As long as you put the work in, right? So, how is that different from the work. that you got to put in with our.

09:00 marriage? Well, the difference is you would let me. know where I was doing wrong or you let. me know like, hey, you messed up here. and that and the other, right? We're tracking the field. I just have to. figure it out without sometimes it. sounding somewhat condescending or. how do I want to say it? Nagging, if you. want to say. But didn't your coach tell. you what you was doing wrong? Yeah, but in a more of a corrective to. be better. You know what I'm saying? It.

09:30 I just want you to walk into. No, no, no, no. I can walk into it. because there is a difference. I. believe there was a difference in. more motivating and I need you to do. this because I'm mad right now. [laughter] Okay. So, the takeaway that I'm hearing. is that in order to get your husband to. do what it is that you want them to do. you need to motivate them in that. direction, not just. set it out there and as an edict.

10:00 I would say it's it's in the delivery. I. ain't going to say motivate, but it's. all in the delivery. Okay. All right. Well, I will say one of. the hardest parts of loving. someone who loves their sport. just as much is feeling. worthy. Okay. It's feeling worthy of the time. attention, and space. Mhm. and also.

10:30 feeling okay with sharing that space. Yeah. I struggled with that for a long time in. sharing you with not just. your travel schedule, not just the your. coach or your practice mates. It. was sharing you with the world. The. world sharing in your failures and your. success. Yeah. Every time somebody said. something, you know, tongue-in-cheek.

11:00 slick about you, I couldn't pop off. I. mean, I could, but it wouldn't have been. productive. You kind of let me know. Like, I. remember one point, [laughter] I don't know was right when our daughter. was born or right after or whatever the. case may be, but I was, I was in. Europe and I missed your phone call. Mhm. And you know the time difference was. always a problem for us, right? And this. was the good old Skype days.

11:30 Oh, no, no, no. This was probably. calling card days. Calling card, Skype. Yeah, it was it was. a while back. Okay. Either way. I remember and this is my first time. saying this. you like here I am trying to take care. of the kids and you just frolicking. around Europe having your living your. best life. I'm like I'm at work. I'm not. frolicking across Europe. I'm sprinting. across Europe, but I'm not a frolicking. So, a couple of things. Okay.

12:00 Couple of things. It was your fault that. you weren't frolic frolicking and. gallivanting around Europe. Cuz if I was. in Europe on work assignment, I would be. trying to find out ways to go see all. the things. [laughter] So, I mean, I. don't know what to tell you about what. you chose to do with your time, right? But when I call, yes, I do expect an. answer. when you're that many thousands of miles. away. No, I know. And I know that was. difficult at that time. I just I. just remember I at that point I took.

12:30 it personal. you know like frolicking gallivanting. around Europe. What like I got to. prepare for a race tomorrow. in front of thousands of people. like and you mad that I didn't. answer the phone. But I get it though. like I am you know ten hours away. probably had talked to you in you know. day or two and you just want to hear my. voice. So I get it now, but at that. moment like I can't believe she fixed. her mouth and said that. Did it make you like feel away about.

13:00 being married? No, not away about I just felt like she. don't get it. There's no way she understands cuz she. wouldn't have said that if she truly. understand what I was doing. Do you still feel like I don't. understand? No. No, not even close. I think. that, you know, our experiences in the. last, you know, hell, 20 plus years and. then track being 13 of that, you've. learned to adjust and I've learned to. adjust. and so I No, you're nowhere near how you.

13:30 were back then and neither am I. Yeah. So. so this is a this is a spicy question. and it's not a right or wrong. You know, I can't do spicy. I know you can't do spicy, y'all. He. can't deal with Tony Chachere’s. I mean. stop it. I mean, it's not untrue. Stop it. So, spicy question, but not because. there's a right or wrong answer, but. just because I'm curious. Who do you think sacrificed more? Oo.

14:00 both of us. And I say that because in the beginning. it was me traveling and trying to. you know, put food on the table and, you. know, going all over God knows where. right? I would say once the kids got here, I. would say more you because I was not. there. I wasn't present. There's some. things that I missed. And like for. example you traveling to one our family.

14:30 members graduation solo dolo pulling the. you know everything through all the. airports. Okay. [laughter] So let me just. struggling a little bit. Let's be very clear. I am employed. I. have been employed the entirety of our. our relationship. So absolutely you. know there's that. But yeah I do I. remember flying to Atlanta. [laughter] That was a dumpster fire trip. I was. pushing a stroller. I had a car seat. I.

15:00 had two duffel bags and a pulley a. rolling suitcase with the baby that I. even said that I had her but she was. with me too and I had to get a. rental car. [laughter] Just book a bad Ideas. Don't do it. Don't Don't do it. But I that's. why I say both cuz on the back. half especially in my career when the. kids came I will say there was a lot of. sacrifices that you had to that I that I. knew of not even talking about what I.

15:30 probably didn't even see. that I know you kind of you had to hold. it down. Yeah. And I mean I can remember you. gallivanting around Europe. but. doing so in a way where you were just. going, you were just going and going and. going and going and I didn't feel like. you really had time to process like what. was happening. It was like. "Okay, land, do a shakeout, go find some. food and some not wet eggs for. breakfast.

16:00 get ready for the meet. and execute. and then on to the next. and then on to the next." And that's. win, lose or draw. right? and you just had to keep. keep going. How did how did you deal. with that performance pressure. understanding that you know here in the. back of my mind I'm like that other. woman [laughter] you know it's funny you say that. right because in the back of my mind I. remember like at some point I got to. call my wife [laughter]

16:30 cuz if I don't call my wife she liable. to show up here and burn all this down. I'm so serious. You laughing. I'm so ser. because I will get caught up and I land. I shake out, I eat, I compete, I'm back. on a plane to another country and I'm. like, "God, dog, I ain't talked to my. my wife in like two days.". And the time difference. and the time is like so I can't even. call her right now cuz it's 2 a.m. And so it's just that cycle and I in the. back of my mind like if I don't find a. way to talk to my wife, it's going to be.

17:00 problems. But beyond the. pressure that I was bestowing upon you. just dealing with that performance. pressure. alongside it, what was that like? You know what? it wasn't as difficult as you may think. because at that time I was somewhat. of a veteran. I kind of knew how to carry myself. I. knew how to prepare. I knew how to prioritize. know. certain things that I think had this.

17:30 been early on in my career it have been. a huge problem but in the latter parts. of my career being able to have that. balance I mean even you at one. point you were like so you in Paris and. you by the Eiffel Tower and you don't. want to go. yeah I didn't understand that still. don't understand it I don't know. I was like no I got to race and you like. if you don't take some time to go see. some things and so that actually kind of. helped me like you know realize like. dude relax chill is not that serious.

18:00 So, I think that towards the end helped. you know, right up until the sunset a. little bit. I have no idea how you dealt with. the pressure of competing every day. almost every day, in front of. thousands of people and knowing that. everybody got an opinion about. Oh, yeah. how you run, what you supposed to do. your stride length, and your this and. your that. I mean, everybody's a coach. right? And you lying. it was I just remember it being.

18:30 difficult despite my frustration with. how much time track was taking up in. your life but I remember feeling. helpless like that I couldn't always. give you what I thought you needed in. terms of the bounce back like. encouraging you and helping you feel. like. you know you don't suck there's another. race coming you know like I mean what do. I day. I don't I run in emergencies. I. don't know what to tell you to cheer.

19:00 you up. And so. it just made me. it made me feel that much more. disconnected from you that I couldn't. even cheer you up or motivate you. [laughter] you know, in those times. where I felt like you needed it. You know what though? I'll say and I'm. you know, I'm glad you're bringing this. up. I'll say that. you just being my wife. was good enough for me. And I know you.

19:30 wanted more like to help me cuz you know. it wasn't always good. Y'all know it. wasn't always good. Go look it up. [laughter] It wasn't always good, right? And you know, everybody is a coach. Everybody has their opinions and I gave. people reason to shoot shots at me. you know, and I know you want to support. me, but I think just you answering the. phone and having a conversation, me. asking how the kids’ day were, how was. your day at work? Because at some point. I didn't even want to talk about it. anymore. Yeah. So, so it wasn't and you probably. thought, oh, how do I help? You were.

20:00 helping in more ways than you ever. thought just by telling about your work. day. Tell me how the kids, you know, how. their day was. What did that do for you? Oh, it's it's just a sense of balance. peace, and it's, you know, it wasn't. just about sport anymore. You know, it. it was like, you know, I ran, I did. well. Okay, I didn't do well. It sucked. I'm gonna call my wife, talk to my kids. real quick, you know, take my mind off. of it. I think about this. more often than I probably realize, but.

20:30 one truth about being married to an. athlete that people don't necessarily. talk enough about, okay, don't talk. about it enough is that you. you are literally living their career. with them. and you know they it's not. a secret when you get married the two. shall become one. And so me being one. with him and kind of watching you.

21:00 meander through your career from the. very beginning. Yeah. Yeah. I was only two years in. way up until the time that you retired. was an emotional roller coaster that I. didn't know that I was signing up for. I. didn't know that I was gonna be stark. raving mad at everybody on track and. field news who was talking crazy, you. know, or that, you know, was it run blog. run? I think that is one. Yeah.

21:30 You know, like I mean, and all the. blogs. all the blogs, this is when we had chat. rooms and dating myself, but you know. they were just doing their job and but. but I'm looking at you. I'm looking at. the heart of who you are. Yeah. the essence of who you are, not. just this athlete. [laughter] And I just I just remember taking. personal offense to a lot of it. And. what it taught me was. resilience because it wasn't even me. It.

22:00 wasn't even like I was the one that was. getting booed or getting cheered or. you know, on the news, you know. celebrating and taking victory laps with. the. you know, US flag. it. But. I was with you. Yeah. In that. Yeah. So, I don't know that we talk about. that enough in those in marriage. relationships when one spouse is an. athlete. I think that there's a lot to. be said about what that looks like for.

22:30 the other person. You don't know that. you're signing up for it. Yeah. Guess so. You're right there for. sure. So, one more question. And so like. what do you think aspiring athletes need. to know about their relationship with. their sport? Okay. And their relationship with their. spouse. Balance. You're going to have to. find balance. And I And I'll say it's. important like I mentioned previously.

23:00 because sport is going to disappoint. you. at some point. It's going to disappoint. you. Who's your circle? who's your. person, you know, and you were my. person. I would say to aspiring. athletes, get whoever your spouse is. whoever your person is, you're going to. need them way more than you think you. are. and it's hard to realize that. in the moment. and it may take a few episodes of. crashing out, but that.

23:30 person that person is very. important in. taking your mind away from sport for a. little bit. Mhm. because that's that's what you did. and you know our friends and family did. you know when I when I went through what. I went through is that it was able to. kind of realize no matter what I do they. love me. And I say to aspiring athletes no matter. what you do that person that supports. you is going to support you no matter. what. Ups downs falls disappointments.

24:00 they're going to support you no matter. what. Yeah. And for anybody who loves an. aspiring athlete, right, it's it's you. you gotta you got to stay prayed up. You. gotta make sure that you are. anchored in the right things. because. you can get carried away with what. everybody is talking about, what. everybody is saying, what needs to. happen, what ought to happen, who should. have. Yo, it can make you crazy. but.

24:30 if you if you keep the main thing the. main thing then you stay. centered and the focus is on your. marriage and not. the sport the competition. Yeah. Yeah. What would you say then is has been your. your biggest lesson in marriage and. sport. because I feel like you've been.

25:00 married to track you know you She got a. couple [laughter] years on me. Stay prayed up. You're going to have to. have it. Yeah. You got to stay prayed up. You're. going to have to have that. And. nothing's ever that serious. It's just not in sport. Not in sport. because it's going to. end. And hopefully your marriage lasts. until death do you. part. And I would say, you know, the. lesson is, you know, prioritize.

25:30 you know, the spouse, the wife, just. as much as you prioritize sport. Just as much. if not more. [laughter] I was just wondering. But, you know, the. funny thing is that, you know, we're. talking about track right now as the. other woman. and not to make light. of infidelity, because that's very. serious and we know that is. something that a lot of married couples. struggle with, correct? But.

26:00 feeling like you're in a competition. with something else in the context of. marriage is very real. It don't have to. be track. It could be like our friend. our friends Tony and Johnny years ago. they were talking about golf, [laughter] you know, how golf was the other. woman. I used to say that little Debbie. was his other woman on the side cuz baby. bae when I tell you throwing back. wait a minute wait a minute. chill out that's too much. It's not. They don't even know. He admitted it. Chill out. Anyway. they got to look that up. Off season him and little Debbie was.

26:30 like this. So I just I you know whether. it's a hobby, whether it's. I don't know it could be a litany of. things. And you know, we aren't. talking about me, but there was a time. in our marriage where I know my career. was causing some challenges with. you. Yeah. I think I and I do remember. those days. but I think and I say. challenges, but I think because of.

27:00 what I had gone through being an. athlete. I kind of understood it more. Tell more. meaning that so you was times. where I don't think you knew you were. coming or going. What I mean by that you would you come. home late and leave early. Come home. late and leave early. Come home late. leave early. It became like a cycle. but I understood your grind. I. understood why you were doing it. I knew. it was important for you to try to climb. this corporate ladder. and it was.

27:30 challenging. But I think. I know I know for a fact that I think. what you went through with me I. understood what you were going through. So that's why I don't think it was a lot. of rift. It was a little difficult but I. understood why you were doing what you. had to do. Yeah. It and I think one of my. biggest takeaways in hindsight. Yeah. is that I know. during that time when I was going and.

28:00 going and going and going trying to. climb the corporate ladder so to speak. it was more so about. me doing the best that I could possibly. do for the family. Yeah. Like I wanted. to level up so that we as a family unit. could level up. Yeah. And it required. that level of intensity for me to get to. where I was going. And so the irony of. the conversation is. you weren't doing nothing different.

28:30 Right. Right. You were doing the best that you could. for us. Yeah. And it just so happened that you had a. vested interest personally in doing your. best because. track is an individual sport. It is. It is. but a lot of the arguments, a lot of. the same arguments can be made for your. traditional job, right? so if you're. struggling with the other woman. [laughter] or man, be it the job, sport.

29:00 golf. whatever it is. whatever it is, just remember that. you've got to put you got to have an. anchor. You got to have an anchor and. that anchor needs to be your family. Your anchor needs to be your. spouse. because they're the person. that you're going to come home to every. single day. They're the person who's. going to pick you up when you fall. They're the people who are going to. encourage you. and they're the. people who love you the most. Yeah. No matter what.

29:30 No matter what. No matter what. So. the only other woman that I'm going to. put up with is Track. [laughter] And that's it for this week, y'all. See you next time.