Friday, July 13, 2012

Married to your Running Mate

It's 5am and the birdies are calling me. The sun is showing first light of day. It's slightly chilly in the 60's as we snuggle in our camper. The alarm goes off... Time to run!!

Oh-wait, it's not my turn. Rats! I nudge my hubby and encourage him out the door. I'm way more excited for his run than he is. I wouldn't call myself a morning person, but I certainly LOVE the crack of dawn runs. My husband on the other hand, despises the early morning hours. He grumply rolls out and dresses for his long run... mostly because he knows I won't let him go back to sleep. Today he's shooting for 8 miles, his furthest distance yet in his training for the Air Force Half Marathon.

I try my best to pump him up for the run... "It's a perfect morning, nice and cool. I'm so jealous you get to run right now. I wanna..." In a brief moment, he looks at me, considering switching spots. I give him one last "You're gonna do great," and he's quietly out the door.

The past couple months have been an adjustment for me as my hubby becomes a regular runner. He's always enjoyed the race hooray, jumping in 5ks whenever he could, but that was really the extent of his running. Now with his first half-marathon on the horizon, he's been diligently following the training plan (that I made for him). I couldn't be more proud. There's nothing a runner (me!) loves more than inspiring another to take up the sport.

However... When you have two little kids and a busy schedule, two runners in the family can get crowded. Those fantasy dreams of being "running mates" don't happen. Someone needs to hang back with the kiddos, and we've already proven we don't exactly run well side by side (my last twisted ankle injury). So instead, we strategize and squabble over running time. Remind me again why I wanted a running mate...

So as I sit out by the campfire enjoying my morning coffee, I daydream about the run my hubby is surely enjoying by now (or not). I calm my thoughts of "it's not fair" as I recall our conversation on the 3 hour drive last night. Probably more accurate description would be "my 3 hour rambling" about where I should run my next full marathon. I drive the hubby crazy as I disect every event with the pluses, negatives and logistics. It will literally take me weeks to finally decide. And when I do, there's no one more relieved than he. But through it all, he's ever supportive, nodding his head with the continuous "yup, sounds good babe." Choosing the marathon is just step one, and no one knows that better than he.

Once training starts, our family schedule circles around "mom's marathon training." Even though I get out and run early, 16-20 mile runs can consume a weekend... from the rest before ("No, we can't go out tonight...") to the hours gone running, and then the lazy recovery day afterward. No doubt the marathon is work for more than just me. It's a family affair... which is why come raceday, there is no one more excited for me than my hubby (ok, my mom too!) He'll be flying around the race course, meeting me at checkpoints with my support bag, and waiting at the finish with a great big proud hug. No matter what my finish time, I'm a winner.

I guess I really do have the perfect running mate... even if we don't necessarily "run together." Sure hope he's enjoying that morning 8 miler. Run baby run!!

Does your partner run too? How do you balance two running schedules in one house?

17 comments:

  1. My husband also runs (and cycles more than I do). We don't run the same pace, so we rarely run together. It's easier for us to balance it because the kids are grown up.

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  2. My husband runs as well but is much, much faster than I am. We still head out together and it's a lot of fun. I don't like running alone and for right now, since we do not have kids, it works. I have no idea how I would balance it if we did but I am sure I would figure it out.

    Good Luck deciding where to run that marathon! There are so many to choose from!

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  3. Aww my husband runs as well, but I am lucky to have him as my training partner! We swim, bike and run together 99% of the time. Right now with marathon training the only time we don't run together is when it specifically calls for marathon pace, but we have gone on the same route so I can see him slightly ahead of me.

    We don't have kids, just furry ones, so it does make it easier for us to run together all the time!

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  4. I can so relate to this! We have an 11 month old and both try to get in training and runs - TOUGH! Luckily, at the moment, I'm the only one signed up for any races, so my training gets priority. HA!

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  5. Just like @mymagicshoes, my husand is much faster than me, but he's so sweet and runs with me most of the time. Since he's also a personal trainer, we love working out together! Having a supportive spouse is awesome... especially when you get to train together! Knowing that I have a permanent workout buddy motivates me to get my workouts in!

    how'd your hubby's 8 miles go?

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  6. My boyfriend doesn't run but he is the best suport ever. He makes sure he finds the best cheering spots and to take tons of pictures!

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  7. Since we started half marathon training in January, we have been doing all our runs together. Much slower than he would run alone but I am glad for the company that's for sure.

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  8. Aw, that's so fun that you and your husband can train together. My boyfriend doesn't run, but he's the best support team ever at my races and sometimes he even has my recovery drink or a snack fixed when I get back from my long runs (or even hot cocoa and a warm blanket fresh from the dryer in the winter). I don't know how I'd do it without him.

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  9. My husband is also a runner, but he's at least 3 minutes a mile faster than me, so there's no way we can train together. I will commiserate in the coordinating and making it all work, though! With our two kids and both of us working full time, and my son in activities, it definitely takes planning and coordination. My favorite time to run is at 5 p.m., because he makes dinner while I'm gone! LOL In the summer heat I've been waiting until 8 or 9 or even 10 though.

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  10. I loved this post! I have tried desperately to get my hubby running. When I rn my first full, he ran the half. He is a comfy 3 miler of a runner. He didnt train. He was miserable and sore and blah during and after. He missed out on the fun of the long run. And he swore off all other long runs after that.

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  11. I am much like your husband, you cannot get me out of bed for an early run unless I absolutely HAVE to, as in a race, plans going on all day so it's the only time, or I'm meeting someone.

    Good luck coordinating everything and keeping you both training! I am thinking of doing the Whistlestop Marathon, you should check it out. All limestone trail running and downhill!

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  12. When my husband is home, we run together. We don't have kids so there is no problem with us going out together. Even though he could easily leave me in the dust, he slows to my pace and we use our runs as good quality time together. During this deployment, I have REALLY missed my running buddy. God willing, we will be running our first half together(his first, not mine) a few days after he gets home at the Wine and Dine. I can't wait to have him back running with me.

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  13. I think it's awesome that you and your husband take turns running and motivate each other! That's great support!

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  14. Both my husband and I enjoy an active lifestyle. We're more cyclists than runners though. We actually are usually able to go together in the evenings after dinner. Our son is 12 and is VERY independent, so he begs for the hour of 'quiet time' with his pups and his DS when we're gone. It's a welcome break for all of us. :)

    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

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  15. I love running with my husband! We've completed several 5Ks together and the Bix 7 in the Quad Cities. He is the best running partner!

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