Running With Your Other Half

Last week when I was reading my copy of Runner’s World, I was struck by an article about running with your significant other, advice to make it a good experience and testimonies from running couples who say it’s great for bonding.

I remember thinking, “People actually do that? That’s a thing?”

Yes, Amanda. People do that. I just can’t imagine it working in my own relationship.

When I started running, I kind of always wanted to date another runner. I always thought it would be cool to do races with someone and talk about gross things like blisters. I started dating Tyler instead.

Tyler is athletic, just not the kind of athletic that I am. He played football in high school and still plays flag football in a league and pick-up games of basketball with his friends. He runs to stay in shape for that. He doesn’t really enjoy it.

I got him to run a 5k with me in December, but that’s because it was Christmas themed. He loves Christmas. I told him that if he hated the experience, I would never make him run one again.

I got him to run the race, but I couldn’t get him to wear the antlers that came with the packet. Gotta pick your battles.

He said he enjoyed it and would consider doing another. He even said at the finish line of my half marathon that he liked the atmosphere and could see why I loved racing. My heart soared.

But even when we did the race together, we ran separately. He is much faster than me and finished the race in 24 minutes. If I tried to keep up with him, I would keel over, and I didn’t want to slow him down by asking him to hold back with me.

We also don’t run together because I prefer to run alone. It’s my “me time,” and I’m the kind of person who needs to be alone often and sort through my thoughts. Being with people all the time wears me out. (Introvert alert!) If I lost that time, I wouldn’t be a great person to be around.

So even though I had my heart set on dating another runner, I think being with Tyler ended up being better. He supports my running by being my No. 1 spectator (other than my parents), and he still listens to me rant about blisters and DOH. We have our own hobbies, but we support each other in them. That’s what is really important.

Do you run with your SO? Do you want to date another runner, cyclist or athlete?

Lilac 10k Race Recap

Although I did this race for fun, it served as a great learning experience: Do not, under any circumstances, wear a black tech shirt when it’s supposed to be hot. Just don’t do it. Ever.

Big mistake, Amanda.

Anyway.

I woke up at 6 a.m. after a night of fitful sleep, but I was ready to go. I got dressed and had a english muffin with peanut butter. The race didn’t start until 9, but I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get a parking spot because parking for the Lilac Festival is somewhat hell-ish. I left around 7, parked at 7:30, and read a book for the next hour. That was a first for me.

Also, Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a great book to read before a race. This lady is hiking on a hilly trail with a giant pack, and I’m nervous about running 6.2 miles? Child, please. I got this.

Around 8:30, I used the bathroom, ran a little as a warm-up and chatted up some other runners I was standing with. I love the camaraderie at these things.

Then it was time to line up at the lilac-colored crosswalk. I got a lot of comments on my appropriately colored shoes.

Then we were off!

There was a clock at the first mile, which I hit around 10 minutes. I was feeling great, but I was starting to get warm. The black shirt I was wearing — my half marathon race shirt — was holding in heat a little too well. Thankfully, there was this guy dressed as a devil hosing people off, and many neighbors followed suit. The spectators on this course were really encouraging!

I was doing great until just before the fourth mile, when I started to lose it. I was hot, and this race felt like it was never going to end. We looped around some side streets in Brighton before heading back the way we came, which was almost all uphill. I seriously almost started crying. I am such a wimp when the temperature climbs above 65.

I ended up taking a lot of walking breaks, but my pace was still decent.

 

When I started walking again, an older man encouraged me along, and we ended up chatting for the next few minutes. He had to be in his 60s, but he said he’s run the Flower City Half for the last three years. We talked about the course and what local races we do, then he took a break and told me to keep going.

So I did, and it felt like the finish line was never going to show up. Eventually it did.

My final chip time was 1:10:01. This was two minutes slower than my 10k PR, but I’m more than okay with it.

I grabbed a cup of water and collapsed under a tree because I thought I was going to faint. I stretched and let myself cool down before walking back to my car, where I drank some Gatorade and ate Gatorade chews and a banana in the grass.

 

Once I finally felt normal, I drove home, showered, napped and ate some yogurt and fruit. My runger struck just as I was leaving to go grocery shopping. That was fun.

All in all, I’m pretty pleased with this race. It was my first since the half, and I haven’t run more than four miles since then. Given the heat and humidity, I think I did well. I don’t even care that I didn’t PR because I have plenty of opportunity to do that later this year. Preferably in the fall. And while I’m wearing a shirt that isn’t black.

How do you cope with running in the heat?