Do You and Your Partner Both Run?
Curious, does your partner run too? How do you balance your individual training goals?
How Our Endurance Training Journey Started Together
My husband Mike and I started dating in 2010 and almost immediately became endurance training partners, first training for a half marathon, and then a marathon and then in 2012, an Ironman triathlon.
We lived the lifestyle of endurance athletes together and while we didn’t often physically run together, it was convenient that we were on the same routine of train, eat, nap, eat, sleep. And since we were young, there was also some partying (and 21 weddings and many related bachelorette or bachelor parties) in there. But, our two best friends were also our training buddies, so there were more late afternoon/early evening happy hours and early bed times than there were late nights at the bars.
When Life Changes: Training Through Pregnancy and Parenthood
The last marathon my husband and I both ran was in December 2014, and in January 2015, I was pregnant with our first daughter. Below is where we took our baby announcement photo – at the top of Angels Landing in Zion national park after doing the half marathon there! (the baby announcement was a photo of 2 running water bottles and a baby bottle- ha!)
From Training Partners to Managing Separate Goals
And sadly, instead of being on the endurance athlete mission together, we were on separate athletic missions.
We were now on the parenthood mission as a team, and separate, often competing teams for endurance training. (Though we do run the Encinitas Turkey trot as a family every single year).
The Challenges of Balancing Running and Family Life
I’m not going to lie and say that this hasn’t been hard on our marriage at times, especially when the twins were first born and under 2 years old. Even though I didn’t run nearly as much then (I mostly did home workouts), I still wanted to run every Saturday with my friends. Instead of us both doing our long run Saturday, it was me running on Saturday and Mike staying home with three babies.
How We Split Training Time as Parents
And Sundays are designated for Mike’s morning, but there was a period of time when he stopped running and doing any kind of endurance activity at all. Later, after the twins were older, he started mountain biking, and got back into running, temporarily to run a 50K ultra marathon for my 40th birthday.
Creating a Routine That Works for Both Partners
Now that our twins are almost 8 (next weekend is their birthday) and our oldest is 10, we have a solid routine and there’s a lot less fighting around the schedule. I always run on Saturdays, Mike gets Sunday mornings.
Why Communication and Planning Matter
Mike has always been incredibly supportive – and I’m thankful for that. Communication, planning, and having a steady routine have been essential for marathon training for all these years. And I’ve supported him as he trained 5 years in a row for a 400 mile mountain bike race (yes, 400 miles, it takes days! He’s amazing).
Finding Ways to Stay Active Together
And although we don’t run together, when we can, we do long hikes (we hiked Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim of the Grand Canyon over 2 days for our 10 year anniversary). We have dreams of traveling the world to do epic hikes once our kids go off to college.
What This Season of Life Looks Like Now
Last week, my kids spent 3 days of their spring break at my mom’s house, and we were alone in our home together. Though we were working all day, we got a feel for what it will be like when the kids are grown and gone one day. I will say – I did not like how quiet it was, but I did like how clean the house stayed. And I realized that in soon enough, we will have unlimited time to train together, go on hikes and have adventures.
Final Thoughts: Every Season of Life Is Temporary
Whatever season you’re in with your family – my reflection here is meant to remind myself and maybe you too, that each season is just that – a season.
Happy running,
Nicole Dobransky
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