Celebrating My 15-Year Marathon Anniversary With a Friend
Happy Sunday!
Today, I am celebrating my 15 year marathon anniversary by running the Rock n’ Roll San Diego (half) marathon with the same friend who I ran side by side with for 26.2 miles in 2011.
Although my friend Allison has not run another marathon since our first, and I’ve run 12 more… we’re going to run this entire race side by side again.
The Friend Who Changed My Running Journey
Allison is the one who inspired me to start my blog fitnessfatale.com in 2011 (check out my first marathon race recap!), who peer pressured me into becoming a coach in 2016, and was my first close mom friend when we both had our first babies within 9 months of one another. Now, she lives 30 minutes away, so we mostly communicate via the Marco Polo app (basically back and forth video messages), but try to see each other once a month in person (but its usually every other month). She is the first person I message when I need advice or I’m struggling.
How a Half Marathon Reunion Started
She hasn’t run consistently or done any races since she had her son Beau 11 years ago, but last year, while a little buzzed from the beer garden at Rock n’ Roll half, I texted her and told her she should run it with me this year.
Returning to Running After a Long Break
Although she wasn’t up for the full marathon, she got inspired to lace up her running shoes again for the half marathon. I built her a 3 day a week training plan to balance with her horse back riding hobby, have coached her through some hamstring pain, pressured her to bring gels on her long runs (she only did for 2 of them).
Remembering Our First Marathon Together
Check out our finish photo (she’s in green, I’m in orange, our friend Asia is in yellow) below – I purchased this from the race and I believe it was mailed to my house (old school!) and is the only living copy.
Why Running Creates Lifelong Friendships
I know it sounds cheesy – but training for that marathon is what brought Allison and I together and solidified us as good friends (we met as coworkers less than a year prior). Those chats during a long run create bonds that go deep!
Celebrate Your Running Milestones
So maybe this is your sign to celebrate YOUR marathon or half marathon anniversary, or reach out to an old running buddy and invite them to join you for a race.
Happy running,
Nicole Dobransky
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