Hi everyone! Like every other Wednesday, I wanted to share some wisdom with you. But today I’m not going to be doing that. Instead, my fabulous husband, Andrew, is going to take over my blog for one very exciting guest post! Andrew and I have been together for over 8 years and married for 8 months, but I only recently started running. In the past year and a half I’ve spent a lot of time running, training for races, and then running these races while he cheered me on. He’s seen me almost die on my long runs and PR more than I ever thought I would. He’s the one driving me to every race and talking me off the ledge when I get nervous, and putting up with me when I refuse to take my race medal off for the rest of the day. And he’s always the first one to congratulate me when I cross that finish line! I love that he’s always here for me, but I always wondered what he was thinking during all of those big running moments. I recently saw this article called “Date A Girl Who Runs” and shared it with my husband because I figured he could relate. When I asked him why he always put up with my obsession with running, his answers blew me away! Read on to see what my husband has to say about loving a runner:
True runners have a drive in life that is unlike the drive of any other hobbyist, competitor, or sportsperson. It’s a drive that’s unyielding to anything or anyone who may get in its way. There is always going to be another mile to run, another personal record to achieve, and nothing can stop that. What that means if you happen to find yourself to be the significant other of a runner, is that your drive needs to be equal to your runner in order for them to be able to find the success and accomplishment they are looking for in running.
I know you may be thinking, but I’m not the one running, I’m not the one putting in that effort and time, I don’t even run myself, why does my drive need to be equal? The truth is, no, you aren’t the one running and sweating and going through all of that physical pain to reach the ultimate goal, but you are the one key factor in the success of your runner. Running may be a physical activity, but it’s really a mental game. As the significant other of a runner you provide a huge lift in a runner’s spirit and mental strength. For them to know that you’ll be the one waiting for them at the finish line with a smile, a cheer, and a bottle of water cannot be undervalued.
We all want our significant other to succeed in whatever they do in life and find joy in those things, and from time to time you forget that, and put yourself first. But just realize there are big benefits in supporting your runner to the fullest. Even though you may want a nice steak or fried food 7 days a week, it’s good in the long run (no pun intended) to eat some of the green stuff and being with a runner helps you to do this. It also gives you an excuse to be outdoors more often, or even go for a run yourself. But the biggest benefit in being with a runner is knowing that person who you’re supporting through all of this, will be there for anything you have a passion for in life. Their happiness is your happiness.
So the next time you have to get up early on a weekend to go stand in the cold while you wait for your runner to finish whatever distance they are running, try to remember these things. It’ll only benefit the both of you, so don’t be afraid to even give them a sweaty hug and kiss too.
-Mr. K
Thanks Andrew for guest posting! I picked a good one, didn’t I? 🙂 I’m so happy that he’s willing to get up in the middle of the night NEXT SUNDAY (yep, 11 days away!) to drive me to Epcot, take the monorail to see me run by in Magic Kingdom for like 10 seconds, and then stand at the finish line alone for hours until I (hopefully) finish, probably sobbing and covered in sweat, just so that I can complain about my legs all day. He’s pretty awesome! I’ll have to cook him some steak soon 🙂 (don’t worry, we eat fried food way more than he lets on!)
Andrew and I after the Dirty Girl Mud Run – after taking this pic I gave him a big hug and I’m pretty sure he wanted to kill me! Oh the perks of loving a runner 🙂
Do you date a runner? What do you love about loving a runner?
Mom in the Mtns 
Great post! You had me from the first sentence. 😉
Thanks! I’ve got to thank my husband for this one!
This made me tear!! You’ve got a great husband!! And you’re a lucky guy Andrew!!
My husband became a runner once he started dating me. He saw how much fun I had and when he went to my first race was blown away at the atmosphere and camaraderie of the running community. He recently did his second half marathon and way exceeding his goal 🙂 I love that I have a running husband who’s supportive and involved ❤
We've got some winners!
Awww yay! He is pretty awesome 🙂 We ran 2 races together but he’s not really a fan of racing at all. Sometimes he’ll come running with me but since we run at different paces we just do our own thing and meet up back at the car. Once half marathon training is over I plan on doing some runs together!
I absolutely love this! You picked an awesome one! All the best on your next race, I am sure you will do great! 🙂
Thanks so much! Yeah he’s pretty awesome and I’m so happy he wrote this!
I love this! My poor hubs and kids are my support crew. They put up with me being gone for hours on the weekend, watch me run by for 3 seconds while standing around waiting in sometimes horrible conditions. It means so much to me just to see their faces for a brief minute. High 5’s to all the support crews out there!
I know! I don’t understand why they do it, but I’m so happy they do! We are really lucky 🙂
What a sweet guy!! You really did get a good one 🙂 It’s funny that he wrote this b/c I actually wrote my own version of date a girl who runs after I read that same article. Of course mine was on the humorous side but still. Love it!
Oh I think I read that! I totally loved the original and I’m glad you and my husband both had the same feelings about dating a runner AKA that runners are awesome 🙂
What a sweet post! You definitely have a winner Kristen 🙂
I love Andrew’s first paragraph. I think some people (who obviously don’t understand runners) mistake our drive and passion for the sport for selfishness. I’ll be sharing this post on twitter 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m very glad he doesn’t think I’m selfish, I know it probably looks like that sometimes! Us runners definitely take a ton of time to train/race but we’re lucky to have such awesome support from the people we love!
Love this!!! Your sweet husband is totally awesome for writing a guest post 🙂 It’s so true that even if they’re not a runner they’re still totally involved in the process of it all. It IS such a mental game! You’re a lucky girl, lady!!! ❤
Thanks! I love that he doesn’t mind being coming to races. One time he told me how excited he was to see me race the next morning and I was like “um what?”. I have no idea how he does it but I love it!
Aww, it’s so great to have a very supportive husband! We (runners) can’t succeed without supportive people by our sides.
So true! All of our poor husbands definitely have to put up with a lot but I’m so glad they’re willing to support us 🙂
That is so sweet!! Your husband sounds amazing! My husband supports me in my running, but does not run himself, I really wish he would though, it would be a lot of fun to do a race together!
We’ve done 2 races together but otherwise we don’t really run together, so I know what you mean. He’s more nervous about races than I am, and that’s saying a lot!
Awww that is So sweet! Such a great post!
Thanks! I’m so happy he was willing to write it and let me post it!
I’m such a baby and am crying! I love this so much! It’s so true.
Awwww! I cried too, it’s amazing to hear what a non-runner thinks of me (and all runners).
Aw, that was such a great post! You’re right, you did pick a winner! Support really does make a difference!
Thanks! I definitely couldn’t do it without his support!
Ok, I don’t even know you and I teared up a little at this line: “We all want our significant other to succeed in whatever they do in life and find joy in those things” Soooo sweet. Even though I’m not much of a runner, I’m so thankful that my husband supports me in all my crazy fitness antics. And my “blogging problem.” 🙂
Me too! I’ve been spending a lot of time working out lately (half marathon training will do that to you!) and he’s never upset about my 7:00 barre classes after work or about my 2+ hour runs on the weekends. It’s pretty amazing. He’s also pretty cool about my blogging problem as well 🙂 It’s cool because I’m supportive of his “hockey problem” aka watching a hockey game almost every night on TV so I think we balance it out!
❤
Such a great post! I loved it!
Thanks! I’m really proud of my husband for writing this (and letting me post it!)