Yesterday while completing my last long run in this phase of marathon training I came to a realization. I mean, I run on a trail in the middle of nowhere so I have a lot to think about while I'm out there chugging away.
This time around, Neale is training for his first marathon and I am training for my 7th. Lucky #7 so I call it. Simply because this is my last ever, full marathon. People will tell me - oh, you say that all the time! - but really, this is it. My body just can't take much more of it anymore, not to mention the time commitment. I'm really tired of giving up one day of my weekend to run long distances, nap and be groggy for the rest of the day. I'm also secretly hoping I can plan a wedding and a family in the somewhat near future - and by that I mean within the next 10 years before my child rearing days are over :)
But, Neale and I don't run together. I'm fully confident if we did, we'd kill each other. Well, more like I'd kill him. He runs at a different pace, he's very motivating, however, running has always been a very solitary event for me. So really, I don't want his advice. He doesn't want mine. We won't listen to each other and what it really comes down to, we have different goals. He wants to race his 26.2 miles without seeing anything or even stopping to take a cup of water, while I don't mind doing a run/walk, saving my legs and simply.... finishing.
So yesterday I came to the conclusion that really, just like traveling marathon training will make or break your relationship with your significant other. You will learn lots of things about each other - such as one person may complain ALL the time, the other person may experience pain you've never experienced so you really don't know how to help them, one of you may be more stubborn then rocks and you need to invest in getting your friends to talk to them about things like - nutrition or needing new shoes because we all know - if it comes from you - they won't listen - but it if comes from someone else - it's got to be true!
At the end of these 4 months, Neale and I have certainly learned that we do many things very well together all the time! However one thing we don't do well together is... exercise. Which is funny considering we met at the gym - but really, we have come to agree that we both have different goals in driving our exercise.
And at the end of the day, this is OK. We still maintain that common understand that health and fitness is essential to our lives and we will still support each other in our goals.
It's a good thing this is my last marathon, because I honestly think Neale will never run again when this is over!
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