Kathy Runs

Yesterday I posted a discussion topic on Dailymile.com about the lifestyle choice people make when they decide to include a sport like endurance running, triathlons, or distance cycling in their schedules.

Here is my original question: “When it comes down to it, I have several friends who have made a choice between their running career and their girlfriend/boyfriend. Which would you choose, the running, or the girl/boy?”

Option 1: Running

The choice drives a lot of passion, and to the Dailymile community the answer was fairly unanimous.

if someone made you choose between running and themselves they aren’t worth it-ditch ‘em

running. someone who loves (or really likes) you will run after you, and maybe even pass you up.

If the person I was with forced me to make that decision, I probably wouldn’t want to be with them in the first place. Ideally, you’d want someone you could share your passion with. It doesn’t have to be that they are your training partner, but that they understand and accept why you run.

There are lots of people out there to snuggle with. You only have one body.

If the girl wasn’t into supporting a healthy lifestyle and hobby, she’s junk anyway so I’d move on.

Option 2: The Sweetheart

The hesitancy toward choosing the relationship over the sport could be an artifact of the audience; ask a bunch of runners if they would eliminate running from their lifestyle for any reason and you’re bound to get some push back, sometimes aggressively. But there were some very honest runners who would choose their spouse (I guess this is good to admit given Valentine’s Day this Saturday).

Well, that’s an easy one for me. Running isn’t a career for me, it’s an exercise. So I’d stick with my wife, and get fat.

Option 3 (sort of a cop-out, but I’ll take it): Both!

Then there are the few lucky endurance sports athletes who have found either another runner to love, or a healthy balance.

My wife and I have been married for 19 years. I’m lucky that I don’t have to choose, I get both. Bev is coming with me to Austin for the marathon weekend. I think if you have to choose between a relationship and your life’s passion, you might not have met the right person.

I run, hubby golfs. Sometimes I go to the driving range or play 9 holes, and sometimes he is at my races or does a 5k. You have to make compromises not concessions.

It is not an either or question for me – it is an AND!

Choosing to run a marathon, compete in an ironman, or peddle 100 miles to finish a century are not decisions that come easily even for those of us that train year round and keep our bodies in top form. Runners, triathletes, and cyclists seem to be calculated people who hold their athletics close to the heart. If you ask me to remove running from my life, I will think you’re joking. Not running is not exactly a choice, it makes me happy and keeps me balanced. The choice I will make this Valentine’s Day is to be with someone who supports this crazy, intense, and sometimes addictive tendency I have to run up to 100 miles per week.

One of my favorite responses from my Dailymile.com question was, “There are lots of people out there to snuggle with. You only have one body.” (Thanks, Apollo L.)