3 easy tips for running with your mate (without killing each other)

~ by Mike Romaniuk, sharing his “secret thoughts of men”

2009 is well past its half over mark and I don’t know about you, but I’m finding that life is speeding by faster each year. I’m also discovering that couple-time can be hard to squeeze into a busy schedule.  Running with your spouse can be a fantastic and fun way to spend time together.  You’re setting joint goals, spending quality time together, cheering each other on, and oh boy, those endorphins!

First, a warning:  Some men can be extremely particular about their workout schedules & what their goals are. You can probably blame that on our testosterone, although I’m sure there are women who are just as particular. So first you need to make sure your spouse wants you to be his fitness partner.   To some men their exercise time is their way of releasing stress and is important ‘man time’.

Assuming you are both agreeable to working out together, you may find that the fitness level of one of you is greater than the other.  Here are a few tips to equalize things while still giving both of you a great workout:

• Have your partner cross train: I did an 8km jog today and it almost killed me.  My jogging partner & I do these jogs 2-3 times a week and I barely break a sweat.  The difference today?  I did 2km of hard, fast cycling immediately before going out for our jog.  Boy did that slow me down!

• Make it easier on yourself: My wife isn’t a runner, so when we ‘jog together’ she grabs her bike and rides beside me.  It means that I can go at the speed I want to and she gets in a good ride!  Bonus:  I get to steal her water bottle holder for my water!

• Add some weight: There’s nothing like some added weight to slow your partner down!  Some extra water or a 5 pound weight in the pack can bring them down a notch.

To be successful you both need to get a good workout  so compromise in a way that works towards this goal.

Final tip: if all else fails and you want to kill each other, remember that the faster one always has the option to run away.

Happy running!