PUBLISHED 05/15/2008
Wed to Running
Committed to the sport--and to each other
Andy Chan, 37 Malinda Walker, 38, San Francisco
Andy "We organized a race one week after we got married, on July 14. A graphic designer friend made the logo for our bib numbers: I'm down on one knee in front of Malinda, who is standing with her running shoe on my raised knee, and I'm 'tying the knot,' which is what we named our run/walk. Our prizes were trophies we'd decorated with top hats and veils. Eighty-three runners and 20 walkers participated, and we're planning an anniversary run."
What works for us "Running can be a shared experience even if you're different speeds. After we run separately, we meet up, so it still feels like a joint activity."
Christian Hicks, 33 Deena Johnson Hicks, 28, Washington, D.C.
Christian "Our first date was an after-work run. Perhaps it was the eight marathons and half-Ironman she'd completed, but I was smitten. After a few months, we ran a trail race in Great Falls National Park--I did the ultra, Deena did the half-marathon. After the race, I got down on one knee. Thinking I was delirious from the heat, Deena knelt down, too, asking, 'Are you okay?' Then I pulled the ring from my running shorts. We were married on October 20, 2007, which was the only weekend that month when one of us wasn't racing."
What works for us "Even if you prefer to run separately, make time to run together sometimes. Running lowers your barriers and puts you in your comfort zone, which allows you to say things you wouldn't necessarily share otherwise."
David Stout, 53 Vicki Schwent Stout, 51 Bainbridge Island, Washington
David "I met Vicki at the 2003 Kansas City Half-Marathon. We ran together while we dated, and in 2006 we got engaged. On a whim, we decided to enter the Las Vegas Marathon and get married at mile five. We kept it top secret, since our families expected a formal wedding--something we figured we'd do eventually. Three months later, the March 2007 Runner's World came out. There we were, on page 19--a two-page photo of our 'secret' wedding for millions to see. We had an awkward conversation with our families. But the publicity was special; it captured our first moments of wedded bliss."
What works for us "Pick some races that you'll run individually, making performance your priority, and pick others that you'll run together, just for fun. Sharing the experience is the goal for about 70 percent of the races we do.
Matt, 30 Amy Bowden, 29, Honer Glen, Illinois
Amy It's hard to believe I met my husband in 1996, when I was 16 and he was 17--the same age as the students we now teach and coach. Then, our running relationship was a perfect reflection of our friendship: We pushed each other to be better than we thought we were. The inevitable romance blossomed just before Matt left for college. And anyone who doubted our ability to make a long-distance relationship work obviously didn't understand the combined commitment and drive of two long-distance runners. After five years at schools located at opposite ends of Illinois, we got married in 2001, and now have a beautiful 2-year-old daughter who's already completed a few races with us in her jogging stroller.
What works for us See yourselves as teammates in a relay and trade off parenting responsibilities so each of you can go for that all-important run. Keep running a top priority, even if it means the house isn't spotless or the project list isn't tackled.
