in that time we've suffered through unemployment, retail hell, new job opportunities and relocating 1000 miles from our friends and families. And we just got a new dog. I don't think it has anything to do with running, but we're doing well!
My hubby was running with me, but he has some knee problems so he hasn't for a while. And I think it's better that way because I like to have something of my own to do, especially now that we have no friends, work at the same place, and do everything together!
I don't only get encouragement, he'll brag about me to other people...I don't get the opposite mindset.
We will be married 4 years this June, but we have been together for 9 years. I was a wrestler, runner and into judo before I met her, but had stopped competing prior to our "hooking up". She never knew that side of me. Since I have started running again, and have been bitten by the competition bug, it has caused some strife, but we are working it out. I wait until the kids are asleep at 7 before I start running. Weekends get a little tough, but I try to get up and out by 8 (kids are up at 6:45 or earlier, so I get them up and feed them breakfast so my lovely bride can sleep in a little). The races have been tough because the weather has been bad and she has been unable to bring the kids, but that should get change with the weather.
Other than that, we make a good team, and we always work out our "issues".
I certainly don't recommend getting married young to everyone, but it's really the first time I stood up for myself and what I believed in against all the grownups around us (his and my parents) and it turns out, so far, that we were right to get married. You don't get second chances on stuff like that.
Ok, this is my :twocents: It's going to be long and drawn out but bare with me. This is also my personal experience so don't go postal on me for my feelings about myself. In the early to mid 1990's I was running very well. I was winning local races and was on my way to a 3:10-3:15 marathon. I was running about 40-50 miles a week. Everyday Bambam would barely get in the door from work and I'd rush out the door so I could get my 7-8 miles. At the time I thought is was no big deal, I figured, hey I just spent the last 8 hours alone with 3 kids all under the age of 5, I deserve to go, right? On the weekend I'd run anywhere from 15-20 miles (2-3 hrs) and since my running group meet a half hour away from my house add another hour away for the drive. So then I decided I needed to run with the group all the time so every evening I would drive to meet them--hour drive, plus hour run-- 2 hours gone evey night. Then I decided that to become faster I need to lift at least 3-4 nights a week--so I would spend another 30-40 minutes lifting in our basement and ignoring my family-- and remember I worked hard all day cleaning, cooking and taking care of the kids, so I deserved it, right? Next, I decided that racing just about every other weekend would make me faster, so I would go to whatever race I could find, local or not. And I would actually drag my family there sometimes because I didn't like to go alone and I liked the support. Now through all this Bambam was a saint! He supported me though out this and was very proud of me. He would occasionally get upset with some of my plans--and I now can see why, but at the time little did I know I was becoming a complete as****e! Then one day we were going through video tape that we made of the kids and I found one I didn't recognize. I put it in and it was my 2 older girls(3 and 4 at the time) playing the piano and singing Disney movie songs. It was soooo cute! But I wasn't happy when I saw it, I was very angry! Why wasn't I the one who shot this video? WHY??? Because I was out for a 3 hour run. That video, among MANY other things that occurred--too many to list, made me realize what I was missing, and what a jerk I had become. I was too focused on becoming this really great runner--what for, so I can have another 50 trophy's stuffed in a box collecting dust? It was stupid, I'd give back every single trophy just to be there for that video. Am I being a little dramatic--maybe, but it's how I feel. And I'm not saying that I shouldn't have goals, but when it becomes obessive and you are not an olympic runner, then what are you doing?? So do I think runners have better success in marriage? I think it all depends. :? No running makes me a very ugly person. Too much running can have the same effect. For me---I needed to learn to enjoy running and not become obessed with winning. It was a hard lesson to learn, and I think I was lucky to have a hubby that put up with my sh*t, because if I were him, I would have divorced my sorry butt for sure! :thumbsup:
You are way cool!