Happy Valentine’s Day from MarathonMomma.com! My heart is bursting reading through all of these #RunninRomance contributions!!! Thank you to everyone who participated! We picked a top two, but just had to share them all because they were all so special! Enjoy!

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@natrunsfar

Happy Valentine’s Day friends!

@marathonmommala @triandrungirl – here is my #runninromance story.

I was training for the #LAmarathon in March 2000. After 2 years of long distance dating My boyfriend moved to LA so we could be together. He was living down the street and I was focused on my marathon training. Finally race day comes – super rainy and cold! He walks me to the starting line with my trash bag on and suddenly takes off his sweatshirt to reveal a race number attached to his shirt! Jerold tells me that – surprise – he is going to run the marathon too!! I was very surprised (and had no idea what was yet to come), but also focused on my race, grabbing a PR and the yucky weather! He tells me to run my race, but to wait at the finish line for him to cheer him on. Long story short, I finish the race and am waiting and waiting….

Meanwhile, Jerold is running the marathon in the rain with a ring in his pocket to propose at the end!!

We finally meet up and he tells me the story of Phidippides who ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver an important message. He told me that he ran the marathon to deliver the most important message of his life!! Then he dropped down on one knee and proposed!  We were a sweaty, tired mess but it was the best day ever!! Including all the runners cheering and high fiveing us!!

This pic was from our engagement photos taken shortly afterwards.

We will ride our bikes to the finish line of the LA Marathon this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary and cheer on a friend. It will be a special moment.

#RUNLA #runnerlove #run #LAmarathon #futuremarathontraining #marathon #happyvalentinesday #motherrunner #love #engagementstory #bestdayever #besthusband #lovewins #happiness

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@rnrgrl808 & @vo2_max

She Posted…

After a couple rough years, including a year long deployment (an entire year away from each other), Steve & I were not “happily married”. And recognized that. We had always been runners, but started running together. …all. the. time. Training became date time. And we found our way back to each other on the road & in the mountains. This pic was taken on an 11 mile trail run & he got down on his knee & asked me to marry him again. We renewed our vows weeks later on our 20th anniversary. Almost 3 years later, run time is still together time. He’s held my hand when I couldn’t catch a deep breath during Boston & carried water on 22 mile training runs, because I hate having anything in my hand while running. #RunninRomance Happy Valentines Day!

He Posted…

Happy Valentine’s Day! Not a romance novel, but an honest account of how my wife and I became a running couple… Although @rnrgrl808 and I have both been runners most of our lives, it was rarely an activity we shared together during our first 25 years as a couple. In late 2010, I returned from a year long deployment to the Middle East. I changed a lot in that year – quite a bit more than any previous deployment. All that time away from my family and all I wanted to do was go straight back. I struggled to reconnect with anybody, but I was unwilling to admit that I was the problem. Barely 6 months later, Malia and I were sleeping in different rooms and by the end of 2011, we were living in different houses. I was about as far away as you can get from being an ideal husband or father. But despite giving here every reason to leave me and never look back, Malia wouldn’t give up on us. She fought tooth and nail for us and for our family, and I reluctantly agreed to give “us” one last shot. In January, I began a quest to run 2012 miles for the year and she asked if she could do it with me. I cautiously agreed and so it began. By the end of those 2012 miles, we were closer than ever before. Did running save us? No, I believe the strength and persistence of my amazing wife did. But running has been the catalyst for keeping our relationship healthy and strong. I love you @rnrgrl808 and thank God everyday that you are in my life! This picture was taken by our friend@runningon0m near the finish of last year’s Boston Marathon. I think it’s a great reflection of our #runninromance – it’s usually heaps of fun, but sometimes it’s a struggle. Regardless, we get through it together. @marathonmommala @triandrungirl

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@jacqrunsandruns

So many miles together! Love training, racing and celebrating with my love. ️ From choosing the races, planning our training, suffering the long runs, and seeing each other on the race course…so many amazing memories have been made!! I can’t wait for our spring and summer races!! #RunninRomance

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@jdel_runnermom

TBT to our first race ever 2011We made it a family affair and haven’t stopped since️My husband and I went from 5K to 26.2 together; never have I crossed the finish line of a full marathon without waiting for him on the other side…it’s pretty cool to have something like running in common with your partner️Running was his love first— he always used to run a few miles here and there just to keep up his fitness for years, but never entered a race until this day…even with the double stroller️We had such a great day! — Boston will be the first marathon we won’t be running together. I know it’s going to feel really weird. But, so grateful that he will be with me to experience everything!️#ineedhimthere #tocryallthetears — #TBT #firstrace #runninromance #motherrunner#runnerscommunity #idontthinkthoseareevenrunningshoes

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@healthwisemamas

Entering the #RunninRomance Valentine’s day fun by @marathonmamala &@triandrungirl ! When my husband and I were dating, one of our typical and favorite dates was to go running together. I have two children from a previous marriage and they would often come along too! We would all go together and stop at parks along the way to play. We took turns pushing the double jogger & when he was pushing that stroller there was never a sweeter, or hotter, sight! One day we ran a few miles in a mountainous area. As we ran, he pointed out places below in the Salt Lake and Utah valleys where significant milestones happened in our relationship. We stopped at a beautiful park up on the mountain, and he dropped down on one knee and proposed! It was perfect, meaningful and very us. #valentinesday #running #proposal#healthwisemamas

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@brittanystucki

First time in 11 years my husband has ever ran with me. It was only 3 miles but it was a happy moment!!  #runninromance

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@sparklingfitgirl

#runninromance @marathonmommala @triandrungirl @lclint76 ran our first marathon together in 2003 and he ran the whole way with me. I never realized how hard that must have been for him until he ran his next marathon 10 years later and beat our time by 90 minutes. What an amazing running partner he is!!!️. He qualified for Boston last June and the first thing he said was, “we did it!!!” He has supported me in my attempts to qualify as well! My first attempt he went to several different spots to cheer me on and when I didn’t qualify he picked me back up from my slump and encouraged me to sign up for another one. He decided to train for the next one too. We both ran Canyon City Revel marathon and both qualified for Boston. He was waiting at the Finish line and hobbled over with the look of pure joy on his face! I am grateful I have a #runninromance with @lclint76 even if our dates sometimes end up on the treadmill, but when we do get outside I slow him down by making him push the baby jogger!!

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@moremilesandsmiles

#RunninRomance Valentine’s Day by @marathonmommala and @triandrungirl Here is me and my hubby… We met running together on the Mercyhurst cross country team! I liked him from the very beginning but thought he must be older than a freshman (he had facial hair! Haha!) and was too intimidated to talk to him. Eventually sophomore year we talked and then quickly became boyfriend/girlfriend! It was the best being on the team together.. We always had so much fun! Here we are after a race senior year and you can see I’m just about to get squirted with water! Now we’ve been together for 10 years and married for 6.5! Love my valentine️ #almostvalentinesday #runlove#collegesweethearts #mcxc

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@lilbadwoof

Happy Valentine’s Day Sweetheart! I met Lee 3.5yrs ago at Darwin’s one night out at a bar, 3wks into moving to Alaska. He didn’t believe we were training for the same Ironman. Ironman triathletes don’t go to bars he said! We trained together for a month before he asked me on a date, now we’re getting married in 4months

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@michrun4

#RunninRomance What a fun idea from @marathonmommala and @triandrungirl to share running romance stories️ The first date with @sagerman my interest was peaked when he told me he ran marathons. We suddenly had tons of stories to tell. We both grew up in the same city but different high schools & didn’t reconnect until after college. There you have it. We decided because we both love to run we better get married and make babies JK We are truly in love and the hobby of running just adds a little glue to the package. This photo was our 1st marathon together as a married couple in 2007. (Let’s not talk about the white shoes) I had to drag Nate’s butt through the last few miles cause he went out way to fast. Man things have sure changed now! I’m so lucky that he has dragged me through many races the past 7 years. We’ve taken most vacations around races. Ran lots of distances together or with our kids in strollers, and have made the best memories! It’s not always flowers & smiles. Many fights have been hashed out during training runs. Many un-sexy things have been done in wrong places Through any ups & downs, our mutual passion for this sport has definitely made us stronger. Running isn’t our whole life, but it sure has added joy to our life! Not to mention the great people we have met through this sport along the way

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@feastforfuel

#runninromance such a fun idea from @triandrungirl and @marathonmommala ! If people think I’m crazy than you haven’t met my husband! A true endurance junkie, I love that we share a passion for running! My once triathlete husband has now ventured into the world of #ultrarunning & I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in the upcoming year(s). But… you put two competitive people in a marriage- and you’re forced to master the art of compromise! That is one thing that is crucial to us as a couple and as individuals. We both respect and honor each other’s passion- and also realize we each go through our own seasons. Right now, for instance, my season is growing out 3rd little peanut, & his is training for his 3rd 100 miler! He could run circles around me right now, but it’s ok. Running will always be there. And I hope we can do this together until we’re 92. Cheers to couples that run together!

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@hawaiirunnergirl

#RunninRomance @marathonmommala @triandrungirl This guy is the best “crew chief” EVER! With me not only on training runs, but at tons of my races (too many to count) showing up at multiple spots along the courses. We met during Track season in high school and 28 years later we are still running strong! He is not only my biggest encourager, supporter and cheerleader….he is my best friend and love of my life ️ I’m one lucky lady #teamfeyedelem #runnergirl

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@mandaboston

At the start of my first marathon: Cowtown 2007. Ben’s supported me through thousands of miles ever since and even run one full himself. #RunninRomance #happyVDay @marathonmommala @triandrungirl

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@amygarcia33

@marathonmommala and @triandrungirl challenge accepted! Our #runninromance story goes something like this: my husband is way faster than I am, I’m talking about 5 min/miles and 1:10 half marathons. He’s pretty much an elite runner that places or wins races. I am an average runner that likes to think that I’m fast. So without ever really running together, I signed us up for the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon (which is a beautiful and cheap race btw). I hadn’t trained very much for it as we just got married the month before and I hadn’t had time, but I wanted to impress my husband with how fast I was. He had PROMISED to run with me the whole race, which was very gallant of him. The night before the race we stayed in a dumpy hotel that at midnight literally had sewage/poop backup coming through the shower drain. Needless to say, we did not sleep well! The race started and I felt good/fast! I was on pace to finish the race in 1:30 which for me was outstanding. But then the lack of training and lack of sleep hit me hard halfway through and I started to RESENT running with my fleet-footed husband. He would try and encourage me on with encouraging things like “you can do this! Keep this pace up for the next hill” or “I’m so impressed with how well you’re doing!” Meanwhile he’s breathing like he’s asleep or walking and I’m feeling like a old smoker who’s on the brink of collapse! I started to get mean, “Kyle SHUT UP, leave me here to perish!” and “go win the race! Leave me here and stop trying to make me run faster!” It was getting ugly. Yet he stayed with me, until I decided I was going to show him how fast I was and LEFT HIM AND SPRINTED TO THE FINISH LINE BY MYSELF! Haha I showed him! Oooops! We’ve agreed that running long races together is not beneficial to the health of our marriage. I love my man and how he puts up with me and my running abuse! Plus, he’s just so cute! #runninromance #surprisefinish

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I have always been a sucker for romance, and if you add running to it… then WOW. I just eat it up! I hope you enjoyed all of these stories as much as I did.  #RunninRomance is a real thing! If you’ve never set a fitness goal with your significant other, then do it!  You will be surprised at how much it strengthens your relationship– through the miles, hours, raw struggle, and crossing the “finish line” by reaching your goal, your relationship will grow in ways you never thought possible!Happy Valentine’s Day from MarathonMomma.com!

XOXO Laura

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What goals have you and your significant other set? We want to hear about it!

Comment, or e-mail:

marathonmommala@gmail.com triandrungirl@gmail.com

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