Marriage Therapy

Pre-run: We joke that we look like the "before" models of an Adidas campaign. 

A little over a year ago, a friend invited us to join 5 other couples in running a relay marathon (Beach to Bay in Corpus, Christi) and so we started running together for the first time.   It's been great (except for the actual running part).  We have been surprised by the unexpected benefits of running together as a couple and now refer to our weekly runs as "marriage therapy". 

I googled it, but I couldn't find any studies of how running strengthened marriages, but here's what I've learned.  

1.  Running is awful (anyone who says otherwise is a big fat liar), and doing awful things together brings you closer and makes you feel more united.  

2.  It provides a great uninterrupted chance to chat.  

3. Taking care of yourself, is another way of telling your spouse you love them.  

4. You always feel better when it's over.

Self portrait-Action Shot

The race was last Saturday, and it was fun ( I don't know why, but it was).  We ran 4.69 miles in 47 minutes and 12 seconds. We play a little game where we give ourselves a point for every person we pass, and lose one for every person that passes us.  Our goal was 50 and we finished with 61 points!  It was also a bazillion degrees and neither of us collapsed from heat exhaustion, so we're calling it a win. 

Post run: I love this group of people!!!!!! 

 In lieu of scientific studies, here are 6 couples (5 of which hate running) that would all say running together makes our marriages stronger.  

Do you run together?