This past weekend I ran in the Chicago Blackhawks Mad Dash to Madison 5k with my spouse. Now, I have been training for this marathon for what feels like forever. It was back in June that my ‘short’ runs became 7 miles long and my longs runs actually turned into long runs. This is also when I stopped running with my spouse. I mean let’s face it not to many people are willing to go for a seven mile fun run. So, this break away from marathon training was way more than a break. It was a chance to reconnect and remember why I started running in the first place.
When I first met Lavender I told her that I never and would never run. I really meant it to. I also informed her that I stayed inside during cold, snowy, extremely hot, or extremely cold weather. My list of things that I didn’t or wouldn’t do was amazingly long.
She on the other hand would announce that she was going for a run on a cold snowy afternoon or for a walk in the rain. This fascinated me but didn’t really interest me.
However, when I would decide that the day was nice enough I would go with her. It was great. We would talk and laugh. It was time to be with just each other.
It was the fall of 2009, when she convinced me to go for walk in the rain with her. I never knew that raindrops could be that amazing.
A month or so later she was heading out the door in the freezing cold telling me I should go with her. She had on her light jacket, a pair of gloves, and a hat. I put on 2 pairs of gloves, two shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of socks, a heavy winter coat, a hat, and a scarf. We walked through mounds of snow to the library. It was fun. It was great being outside breathing in the air. It was great being the only two people sharing the side walk.
It was that spring that she would say things like let’s just jog for a little while or would speed off knowing that I would chase after her. Laughing and cursing at the same time.
That summer we played at the beach, hiked the trails, and went bike riding. It was by the end of that summer that I was running! I had also enjoyed and played outside for all four seasons.
That year we spent hours outside being playful, engaging in serious conversations, and just quietly being there for each other as we wrestled through our demons.
These moments were playful, loving, caring, always sweet, and forever with me.I often wonder how it’s going to feel when I am no longer training for a marathon.
Doing this 5k has given me something to look forward to post marathon; a cold snowy winter, to run, walk, and bike with my wife. There is just something amazing about being physical with her. ;-) It has transformed me. I no longer say I will not, never, or I can’t.
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