Relationships and Exercise


Do you exercise with your partner?  I do, and I can honestly say that our time together sweating it out is wonderful (even when I’m grumpy and don’t feel like running or waking up early).  We still do our own thing a couple times a week but our runs, body pump classes and spin classes are a fantastic time to not only better ourselves, but to also spend quality time together.  

In all honestly, I’m normally I’m a bit of a loner and enjoy working out by myself.  I don’t really talk to others, and I enjoy keeping to myself and doing my own thing.  I love having my husband as a partner though because he pushes me while running, motivates me while spinning (he always covers way more miles than I do in class and it’s not fair!), and he compliments me during body pump.  We have our little routines that I’ve come to love (he brings me a foam mat while setting up at body pump, I bring him a wipe down towel to use on his bike after spin), and I miss him if I have to go to a class alone.  This isn’t codependence, we just hold each other accountable and know that if we didn’t work out together we would miss out on hours and hours together each week. 

The photos above were taken by my mom on our wedding day.  Tom and I ran 8 miles together early in the morning, and it was the perfect way for us to kick off our special day.  We were able to get out some nervous energy before we said “I do” and it also allowed us to spend a little quality time together before the craziness of wedding day ramped up.

Now that we have a baby we take turns pushing the jogging stroller.  I love that we still have our time together and we don’t let Jack be an excuse to not exercise.  I like to think that Jack is already learning how important fitness is because he sees us exercise so often.  I’m so glad that our values are in line and I am excited to watch Jack grow and embrace fitness as well.  Sometimes it’s hard to get the motivation to work out…believe me, I fight that battle all too often…but having a spouse who is also a workout buddy and cheerleader makes it so much easier to get up the energy and work up a sweat.  

If you don’t work out with your partner occasionally I highly recommend giving it a shot.  Whether it’s a walk, a run, or a workout class, it will surely help your fitness and it will also add another dimension to your relationship!  And this is not just limited to romantic relationships!  Some of my favorite memories with my parents and brother are from exercising together!

(Ok so not gonna lie, I drafted this post before Jack was born when Tom and I could still go to classes together.  Now we mostly just run together.)

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Katie Vail
Katie Vail

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  1. August 24, 2016 / 1:42 pm

    We work out together, but didn't for the first 25 years of our marriage. Only because I didn't work out….oh, and kids and life. But for the last five years we have and it is great. He is a runner, I am not, but we still find ways to work out together. I highly recommend it too!

  2. August 24, 2016 / 4:59 pm

    My husband and I just started lifting weights together! (After 7 yrs of marriage). It is SO fun!! We go to the ymca and leave our two girls in childcare and I leave every time feeling like we had a date! It's been so good for us and I've enjoyed adding this different dimension to our marriage. Great post!

  3. August 24, 2016 / 4:59 pm

    My husband and I go to the gym together but don't work out together. We do our own thing but we catch glances of each other from across the gym. I'm so much slower than he is when it comes to running! Makes me feel bad that I'm slowing him down lol

  4. August 24, 2016 / 8:29 pm

    We just went on our first run together last night as a family since having our second baby in April, and it was incredible. Just a 30 minute jog left us in the best mood because we were able to talk and spend time together completely uninterrupted by our kids' demands or by cell phones. Our girls love going running too!

  5. August 25, 2016 / 12:50 pm

    I love your wedding day run photos! This is a great blog post. I miss working out with Bengie. It was much easier to do in Hawaii, but I'm going to have to get it back into our routine.

  6. August 25, 2016 / 4:55 pm

    We love working out together! Our schedule doesn't always permit it, but spinning or running is our favorite! This past April we did our first half marathon together and this December, we are doing our first marathon!

  7. August 27, 2016 / 1:49 am

    That's great that you still find ways to work out together even if you're not a runner! It really is such a great way to spend some quality time together!

  8. August 27, 2016 / 1:50 am

    Haha I know that feeling!! Tom is much faster than I am (so I just make him push the stroller more so it slows him down lol)

  9. August 27, 2016 / 1:51 am

    Thanks Julie, so glad you enjoyed the post! I bet your "date night" is amazing! it really does add another dimension, doesn't it?

  10. August 27, 2016 / 1:54 am

    I bet that was wonderful to run as a family together! 30 minutes really doesn't make such a difference. It's so nice when the babies enjoy running too, isn't it? I passed a lady last week whose baby was just screaming and I felt so bad. Thankfully Jack just zones out and enjoys the ride!

  11. August 27, 2016 / 1:55 am

    Thanks Karen! I miss working out in Hawaii too. Wasn't it the best? Oh and y'all looked so sharp in your pictures from your recent event! Bengie rocked that 3 piece suit and you looked beautiful as ever!

  12. August 27, 2016 / 1:59 am

    Oh that's great!! I always loved spinning with my husband too, we need to figure out how to start doing that again. Marathons are daunting but I'm sure you'll get hooked because there is just something so satisfying about accomplishing such a big goal like that. Good luck with your training Kait!

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