Partners...

Recently, I was relaxing at the coffee shop, reading the Sept/Oct issue of Oklahoma Sports & Fitness waiting for the Fleet Feet store to open, and I came across a great article entitled, "The Race Before Us - By Your Side, In Your Face".

The author wrote about how great it is to have a training partner and how "it can enhance your rate of progress" because "their own determination and hard work pushes you to work harder yourself".

It caught my attention because I've started running again (after taking 5 years off) and hope to participate in the 2011 Tulsa Run. And it got me thinking about the 2 different running partners I've had.

Me & A" before the 2003 Tulsa Run

Back in 2003 I was running with my friend "A". We were a great team! She started the races out fast so I'd get her to slow down so she wouldn't burn out before the end and she'd drag my butt along faster at the end when my knee was acting up. We trained early in the mornings, chatting the whole time...wonderful way to start the day. We were supposed to do the Tulsa Zoo Run 10k together but I was sidelined with plantar fasciitis, but I was there cheering her on and she had a great race! And finally we ran the Tulsa Run 15k and the Jenks Half Marathon together. She could have had a better time on the Half Marathon by leaving me behind but she wanted to finish together.

Me & "M-K" (red shirts) in the

2006 Aramco Houston Half Marathon

In 2005, after our family moved to TX, I was eager to get running again but didn't know anyone. I heard about Houston/USA Fit which is a program that organized training runs for the upcoming Houston Marathon & Half Marathon so I joined up. First day of training, they divided us up into pace groups. And that is how I met "M-K"! She was loud & outgoing and fun to run with. I swear, all the talking and laughing we did really helped us strengthen our breathing/running. We trained almost every night after work and every Saturday morning with the Fit group. We developed lots of friendships with other ladies in our pace group and learned some valuable tips from "Coach" and other veteran runners. We completed 2006 Aramco Houston Half Marathon and the 2006 ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run 10k together.

There is nothing like having a partner (whether its a spouse, workout/running partner or significant other) to push you to do your best (in anything) and to celebrate with when they reach their personal goals.