Speed It Up

on August 29, 2011
in All Posts

Another run with the Husband.

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I am definitely the runner in the relationship – Kristien prefers to golf or play team sports.  But every now and then, he goes with me for a run, and I love it so much… except when he pulls ahead and makes me work oh-so-hard. 

 

Can I just say that I hate that he’s faster than me, but I’m the one who runs all the time!?  No fair!  We did 3.0 fast miles.  We took a few walking breaks that we both really needed, but my heart was still pounding by the end. 

 

When we got home, the clouds were rolling in.  It’s nice that Charlotte is finally cooling off, especially in the evening. 

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Pre-run snack was a little sunflower buttah and rice cakes:

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And dinner featured my favorite thing.

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Tacos, not shot glasses!

 

I am so in love with the refried pinto bean and goat cheese combo.  Okay, I could put goat cheese on pretty much anything and be satisfied, but creamy cheese and salty beans is the very best. 

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In the taco:  beans, goat cheese, corn salsa, and parsley.  Yum, yum. 

 

Held up by shot glasses, of course.  

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And steamed broccoli.

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Dark chocolate and book editing for dessert.   Another winning combination.

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Do you run with your significant other?  Do they slow you down or speed you up? 

{ 82 comments }

 

  • Jazz August 29, 2011, 10:13 pm

    Ahh, I used to run with my hubby more, he has pacing issues ( has to pass EVERYONE infront of us) and then ends up beating me at the end too! ha!

  • Laura August 29, 2011, 10:15 pm

    I love when my fiancé runs with me! It makes me feel like an Olympian 🙂

  • Emily August 29, 2011, 10:16 pm

    I get soooooo irritated running with my boyfriend! He will sprint for a mile complaining that I’m complaining when I can’t keep up…but then he turns to go home when I think we’ve just done a warm-up! No bueno. We workout on our own now lol.

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 9:45 am

      Haha this also occurs when I run with the Hus.

  • Sweet and Savvy August 29, 2011, 10:18 pm

    I don’t run with my boyfriend.. when working out together we do more “activity” type things such as golf, biking, kayaking, etc.

  • Christine @ BookishlyB August 29, 2011, 10:19 pm

    My husband is an avid p90x-er, but hates running. He used to do 3 miles or so at the gym and had the same pace as me, so I’m sure we’d actually run well together… if he’d go!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) August 29, 2011, 10:23 pm

    I don’t have a significant other, but I’m a pretty slow runner so everyone I’ve run with has been faster than me!

  • GrabAnApple August 29, 2011, 10:23 pm

    Running is how I met my bf!
    We met while training for the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon, but things didn’t really “heat up” until the following winter. After a club run, I tried to stretch out some tight quads in the King Dancer yoga pose. Unbeknownst to me, he was walking behind me at that moment. As i pulled my foot back, I kicked his hand, leaving a nasty scrape. The rest,as they say, is history 🙂

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 9:45 am

      Aw how romantic 🙂

  • Molly @ RDexposed August 29, 2011, 10:23 pm

    He speeds me up and I keep him going the distance.

    Good use of shot glasses!

  • Baking N Books August 29, 2011, 10:24 pm

    Men – always have to show us up ;). Although – I’m sure long distances you might gain the edge!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) August 29, 2011, 10:28 pm

    The Boy and I don’t run together, though we will occasionally have full-out sprint races in our parking lot. We prefer to go outside and shoot hoops or play catch. 🙂

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) August 29, 2011, 10:28 pm

    Aren’t TJ’s refried beans the best? They look so gross — especially leftover in Tupperware — but taste so good.

  • DadHTP August 29, 2011, 10:29 pm

    Make Kristien nair his gross hairy legs!

  • Army Amy* August 29, 2011, 10:30 pm

    My husband is definitely the speedy one in the relationship. And like your man, he doesn’t even run regularly! I tell myself his speed is due in part to the fact that he’s a full foot taller than me, but I’ve had elementary kids pass me in races before. Leg length is apparently not directly porportional to speed.*

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 9:45 am

      I agree. Kids always pass me.

  • Katie of Cabbage Ranch August 29, 2011, 10:30 pm

    I run while my husband pushes the baby in the stroller at a walk. I use the stroller to run ladders- away and back. The baby loves when I run back towards her, and it lets us all go for a run/walk together (kind of).

  • Gracie (complicated day) August 29, 2011, 10:32 pm

    I’ve run with my husband before but I am significantly faster than he is – like, 2 minutes per mile on average! – so it’s really a challenge for us to pull it off. When I slow down that much, it affects my gait and I end up landing in a way that hurts my knees. So it’s rare for us to run together. I enjoy the company, though, when we do it.

  • Delia August 29, 2011, 10:32 pm

    I love that domestic/imported shot glass!

  • Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) August 29, 2011, 10:34 pm

    My hubby doesn’t run as often as me, and yet he is also much faster and even can run longer! No fair 🙁 Gotta just chalk it up to genetics and be done with it.

    I am also loving your goat cheese/refried bean combo– so crazy good 🙂

  • Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats August 29, 2011, 10:35 pm

    I don’t run with my man often. We have done a couple of 5ks but we don’t stick together. I usually pull ahead. I would love to start doing more active stuff with him though. If only he didn’t live 6 hours away right now!

  • Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) August 29, 2011, 10:36 pm

    Ps your dad just had the best comment everrr 🙂

  • katie @ KatieDid August 29, 2011, 10:41 pm

    I’m on a refried kick right now myself. Grossest looking food, but thats no indication of their taste.

  • Lauren @ Forward is a Pace August 29, 2011, 10:49 pm

    I love running with my husband… but we’re just like you guys. I’m the runner and yet I end up chasing him the whole way! No fair.

  • Leah @ Why Deprive? August 29, 2011, 10:58 pm

    I ran with my ex boyfriend a couple times. He was not a runner, and always slowed me down. He would start off going way too fast and couldn’t keep it up. I tried teaching him but he never listened.

  • Lizz @ Leading the Good Life August 29, 2011, 11:17 pm

    My fiance will occasionally run with me. When we chat, she slows me down. But if we’re listening to music, she pushes the pace!

  • Rachel August 29, 2011, 11:27 pm

    My husband runs faster than me too. No matter how hard I try, I cannot keep up with him! We run about the same amount, since we mostly run together, but he’s always out in front and turning around to run back to me!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) August 29, 2011, 11:37 pm

    Hunni runs 5K’s with me “for fun.” He totally kicks my butt. Annoys the heck out of me when he rarely trains. But I beat him at longer distances.

  • Julie (A Case of the Runs) August 29, 2011, 11:39 pm

    My boyfriend says that if he runs at my pace for too long, he ends up getting hurt from the slowness, ha ha. Let’s just say his marathon PR is an hour faster than mine. =/

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga August 29, 2011, 11:41 pm

    a little sunflower buttah and rice cakes = that looks perfect. i love your love of SFSButter. Me too 🙂

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 9:47 am

      The Hus also complains that my slowness hurts him. Lamesauce.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed August 29, 2011, 11:51 pm

    I only run with the boyfriend once in a while but he’s much faster than I am… with those long legs I’d probably be faster too hehe. Those tacos look yummy! I’m trying to convince the boyfriend that goat cheese is good… I’m sure he’ll come around soon!

  • Mandy @ The Fat Girl's Guide to Life August 29, 2011, 11:55 pm

    Phbt. I have to jog just to keep up with the Husband’s fast *walk*.

  • Sana August 30, 2011, 12:06 am

    I loved running with the men that I date, it’s awesome time for bonding 🙂

  • Corrie Anne August 30, 2011, 12:11 am

    I run quite a bit with my husband. I enjoy it. Buuut he definitely slows me down!!!!

  • Marissa August 30, 2011, 12:58 am

    I’m in the same boat as you! I run all the time and my boyfriend plays soccer once a week and doesn’t get any other exercise, but somehow he still runs me into the ground when we run together!

  • Khushboo August 30, 2011, 1:32 am

    Gah it drives me nuts when I run with someone who isn’t much of an exerciser yet they can over-run me….so much for those endless days of running ;)!

  • Lindsey August 30, 2011, 1:42 am

    I do most of my long runs with my hubby, he sometimes slows me down and other times make me run faster 🙂 But its worth it either way, I love his company when running!

  • Jeanelle @ Glocal Girl August 30, 2011, 2:26 am

    Ah! I wish I ran with my significant other. He’s just not into it… I guess its alright though because I’m going to start getting into tennis (his sport) because I think working out together is a major plus in a relationship!

  • Courtney @ Translating Nutrition August 30, 2011, 2:50 am

    Haha. This post made me laugh with familiarity. My significant other is also a golfer (and tennis player). If I didn’t run on a regular basis he would blow me out of the water on the out-of-the-blue runs we go on together. Training just allows me to keep up. And its ok, I hate it too 🙂

  • Aine @ Something to Chew Over August 30, 2011, 4:06 am

    I run with my boyfriend and we’re ok for pacing – sometimes he gets a bit ahead but I catch up! He pushes me on and I slow him down in a good way as he tends to go too fast in the beginning and gets burned out.

    He’s over a foot taller than me so I don’t mind him being faster! 🙂

  • Hayley @ Oat Couture August 30, 2011, 5:56 am

    I would love to run with my other half but seeing as he runs around for a living he never wants to do it in his free time. Probably a good thing as he’s super speedy and i’m, well… not! lol! Those tacos look YUMMY! I’m so uninspired with whats in our cupboard right now! :/

  • Lindsay @CookVeganLover August 30, 2011, 6:20 am

    My husband and I “run together” more like we start together and within 3-5 minutes he is ahead of me and 3-5 minutes after that I can’t see him anymore. But I do love when we go out for runs at the same time.

  • Laura @ My Reason to Tri August 30, 2011, 6:44 am

    hubs and i run simultaneously but i wouldnt say “together”. he runs at least 2.5 m/m faster than me, its really not fair! he claims that it is harder for him to run slow at my pace than it is to run fast. i dont even try to keep up with him. but put us both on bikes and i will smoke his a$$!

  • Megan @ Long Distance Relationship August 30, 2011, 6:52 am

    We run together almost every weekend, he speeds me up for sure. He paced me through my sub 4 hour marathon last fall, helping me take 36 minutes of my time!

  • Sarah@The Flying ONION August 30, 2011, 6:59 am

    I run a lot with my Dad and occasionally my brother. Both of whom race past me, no matter how fast I feel that I’m going. It drives me a little insane, not gonna lie. 😉

    Lovin’ your tacos! And I just read about James and the bee scare. I had no idea that Benadryl would work for dogs as well. That’s good to know for the future. 😀

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas August 30, 2011, 7:06 am

    My fiance and I run together occasionally. Before I really got into running – he would always be speedier then me. But over time – I became the one who was quicker. Not gonna lie – it makes me feel pretty bad as*

  • Coco August 30, 2011, 7:21 am

    Anytime I’ve gone running with the man I’m always tagging along. However I enjoyed trail running with him more than road running- And the best part about running on the trail was that it has nothing to do with speed- it’s all about endurance. Its awesome to have that person who is close to you push you.

  • Alett August 30, 2011, 8:00 am

    Hubby and I met through running (much like the person who posted above)! We also met because of our (respective) dogs who nearly got into a tussle at the end of the run. The running group was the local Hash house harriers (have you heard of them?). Anyway, if it wasn’t for him I don’t think I would have ever attempted a marathon. In fact when I first met his parents I distinctly remember saying “oh I could NEVER do a marathon!” I have now done 8 marathons including the Goofy challenge (half marathon on saturday followed by a full on Sunday).
    While we don’t exactly run together, we sometimes do timed runs where we each run a certain amount of time that way we finish the run together! Since our “turn around” points are different I play a game in my head and try to get to a determined spot before he catches up to me : )

    p.s. we planned our wedding/honeymoon dates around a 10 mile run (race) around a volcano in Hawaii

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 9:48 am

      Aw this is cute. Runner lovers forever.

  • Courtney August 30, 2011, 8:26 am

    My significant other refuses to run with me, haha! It’s great that you and your husband can run together, though. 🙂

  • Marijke August 30, 2011, 8:37 am

    I ran with my husband while we were training for a half marathon together but he CANNOT run consistantly at all! He plays (English) football so is used to stop-start-stop-start running. We would start off together and then he’d walk, sprint to catch up then walk, sprint to catch up for the whole run. It made me queasy!

  • Carolina John August 30, 2011, 8:43 am

    We don’t actually run together anymore because I’m too fast for her to keep up with now. When we ran the same pace we still didn’t run together because she got distracted by everything and couldn’t hold a pace. Kelley marathons and totally kicks ass too, don’t get me wrong. But it’s more annoying than it’s worth to try and kick ass together.

    What do you think about the NC summers compared to the summers in Orlando? Not nearly as hot or as long, huh? I am so glad that this heat wave finally broke. so ready for fall.

  • Lindsey August 30, 2011, 8:52 am

    My fiance and I run together, but so far it’s only been on treadmills, so our speed doesn’t effect us. The few times we have been outside, it was on a track, so it didn’t matter if he was way far ahead of me. I’m interested to see how we do if we’re actually trying to stay together.

  • Adrienna August 30, 2011, 8:53 am

    My boyfriend and I run together – or at least start out together. He’s typically a minute or so per mile faster, so he always ends up ahead. It infuriates me that I started running first and we’re following the same program, and he’s picking up speed more quickly than I. Oh well – more muscle mass, blah, blah, blah.

  • Dana @ the Big Fat Skinny August 30, 2011, 9:14 am

    I WISH my hubs would run with me!! Maybe someday I’ll be able to tear him away from his desk ….

  • Alyssa N August 30, 2011, 9:25 am

    My boyfriend and I have tried to run together before but it never goes well. He just runs faster than me even if he hasn’t run in a while. It drives me crazy! I’m huffing and puffing just to keep up with him. The good thing though is that I can keep running for much longer than him! HAha!

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me August 30, 2011, 9:26 am

    We’re not runners so we don’t run together haha. We have worked out together but it was mostly strength training. It’s not bad. He enjoys going with his buddies from work though, which is totally fine.

  • Kristen (inspiredbydooce) August 30, 2011, 9:53 am

    My husband is a FAST runner so when he decides to run with me, it is a recovery run. So in general, I set the pace and every so often he complains that I’m going to fast for his tired legs 🙂

  • Heather @ Better With Veggies August 30, 2011, 9:57 am

    I am thrilled to have finally gotten fast enough to run with my husband on his easy days & sometimes long runs now. He’s always been faster than me too (even when he takes a break from running and I’m running like crazy!), I guess most guys seem to be that way. We actually ran together this morning – me trying for a speedier run and him taking it easy. Good motivation, right?! 🙂

  • Ali @ Around the VeggieTable August 30, 2011, 10:05 am

    Refried bean and goat cheese combo seriously is the BEST. I can eat it on anything: salad, sandwich, taco, quesadilla…seriously, ANYTHING! Love love love.

  • Mia August 30, 2011, 10:30 am

    my husband can’t even run half a mile without dying…but I’m sure if he got into it he would be a decent runner, he is 6’3 after all and has super long legs.
    I say use running with your husband as an opportunity to get faster. Think of it as a speed workout!

  • Jessica @ Bake a Little August 30, 2011, 10:43 am

    I would never think to put goat cheese in my tacos! Love this idea. Love goat cheese.

  • leeann August 30, 2011, 10:45 am

    My husband ran cross country in college and is a professional cyclist…even though I run 5 days a week…he can kick my behind any day of the week!

  • Sara@RunningInPinkProject August 30, 2011, 11:06 am

    Do you make your own corn salsa? If so what all is in it? If not do you have a fave brand to recommend?(Thanks) 🙂 Those tacos look amazing!

    • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 12:19 pm

      Its from Trader Joes!

  • Yolie @ Practising Wellness August 30, 2011, 11:15 am

    I love running with my boyfriend! We both have knee issues, so instead of running we do lots of hiking, biking, and climbing together. and sometimes even yoga! but every now and then we go running, and it’s so much fun! we are pretty similarly paced, but i think he is just stronger than me, and more powerful – being a guy, lol! no matter how fit i am, there comes a point where he overtakes me/ out lasts me stamina-wise 🙂 but it’s always a laugh! xyx

  • Ashley August 30, 2011, 11:18 am

    I can’t ever get my hubby to run. Sad face. 🙁

  • Megan August 30, 2011, 11:51 am

    I really don’t enjoy working out with my boyfriend. We have never belonged to the same gym so I’ve never experienced that kind of workout with him. He doesn’t believe in the walk/run method and thinks that my running is too slow too. I can’t even enjoy a bike ride with him because we always start with different goals in mind and he gets upset when I just want to take a leisurely ride around town. I’m surprised WWIII hasn’t broken out when we bike together!

  • Caitlin August 30, 2011, 12:22 pm

    Running with my husband has been a love/hate endeavor 🙂 He’s definitely faster than me but also doesn’t understand pacing. He will go out super hard and fast (that’s what she said) and then tire after a few miles, so we usually don’t do more than about 3 together. It is SO frustrating how much faster he is even though I am the runner in the relationship! But it’s okay, I still love him.

  • Natalie August 30, 2011, 12:36 pm

    When I met my husband I informed him that I was about to begin training for my first half marathon. He wasn’t a runner, but immediately agreed to train with me. We followed the same training schedule 500 miles apart. When we finally ran the race together, I beat him! Now we are married and when we run together we take turns pushing each other. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • Amber K August 30, 2011, 12:41 pm

    I love going to the gym with my husband, but we always do our own workouts. The few times we’ve “run” together it mostly turns into walks where we just end up gabbing the whole time. That’s when I realized if I ever want to actually work out, I must do it by myself!

  • Kristin @ eat healthy. be happy. live well August 30, 2011, 1:00 pm

    My honey is the same way!! He rarely ever runs, and doesn’t even workout all that often. He’s at least 8 inches taller than me, so his legs are just so loooong- that’s why he’s faster than me (at least that’s what I tell myself :))

  • Tracy @ Tracy's Treats August 30, 2011, 1:08 pm

    I prefer to run alone…my SO slows me down!

  • peacebeme August 30, 2011, 1:09 pm

    I always hated running with other people, I just like the solitary runs where I can go at my own pace and just think.

    The one person I did used to be okay running with was my sister, because we would throw runner’s etiquette out the window and not worry about one of us leaving the other behind if we felt good that day.

  • Liz August 30, 2011, 1:30 pm

    Definitely have the same thing with my boyfriend – he’s faster than me and can usually run longer than me, even though he runs way less than I do. But he always points out that for his age bracket, he’s comparatively way worse than I am in my age bracket, which always makes me feel a little better. 😉

  • Erin August 30, 2011, 2:11 pm

    Hi Caitlin, wow dinner looked amazing! I can’t wait to replicate your recipe. Unfortunately my boyfriend doesn’t run with me at the moment. He’s a bit intimidated since I have been training for a triathlon and doesn’t want to “hold me back” which I think is hilarious because he can run 8 min miles pretty easily and I’m happy at 10+min miles. Either way I kinda enjoy running alone – it gives me time to breathe and clear my head. Happy Running!

  • AshleyR August 30, 2011, 4:25 pm

    My hubby slows me down so we rarely run together.

    I love tacos! Every now and then my hubby asks if I had to eat the same food every day what I would choose. Each time I tell him tacos!

  • Sophie @ threetimesf August 30, 2011, 5:57 pm

    Is that a Manchester United badge I spy on the husband’s shorts?! You can totally tell he’s British! 🙂

  • Mary August 30, 2011, 6:29 pm

    I wish my husband would try running with me. He claims he can’t run, but he needs to try! I love company when running.

  • Shayla @ The Good Life August 30, 2011, 8:16 pm

    Hubby and I run outside together on occasion and he always makes me speed up and I do twice as much cardio as he does?! I’ll never understand men and their natural ability to run! 😉

  • Eleah August 31, 2011, 12:43 am

    The running dynamic with my boyfriend and I is exactly the same. He rarely runs but is much faster than me. (I can hold out longer, though!)
    Last year I had a stress fracture that put me out for about 2 months. He didn’t run during that time either (sympathy) and when we started up again, it was like he never stopped. Angst.

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