My Training Partner

So, I have recently mentioned this guy who is my training partner for this year. In the heat of the moment, when I randomly suggest one winter day that WE should go run a half marathon at Disney, my sweet husband Todd agrees and says, "Sure, how much time do I have for training?"

Todd is actually the person who first introduced me to running. I think I briefly touched on that topic early in my blogging. I was 19 at the time, Todd was 21, and he was VERY fit. He ran regularly. I ran to the fridge, to the snack cupboard, and on the weekends to the bars.

But because Todd loved to run, I agreed to go out on a run with him one fateful summer evening in July. Now, I did have some minor experience with running. I was a track star in elementary school, regularly winning ribbons for the 50 meter dash, the 100 meter dash, and I believe once or twice for the obstacle course. So, thinking "How hard can it be?" I went out the door, down Todd's driveway, and took a right turn to head UP the mountain with him. Because by running up first, you at least would get the benefit of running down at the end. Or at least that's what Todd told me.

That theory really didn't matter. I believe we made it about 400 meters when I landed my foot in a pothole.  HOW you ask????

I suspect I was likely watching Todd ahead of me and not the road. I don't know. But my foot landed in a pothole, I twisted my ankle and landed on the asphalt like a ton of bricks. As Todd helped me up and we surveyed the damage, it was clear that I was covered in road rash from my ankle to my arse. Literally.

We turned and hobbled back towards Todd's house. A neighbour stopped and asked if I needed help. I WAS SOOO EMBARRASSED!! I hid my face and said "No" to Todd, and when he told the people in the car they haughtily replied, "We weren't talking to YOU, we were talking to HER."

So I replied that No, I was fine and only my dignity was hurt, and we made it back to Todd's house where he lovingly poured a bottle of rubbing alcohol over my leg, "because alcohol won't scar your leg like peroxide will." 

Todd's mom arrived home to the bathroom scene of Wanda shrieking her head off like a crazed banshee and Todd trying to be supportive and no doubt questioning what he had gotten himself into.

I swore I would never run again. I figured I was as graceful as a 1980's robot and just wasn't cut out for that kind of sport, and quickly returned to my routine of running to the fridge, to the snack cupboard, and to the bars.  Of course, I took Todd along for the fun and helped him to find a few extra pounds. Per year. For the last twenty-two years.

So, it was quite surprising when I decided I was going to be a runner. Even more surprising that I have not fallen yet during this quest that I am on. Although I am much more careful to watch for potholes now, and dips in the road, etc.

And now I have convinced Todd to join me. He is returning to his former exercise of choice - running. And he has been at it now for six weeks. During that time, he has run the New Year's Rock 'n' Run 5k, the US Road Runners Movie Marathon 5k, and his last race, the Love on the 5k Run.  It is this last race that I find mildly humorous.

Todd ran this race one winter evening, round about February 14th. And it was exceptionally icy here that week. And my husband can be a little stubborn at times (how we get along I will never know, we both have heavy doses of the stubborn gene). So as he was leaving I gave him some advice, to run on the roads through the subdivision, because there was a lot of melting that day and the sidewalks on the main road had been flooded in many spots when I was out. That was sure to freeze to ice but the roads themselves would be salted and fine.

Approximately 40 minutes later my phone dings and it's a text from Todd.

"Ouch."

And me, "What?"

"I fell."

"Want me to come get you."

"No, I'm fine."

I put the phone down and ponder what I am sure has happened. About ten minutes later, Todd walks in the door, knees ripped on his pants and dirt all over him. He confirms that he took the sidewalk route. And that he fell again. Ouch.

Now, unlike me way back when I was 19, Todd has not sworn off running. He has continued to go out the door and work towards his goal of losing some of those extra pounds and joining me through several races this summer and 13.1 miles of Disney in November.

But I have come up with a personalized name for his Love on the 5k Run. I have taken to calling it "Twice on the Ice."  It has a special ring to it, don't you think?