How can getting physical be a memorable and enjoyable experience shared with your spouse?
Well yeah, there’s that, but I’m talking about something different this time. 🙂
I’m talking about completing a fitness event together as husband and wife.
Sure, there are extreme examples like Andrew and Sue O’Brien who ran 8 marathons in 8 weeks in 8 different countries or husband and wife teams that complete a summit of Mt. Everest.
But you can experience the “joys of sweat” with your spouse close to home and with much less physical ability.
Crossing the Line
There’s no question that keeping yourself fit, healthy and happy has a direct impact on your marriage and family life. We’ve talked a lot in the past about the role of fitness in your marriage and what that means to the Engaged Marriage community.
Living an active lifestyle day-to-day is fantastic, and it sets a wonderful example for our children. It reduces stress, feeds our energy levels, builds our self-confidence and enhances that other physical activity that we enjoy with our spouse.
As good as regular exercise is for your marriage, I would like to challenge you to do something special that will build lasting memories and a special bond with your husband or wife. I would love for you to commit to participating in a fitness event together this summer.
For most couples, a very attainable and incredibly rewarding event is running a local 5K race (3.1 miles). Bethany and I ran our first 5K as a couple for a charity last fall, and I still smile when I think about it. I’m not much of a runner, so I had to train to keep pace with lovely wife (who had just had our third child a few months prior – yeah, she’s that girl).
Our race day ended up being cold, windy and hilly – sounds like fun, huh? The funny thing is that made the memories all the sweeter because we overcame a challenge together and pushed ourselves to finish strong on behalf of the other. You can read about our experiences running a 5K as a couple in a post a wrote following that day.
A Free 5K Training Plan for You
In our quest to support couples getting fit and sharing fitness experiences together, we just released a totally free 5K Training Blueprint at Fit Marriage. This training program was developed with a professional endurance coach, and it will take a relative novice runner from walking to running a great 5K in 6 weeks.
It’s a fully-body training routine as well, so you will shed some pounds and improve your overall fitness while you get your running legs under you. This is a great way to shape up for summer!
Grab Your FREE Ready, Set, Go! 5K Training Blueprint by clicking here!
You can grab the plan by clicking here, and you’ll get access to our growing library of free fitness resources for busy couples.
After you look it over, get with your spouse and pick a local event around 6 weeks from now. Put it on your calendars and look forward to forging some lasting memories and building your intimacy by lacing up your running shoes together.
Do you have any favorite memories from a fitness pursuit with your spouse?
I would love to do a 5K with my husband. Unfortunately, it will have to wait until after the baby arrives.
Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, Beckey. 🙂
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
My boyfriend and I had intended to go hiking around a state park after moving me out of my apartment. Of course, I managed to break a glass I was washing (last thing before we were done packing!) and it cut my hand pretty badly, requiring a trip to the ER. We still went, but it was a much more laid back adventure than we had planned.
In retrospect, perhaps calling that a “favorite memory” is a stretch, but it certainly was some interesting bonding!
Thanks for sharing that story, Allie! Well, at least you created some memories…it’s funny that you injury happened before you even started the adventure. 😉
Great article Dustin,
I just heard the other day that marriage for many is the beginning of “letting ourselves” get in the horrid shape that many find ourselves in today. It’s all about priorities and what we value in ourselves and the the marriage. I’m guilty of not taking care of my “temple” too often b/c of lack of discipline. Reminds me of what Paul says in the scriptures. Another great way to be intimate!!
Right on, Chuck! This is the unfortunate reality for many couples, and it usually gets much worse with the arrival of children. But we can change that in our own marriages!
Hi Dustin!
Thanks for an awesome website as I’m new to it. Hopefully, I can navigate through everything 🙂 I just wanted ask: do you think I should put the badge on my blog because I’m single? 🙂 I mean I’ll be proud of my marriage in the future but I’m still single (scratching my head haha). Well, what do you think? If you were single, would you? 🙂
Don’t worry. It’s on my blog! 🙂
Welcome, Sophie! I’m really happy to meet you here, and thanks for adding the badge to your site!
It is a very nice post specially for couples who are struggling to make each other happy. I have read in a lot of books on psychology that physical activities make people happy. If some one is depressed make them do a physical activity.