How having a workout buddy’s helping me level up
June 22, 2017 Ashley 0 Comments
“Can I come running with you?”
(“I’m only sacrificing my workout ’cause you’re hot”)
When friends ask me this, I’m usually coming up with a sugarcoated “no” before their sentence even ends.
“I run too early. I run too late. When are you working?YeahThat’sWhenI’mGoingForMyRunSorryCan’t…”
I mean, I don’t wanna hurt anyone’s feelings – but running’s my zen time. I head to the woods. I hit the trail. And for half an hour to an hour and a half (depends on the day and how much caffeine’s involved), I simply dip out’ve reality and fill up my spiritual chalice on nature-y goodness. Yet, while I’m literally alone – I’m figuratively not. Many attest that they prefer to perform their fave weight loss or maintenance activity sans company. That said, I typically go running twice a day. Once in the morning, and once at night. (And before you commend me, it’s more’ve an addiction than inspiration; so do with that bit’ve info what you will.) So, when I started dating this dude I dig on a deep level, I asked myself, “Do I have to have both runs to myself?” See, the thing is, I never bothered asking this with respect to anyone else (bae material or not). Why? Because, if I’m being honest, I probably didn’t really respect them as athletes. Harsh, I know. And probably a bit judgmental. (#SorryNotSorry) But, to be fair, I’d seen his capabilities (we train MMA together), so I knew I wasn’t wasting my time. And, if I’m gonna sacrifice my one time I can escape society and sweat the day’s stress away, it’d better be with someone whose athletic resume is next level, yet who isn’t bragga-douchey-o about it.
And, when put to the test, I wasn’t disappointed.
Dude is faster than me, but doesn’t taunt me about it. (Though he did call me “The Terminator” ’cause’ve how I run uphill. #NotDenyingIt) He’ll coach me along, but not an annoying amount. And, in those moments when I wanna throw in the proverbial towel, I’ll get encouragement to “dig deep” – just like our mutual trainer at the dojo tells us when we’re doing punching sprints or HIIT conditioning. But I think what I get most out’ve our swoll-mate workouts has zero to do with what he’s intentionally doing or not doing. It’s what I’m doing by allowing him to be there. See, in times past, I’d get competitive. I’d try to race against some Marvel comic book material dude I was dating, who’d been training his whole life to get into the WWE. Then, I’d get disappointed when he left me asphyxiated by his dust as we sprint-raced. And I’d take it personally. I’d let it make me feel small. To be fair, that was probably in part because I was dating a dude who I let make me feel small in other areas of our relache. Compare that to finally finding someone who made me feel like kindofabigdeal, and that sentiment melted away. When we run together, I know that he’s stronger; but I don’t let it make me feel like any less of an athlete. Actually, if anything, it makes me work harder – so much so that it elevates the quality of my solitary jogs. In fact, since our last couple-run, I’ve been beating my time by anywhere from five to ten minutes.
(Better watch it, bae. I’m comin’ for ya.)
So, what’s this all mean?
That you need to hit up Fitness Tinder? Troll for an athletic rando you can romance as well? No, madams and sirs. This isn’t about that. What this is about, rather, is A.) being open to being challenged, and B.) choosing someone who can do that with you, in a way that doesn’t make you hate working out. You don’t hafta share all your sweaty ventures with a blood pumping buddy. Just don’t be afraid to occasionally recruit someone stronger than you to join you at the gym every now and again. And recruit ’em carefully. Find someone (platonic or not) who makes you feel good about yourself enough outside the gym, that you won’t mind ’em pushing you through pushups and the like. It’ll hold you accountable to keep up with your weight loss goals and level up while sizing down.
But – most importantly – it’ll make you appreciate those precious solo seshes even more than you already do.