Jealousy Is A Bitter Pill

I’m taking a break from the Hijacked Hiatus series today just to say thank GOD for my Hubby!  Believe me, there is probably nobody more shocked to read that statement than him!!  But really, I have nobody to thank but him for getting me back to running again.  I’d love to say it’s been all me, I’ve turned over a new leaf, I’ve realized the error of my ways and want to do better, but no…it comes from a place far more competitive than that.

Hubby had his second Fathers Day this year and as a little treat Brenna and I got him a gym membership.  Now before you “tsk tsk” me thinking I was sending a mean message with that gift, he ASKED for it.  Maybe not outright, but through loud unequivocal hints for the weeks leading up to Fathers Day.  I was interested to see how he was going to deal with work, looking after Brenna on his days off while I working, and also squeezing time in for the gym.   And when I say “interested” we all know I mean that, sadly, I was kind of hoping he would struggle a little, like I did trying to squeeze in time for running while on maternity leave.  Well, I made the rookie wife mistake of doubting his time management skills and dedication.  I forgot that when Hubby decides to do something, he can’t just half-a#$ it, he has to go into it full throttle; no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Despite the fact that it had been three years since he last ran, Hubby decided he was going to start a workout routine that included going to the gym when he had childcare for Brenna and running on the other days.  Knowing how much he hates running, I was shocked.  Despite an even bigger fact that he pokes constant fun of me for my weeknight routine (of making lunches, setting the coffee maker, ironing clothes, putting away laundry, etc) to ensure I have more time in the morning, Hubby even started setting out his running clothes the night before as well as his shower gear and uniform so that he can get up at the crack of dawn, run, then come home to shower and go to work for 615am.  ????   Who is this guy?  Seriously…he gets up, on his own, of his own free will and volition, and runs before 5am.  On purpose.  To top it off, he then works a 12hour shift afterward.  Stunned is more appropriately the word I would use to describe my reaction to his new routine. 

You early morning runners are a complete mystery to me…I have no idea how you do it.  I mean, I can barely get myself out of bed to go to work let alone wake up earlier to RUN first.  I tried one summer to get up and run before work when it was cool outside because it was summertime and the weather was too hot to run after work.  I lasted one morning only.  I thought I was going to fall back asleep before I even hit the halfway mark.  Not to mention I ran slower than I could ever have imagined but thought I was FLYING!  So I decided that running in the heat, fully awake and aware was better than running (or moon-walking) in the early morning hours, who knows what I did in my half-dozed state!

The biggest advantage to Hubby’s zealous running habit is obviously the impact it will have on his overall health.  But a spinoff advantage has been the jealousy effect it has had on me.  When he lasted more than a week in the new routine I started to get a little envious that he was out running and I wasn’t.  More than envious, I started to get outright mad!  There was NO reason I couldn’t run too whenever I wanted, I just put up my own “excuse” walls and pretended it wasn’t feasible.  The best thing about having a personality like mine is that when I feel like I have something to prove to someone, I prove it.  I don’t stop until I feel like I’ve shown what I’m made of.  In this case, I needed to show Hubby that he could run all he wanted, but nothing would change the fact that I am the runner in the relationship, I am the dedicated one, I am the passionate one who loves to run, I am the one that will go out in rain, shine or blizzard to run, and I am the one that can be counted on to run on a regular basis.  I am more me when I’m running!  And I had to prove to Hubby that this was still the case!

So whether he intended to or not, he really got me out of my “life’s too busy to run” mode and proved that no matter what our schedule looks like, we can always run.  And as grateful as I am that he stepped up his game forcing me to step up my own, I still feel like I have the edge over him…he’s yet to push Brenna in the stroller on a run, so as of now I’m still the “tougher” runner in the relationship and I plan to keep it that way!  Look out hubby, you’ve created a monster!

Today's Run: 3K/19:42/6:34 pace