The Best Ways to Support the Runner in Your Life, According to Reddit
Running is a fun hobby, but it can be difficult. If you don’t run, you may not realize that your partner or close friend is going through a range of emotions every time they leave the house (from elation to mind-numbing boredom) or that their pastime is really taking its toll on their body… bruised nails, who anything?
What is clear, however, is that they are hard at work and they would probably appreciate some support from home. So here are some tips from Redditors on the subject of r/running.
Hear them complain
The first rule of the running club is never to shut up about the running club. The runner in your life will have a lot to say, although many runners think they’ll tire their partner out talking about running (so if they don’t say anything, ask).
If they’re going out for a run or just got back from one, safe questions are, “How many miles?” and “How do you feel?” Sit back and listen as they entertain you with stories about their splits, what body parts hurt, or anything else they might want to talk about.
Several participants and partners in the thread noted that simply showing interest is the most important thing. Runners know they will probably bore you. They appreciate that you listen anyway.
let them sleep
A runner who runs a lot of miles is a runner who needs a lot of sleep. This often results in them going to bed early, especially if they get up early to run. As one redditor notes:
Hearing an encouraging message from her husband instead of “come on, another episode!” or similar requests for me not to sleep with him at night mean so much!!
Similarly, a runner may feel exhausted after a particularly long or hard run. If they’re training for a marathon, chances are they’ll run all Saturday morning and then need to take a Saturday afternoon nap. You will become their hero if you can babysit or perform other duties so they can sleep.
Behind the wheel
Runners need somewhere to walk, just like the rest of us, but their legs tend to get tired. Several runners commented in the thread that they love having their partner behind the wheel, which means even more on race day:
She is also my chauffeur to and from the races. So I can fill up on the road and she’s already at the finish line.
Driving duties are also appreciated for a long day. If the runner in your life needs to cover a certain stretch of an upcoming race, or even if he gets bored of running laps over and over again, he might appreciate you dropping him off at the starting point so he can run home (or run to the finish line). second car).
Make a commitment to time
By far the most important thing that several runners have noted is that their partner doesn’t mind the time they spend away from home. If they do short runs, this may mean that several times a week in the mornings or evenings they need to find time to go out for half an hour. Your support here might include agreeing to a late dinner or doing some morning chores on your own while they’re on the road.
If they are preparing for a longer race, the time investment is even greater. It’s not unusual for a marathon runner to stretch his weekend runs to three hours or more and then nap after the race. It sucks to feel guilty about wasted time; If your partner can reassure you that they are okay with the time commitment and just want you to succeed, the runner is not destined to take the burden off.
Get a massage
Besides sleep, runners value other forms of self-care. If you can prepare a bath for them, that’s great; one Reddit user mentioned that their partner would make a fire in the fireplace on cold winter days.
But by far the most mentioned service in this department was the massage. Find out what your runner likes, but he usually likes a foot and calf massage.
Surprise them with small gifts
Runners use a lot of snacks and small items of equipment. Pay attention to what they like and buy more to keep them in stock. Some of the things to consider:
- Gels or other snacks they eat while running
- Favorite breakfast or post-run meal
- Socks are good .
- bodyglide
- Beverages with electrolytes or their tablet or powder equivalents
- Shoes
Shoes must be the same shoes they already wear and/or specific shoes they have tried on and mentioned they would like to purchase. Runners can be very picky about their footwear, for good reason. But they’ve also changed a lot of shoes over the years, so if you notice they always go to Brooks Ghosts, keep an eye out for when Ghosts are on sale.
Cheer for them on the course
Most runners appreciate support at the finish line and over the course. (The exception might be those few weirdos who run for “my” time and want it to last even until race day; don’t surprise your runner at the finish line unless you’re sure he’ll love it.)
For a short race like the 5K, race day support means they have to lead them to the starting line, make sure they have all their stuff, keep a jacket or wallet on while running and be there to yell when they get back . finish line. Then turn to massage, driving and sleep tips.
For longer runs like a marathon or half marathon, plan ahead and see how many places you can show up on the course. Using a bicycle or strategically using the subway can help you get from one point to another easily and quickly; find your runner by knowing their pace and start time, or simply by watching their location on a tracking app (like Google Maps or Strava’s beacon feature). If you can put up a funny sign and make them laugh in the midst of their misery, that would be the best.