Love a Runner? Here’s What You’ve Signed Up For.

Feb 93 min read

Date a Runner? Here’s What You Need to Know

A Survival Guide for Non-Runners in Love with an Endurance Athlete

💘 In honor of Valentine’s Day this week, let’s talk about what it’s REALLY like to be in a relationship with a runner. 💘

Forget candlelit dinners and spontaneous weekend getaways—if you’re dating a runner, your life is now scheduled around long runs, race days, and carb-loading rituals. Your romantic partner is in a long-term relationship with running, and you, my friend, are now the third wheel.

Love in the runner’s world means sweaty hugs, a house full of running shoes, and alarms that go off at 5 AM—on purpose. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning how you ended up here, don’t worry. Here’s your survival guide to dating an endurance athlete.

1. Early Mornings Are Non-Negotiable

Forget lazy Sunday sleep-ins. Your runner will be up before sunrise, lacing up for a long run, race, or early morning training session. If they sleep past 7 AM, check their temperature—they might be sick.

Pro Tip: If you actually want to see them on a weekend morning, meet them at the finish line with coffee and snacks.

2. Sweat is Their Love Language

Expect hugs mid-run, post-run, and when they return home absolutely drenched. You will have to accept the fact that sweat is now part of your relationship.

Pro Tip: If you want affection, you have two choices: embrace the sweat or wait five minutes while they stretch and shower.

3. The Race Calendar is Their Social Calendar

Thinking of planning a weekend getaway? Better check their race schedule first. Their ideal vacation? A destination marathon.

Pro Tip: If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! A destination race can double as a romantic getaway (post-race massages included).

4. They’ll Talk About Running… A Lot

Pace. PRs. Cadence. Tempo runs. You may not know what these words mean, but your runner will talk about them nonstop.

Pro Tip: Nod along. Occasionally say, "That sounds fast!" Bonus points if you ask, "Is that a new PR?" (Even if you don’t know what PR means.)

5. Rest Days Make Them Anxious

Most people love a day off. Runners? Not so much. A rest day feels worse than heartbreak. They will be pacing around the house, fidgeting, and questioning their life choices.

Pro Tip: Distract them with something fun—like a good meal, a recovery massage, or a Netflix binge (bonus points if it's a documentary about running).

6. Their Running Shoes Have More Space Than You

You thought you had a lot of shoes? Think again. There’s a pair for road running, a pair for trails, one for speed workouts, one that’s “too old to run in but still good for walking,” and one they swear they just bought last year (but actually, it was four years ago).

Pro Tip: Just accept that running shoes will always outnumber yours. It’s part of the deal.

7. Food is Fuel (And They Need a Lot of It)

Runners are always hungry. After long runs, they will eat like a starving teenage boy. If you love someone who runs, get used to post-run feasts and frequent snack breaks.

Pro Tip: Keep snacks handy, and never—NEVER—ask, “Didn’t you just eat?”

8. They Love You… But They Love Running Too

You’re important, but running is part of who they are. It’s their stress relief, their therapy, their social time, and their passion. Don’t try to compete with it—embrace it.

Pro Tip: Support their goals, cheer them on at races, and celebrate their milestones—even if you don’t understand why they willingly run 26.2 miles for fun.