They say one of the best ways to find a partner (as in boyfriend/girlfriend, not training partner) is to find something you enjoy that will put you into contact with people who also enjoy those things. But I think this advice tends to mean things like Salsa classes or a pottery class. If you enjoy these things, not only do you get to meet members of the opposite (or same) sex that share your interest, but you look pretty hot when you meet them. Latin American dancing = hot. Pottery = hot. Oh come on, we all remember that scene from Ghost with Patrick Swazee and Demi Moore. Hot, hot, hot and clearly the only reason people take pottery classes.
What has all this got to do with running? Well, according to a study by charity Sue Ryder Care “almost a quarter (24%) of joggers admit they regularly go ‘flunning’, while over a third (36%) have struck up a conversation with a fellow runner of the opposite sex, the findings reveal.”
Now, luckily I have Lazy Boy and I don’t have to subject the young men of South West London to me panting after them sweating heavily, wearing a t-shirt that hasn’t been washed in at least a week and that I’ve quite possibly wiped my nose on. And if someone were to approach me under such conditions for some ‘flunning’ (which quite honestly sounds like it should be illegal or if not at least frowned upon) I would worry they had some weird fetish that involved BO.
But maybe there is something to be said for meeting someone when you both look at your worst. If they can like you when you’re dry heaving after hill repeats, they’re hardly going to get any nasty surprises six months down the line when the honeymoon period is over and you start breaking wind in bed.
As I’ve said before, for me running is a solitary sport and that’s how I like it. I do occasionally get jealous when I see couples running along together and wish that Lazy Boy would join me for a romantic run at sunset. But then I realise that I’m quite competitive and would hate the idea of him running faster than me and that when I do see couples out running together one usually looks like they don’t want to be there while the other looks like they want to be going a bit faster.
True, true! I happily leave my hubby at home to play video games while I train. I prefer it that way because well he runs faster than me, and it’s just not fun for me. I’d rather him encourage me on the sidelines. I’m not a fast runner by any means…but I don’t think I would ever be “flunning” with someone…that’s like you said just odd ball!