Running with my husband wasn’t as bad as I thought

Fiona Gibson

The gym’s the thing, I’d decided. At 56 – for the first time in my life – I’d not only joined one but was actually showing up for regular classes. In my new fitness gear I felt so sprightly and modern among all the svelte young things. Then Covid hit, gyms closed and my husband said: “Never mind. We can start running together instead.”

Admittedly, I wasn’t keen. On the rare occasions I’d been out running with Jimmy he’d made it clear that there was no room for chat, apart from to highlight the numerous errors I was making: slapping my feet down too hard, looking down at the ground instead of straight ahead and accelerating suddenly instead of maintaining a steady pace. Plus, he’s faster than I am (but only because he has longer legs). I wasn’t sure I wanted the pressure of trying to keep up, or having my lack of fitness highlighted as he cantered ahead. “There’ll be no pressure,” he assured me. “We’ll just take it at a nice gentle pace.”

While I’m freelance and can pretty much shape my day as I like, Jimmy works from home in his corporate job. So we decided to aim for a short run every weekday in his break. One bleak, wet lunchtime last October, we set off on a 2km circuit. It was fine, chugging along in grim silence. I mean, I didn’t hate it. I’ve run on and off for 10 years (with the emphasis on “off ”) and was pleasantly surprised to find that I could still do it.

A couple of weeks later we were racking up 4km runs fairly easily. Within a month it had become a habit. As our runs had to fit into a designated time slot, whatever the weather, we just pulled on our trainers and off we went.

Six months on, our lunchtime run is easily the best part of my day, and I can’t imagine life without it. Exercising with a partner or buddy is incredibly motivating – and, although it pains me to admit it, Jimmy’s no chit-chat regime makes it easier to get into the zone and run more effectively.

There are other benefits, too.

Although I’d kidded myself that I “quite liked” the banging music in those gym classes, it’s so much nicer to be out in the fresh air with birdsong in my ears. Even the rain can feel good. Occasionally, if our Glasgow weather really is dire, I do have to wrench myself away from my desk – but I remind myself that it’s only 25 minutes. And I never come home wishing I hadn’t run.

In the first few months of lockdown

I’d self medicated with white wine and crisps and done nothing more strenuous than amble around the local streets with our dog. Our new running habit has helped to shift that extra half stone and my husband is a whole stone lighter than when we started this thing. Trust him to go one better than me.

Power couple: Gibson and husband Jimmy now run for 25 minutes each day