How Training Together Can Strengthen Your Relationship

Meet Chris and Julia. They completed the 12-week training plan with Runtastic Results together and it really strengthened their relationship. We sat down with the two of them to chat about their experience, dealing with motivational slumps and how they supported one another.

How active were you before you started the 12-week training with Runtastic Results?
Julia: I did some sports here and there, but I was not really active throughout my whole life. Sometimes I tried to run, but after a few weeks I got bored or just stopped because I “didn’t have enough time”… My usual excuse.

Chris: I really started doing sports on a regular basis when I turned 29. For the last three years, I have been cycling, running and strength training. That really increased my wellbeing and happiness.

Were there times when you were feeling unmotivated?
J: I think unmotivated is a good way to describe how I’ve felt quite often in my life. My problem has always been not sticking to a workout routine for long enough to see changes. My weight has varied a lot since I was 12 years old and I was never totally confident with my body.

C: I was pretty stoked doing the 12-week plan because it was an incredible challenge. I lost motivation only in the final week because the end was so close and I was already eager to get my bike out of the garage and start cycling more.

After you completed the 12 weeks, did you feel more confident? Stronger?
J: My body changed completely. I got a lot of self-confidence and felt muscles that I definitely never had before.

C: I didn’t have much weight to lose, but I lost about 2 kg. But for me that wasn’t really the focus. My focus was on fitness and improving my endurance for biking. In that regard, I felt lots of improvements.

Had you not had each other, do you think you would have quit or given up?
J: There were some quite exhausting and hard workouts that I guess I never would have done without him. During those 12 weeks we motivated each other to stick to the plan. I never skipped one workout because I knew that it was what I wanted and needed.

C: Some workouts were pretty hard. But seeing Julia suffer through them this enthusiastically left no chance for me to give up.

What are you most proud of yourself for doing within the 12 weeks?
J: I am proud that I sticked with the entire plan. I am proud that I kept up with the increasing intensity of the workouts and for pushing myself further to change my body even more. The workouts made me stronger, more confident and left me wanting more. And I’m really happy about it.

C: I’m proud of myself for listening to my body. I had to stop in the middle of a workout during the last week because I wasn’t feeling well. It’s important that you listen to your body and know your limits. It’s good to push your limits, but it’s also important to respect them.

Has this experience inspired you to explore more types of training?
J: Not really more types of training, but definitely the intensity. I know now that you really have to push yourself to achieve maximum results.

C: Yes, a little bit. But I think that these types of workouts and this type of training is a good addition to whatever you want to achieve. Like me with mountain and road biking, for example.

Have you noticed a change in your physical appearance? Have others?
J: I think my posture changed a lot and I’m confident enough now to wear tighter outfits. I also got some compliments that my appearance changed in a positive way. That always makes me feel flattered.

C:  As I was already really into training, I didn’t notice too much of a difference physically. I felt much more strength mentally and my endurance improved so much.

What did other people say when you told them you were doing this training plan?
J: “Oh you’re really doing those workouts that often?” or “Aren’t you feeling sore all the time?” or “How do you have time for all those workouts?”

In times of intense emotion, exhaustion, etc., what kept you going?
J: The motivation of finishing something for the very first time!

C: Giving up is not an option.

If you had any advice for someone about to start this plan, what would it be?
J: Stick to the plan from the very first workout. Find somebody who is at least equally motivated and do the workouts together. I think that helped a lot.

C: You will sweat, you will be sore and you will want to stop, but if you keep going, you will learn a lot about yourself and it will all be worth it. In retrospect, I don’t think it’s a big or crazy commitment to complete these 12 weeks. What I do think you need is persistence and the desire to improve yourself. You can’t see what you will become before you are getting there, that’s not how it works.

You need to want it and then you need to do it, it’s as simple as that. Most people I know stop at the “do“ part because they “don’t have enough time.“ I always think, well, there are 24 hours in a day… how many can you spend making yourself feel great?

When training as a company this last summer, we found that it was so much better training together. Chris and Julia realized this also and have continued to train together, bike together and stay fit together. We are so proud of the both of them.

Do you have a Results success story you want to share with us? We would love to hear about it in the comments below. Perhaps you could be featured on the blog next!

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