A Running Love Story

My cycling class this morning kicked my booty!

My favorite instructor was back and he was back with a vengeance! We chased, we jumped, we did intervals, and we spun our little hearts out! Nothin’ like a power class to give you a good sweat in the morning.

Breakfast was prepared skillfully last night.

Overnight Oats in a Jar

• 1/2 cup Rolled Oats
• Cacao Nibs
• 2 hearty spoonfuls Vanilla Yogurt
• Cinnamon
• Strawberries
• Near empty jar of almond butter

Combine all ingredients in bear empty jar of almond butter. Place in fridge. Grab and go in the morning.

I had added the strawberries last night and wish I wouldn’t have done it. I like my strawberries fresh and these were all mushy. Still good, but not OMG good.

Look Mom – a real spoon!

A couple of readers had commented on the plastic utensils I have been using for my meals at my desk. Last week I brought in some real silverware to keep at my desk and will rewash instead of using the plastic stuff from the kitchen.

Last year I received an e-mail from a reader named Dana who had just finished her first marathon with her boyfriend. They had filmed the whole race and it was actually the video that had inspired me to film my own first marathon a month later.

A week ago I received another very exciting e-mail from Dana informing me that her boyfriend and her had ran the same marathon again this year; only this time it was special for another reason….

A Running Love Story

Two years ago, on April 26, 2008, I set out to run my second half marathon and get a sub-two hour time. I came in at 1:52 and was thrilled. After the run, my mind quickly switched to a date proposal a guy, Graham, had asked me about just a few days before. I believe his exact words were “If you aren’t too tired after your run, give me a call – we should go out.”

I believe Graham was a bit stunned when I called that day but sure enough at 7:00 that night (okay 7:30 – he perpetually runs late I later found out) we were headed out. After a night of pizza, beer, karaoke, and conversation, a match was made.

July of that same year we headed out on our first run together. Graham had never run more than five miles. We set out for a few miles and never looked back. October we ran a half marathon together (Graham’s first) and by January we had decided to go for a full (both of our firsts!)

On April 25, 2009 we ran our first marathon. It was great, it was grueling, it was everything a marathon should be. With medals in hand, I was invigorated, but I thought that shiny piece was enough for Graham to put up his running shoes forever.

We barely ran through the rest of 2009, so you can imagine my shock when come Christmastime Graham suggested we run the same marathon again. I was excited to get my partner back and tackle marathon #2!

We started training in January 2010 – we ran into more problems throughout training this time around:

· The weather was awful – a cold and snowy winter made long runs outside near impossible!

· Graham was having calf problems in the beginning.

· I felt defeated – a combination of the frustration at building a running base back up and not having the “newness” of the first marathon and all the new training distance PRs that come with it.

· Two weeks before the marathon, my foot got painful shooting pain during a training run and I ended up not running at all the two weeks up until the marathon.

Despite it all, on April 24, 2010, Graham and I stood at the starting line of the Kentucky Derby Marathon yet again. The race was going great and we were making great time for the first 20 miles or so. Around mile 21, Graham complained of stomach pains and we had to walk/run the last five miles. But, I knew no matter what, we were going to finish and we were going to finish together. As we ran towards the finish line, I saw my family and his ahead of us and I was so relieved that we had made it once again!

As soon as we crossed the finish line, Graham dropped down. I thought “oh no, he is really getting sick.” Then he says my name, and I glance again at him and he is on one knee! He proposed!

I think the video speaks for itself better than any words I can write about that moment (please excuse Graham’s brothers )

Graham and Dana Marathon Proposal from Josh Keown on Vimeo.

Some things I later found out:

· Graham asked my mom’s permission to marry me back in January and told her how he wanted to do it so there was no way we were giving up on running the marathon!

· Graham ran the entire race with the ring in a special pocket his mom had sewn into his shorts

· Our families were directly past the finish line in a restricted area, not on the sides where spectators were allowed and that oddity never registered with me.

Our running love story has been incredible. My passion for running has interwoven into my passion to share with my life with Graham. Thanks for reading.

Wonder if they sell running shoes in white…..