For Valentines, I would like to share the experiences of couples that have met through running. For some runners, a large part of their social life revolves around running friends, clubs and races.  It's a social circle that provides a wonderful setting for meeting someone and developing relationships

Colette Mezza & Doug Howell of St. Clair Shores met at the Downtown Runner's group. Doug had just moved here from the East coast, knew no one, and discovered that the Downtown Club fit his style. He and Colette ran a few times together, but he thought she was probably too young for him until he casually asked her age while running in Elmwood Cemetery � "the best kept secret in the City of Detroit." When she told him that she was 37 he said to himself, "OMIGOD, OMIGOD, SHE'S DATE-ABLE!"  A few dates later, they were both pretty sure of their future. An ideal Valentine's Day would be waking up late, a long slow run and shower followed by seafood, then early to bed. Running has helped them deal with everyday stresses. They have their best planning sessions while running as well as their best arguments.  Fortunately, they find it impossible to come back from a run angry. 

Christine Wojtusiak & Brad Mailloux of Windsor, Ontario met at a Wednesday night social run. They both run many of the Wednesday evening & Sunday morning social runs put on by the Running Factory in Windsor, where Brad is a manager. They enjoy cooking dinner together after a run, sometimes with a bottle of wine by the fireplace. Brad competes in running, triathlon & adventure races like his favorite the Michigan Trail Marathon while Christine also loves to swim.

Robin Sarris and Peter Hallop of Ann Arbor met in 1982 when she came to the Tortoise and Hare Running Center, where Peter worked, for some advice on how to organize a race. Peter also encouraged Robin to take her running more seriously and by the next fall she ran her first sub 40 min 10K and finished her first marathon in 3:09 at Detroit. Both fiercely love to compete as runners. They were friends before becoming a couple in 1985.

Peter coaches the Ann Arbor Track Club Tuesday night workouts. Robin is on the Board of Directors for the Club, editor for the newsletter and also the state representative for the Road Runners Club of America. According to Robin " running is a very important part of our relationship but it isn't the only thing that holds us together."  They often travel to races together and make small wagers on prediction times. We bet for massages, dinners or small amounts of cash. Interestingly enough, running is one of the few things they argue about, usually because one disagrees with the other's advice.

According to them, "Our marriage is ultimately the most important thing in our lives. We feel lucky to have been able to hold our relationship together through all the successes and disappointments that are a part of everyone's modern lives and relationships.   The bond that we have through running and all the memories we have created that relate to that part of our life are a strong part of the "cement" that holds us together.  The fact that we are best friends and passionate about each other has a great deal to do with our longevity as a couple."

Ann Forshee Crane & Gerald Crane of East Lansing  Gerald lived with Ann's college coach and watched her race throughout her freshman year at Michigan State. They officially met at the coach's pancake dinner the night before Ann's last chance race to qualify for nationals. After the race, Gerald called telling her saying that he guessed he owed her a milkshake for breaking 5:00 for the mile and qualifying. As if he had a bet, and she barely knew who he was. She agreed and after the milkshake they made plans to run the next day. They have continued to run together ever since and it remains a connection that they've enjoyed for 27 years. This April they will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Vicki & Mike Webster of Northville met at a weekly run with the Redford Road Runners in 1986. According to Vicki "Running is what brought us together and, for the most part, the basis of our relationship.  It helps to relieve stress, keep us healthy, and is pretty much our entire social life, as we like going to races, taking running vacations, and socializing with our friends that are mostly runners. Since running is part of our normal everyday routine, we both understand the importance of spending time on the road.  We also know just how each other feels when we have that good run, bad run, marathon, etc."

Upcoming event: February 16, 2002, Sweetheart 10km Relay, (Two Separate 10km loops) Flushing Central Elementary, 10am CONTACT: Bauman's Running Center (810) 238-5981