11 Ways Being a Military Spouse is like Running a Marathon
Life is funny.
Why? Because just a few short years ago, I had two “nevers” that I (naively) thought were non-negotiable.
- I will never love/marry/follow a man.
- I will never run a marathon.
You can probably already see where this post is going. Obviously, I have done both.
The follow-a-man-thing went by the wayside nearly seven years ago, when I met this blonde-haired, blue-eyed soldier-dude in Manhattan, Kansas.
I was getting ready to graduate college; he was stationed at Fort Riley.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
But I held hard to the “Never run a marathon thing.” Because I was overweight. I was asthmatic. I hated running.(Don’t get me started with the trauma that running that Presidential Physical Fitness Test mile in gym class inflicted on me.)
However, for some silly (divine?) reason, I had put “run a 5K” on my bucket list. Then when that was done, a 10K. Then a half marathon.
Again, you know where I’m going.
It’s a long story (one for another time) but back in October, I ran a full marathon and didn’t die.
As the months have ticked by, I’ve continued to reflect on this slightly ridiculous feat, and I couldn’t help but think about how my role as a military spouse is much like running a marathon.
Here are the 11 things I came up with:
1. Both milspouse life and marathon running are emotional roller coasters.
I love this! It’s my favorite thing ever! This rocks. It’s so hard. I want to quit. I am going to die. Oh, it’s not so bad. I can do this. Someone help! MEDIC! Okay. I’m good.
2. Both experiences are full of doubts and second guesses.
What was I thinking when I signed up for this?! Is the end in sight? I really think I might keel over. I can’t do this! Is that the finish line? Yes? No? Yes? YES! (See item #1.)
3. Both require massive amounts of perseverance, in both the “training” days on”race” days.
Um, up to twenty or more potential years in the military and/or running 26.2 miles?! Yeah. Kind of self-explanatory here.
4. Semi-irrational thoughts are a given.
What if I fall in a hole in the dark and break my leg and can’t train on my long run tomorrow? What if the military forgets to tell us we have PCS orders and we miss our report date and we have to live in a van down by the river? What if it blizzards on race day and I get frostbite and never learn to play the guitar? What is the latest possible moment that I can wait to shave my legs before he gets home? You get my drift. (Well, all except that last question… perfectly logical.)
5. Both make you want to drink.
And sometimes, not just water. #AskMeHowIKnow #JustKiddingAllThingsInModeration
6. Milspouse life and marathon running are both nap-inducers.
This often follows item #5.
7. Sometimes, both really hurt.
‘Nuff said.
8. But nothing, and I do mean nothing, tastes sweeter than victory in both areas!
#America!
9. Other people think you’re nuts.
Raise your hand if anyone has ever said to you, “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t handle it.” Yep. It’s been said to me numerous times—about both milspouse life and marathon running. (Solidarity, because I didn’t think I could do it either! I love being wrong in those kinds of moments.)
10. You meet a lot of cool (and sometimes a little crazy) people along the way.
Seriously. The people I met running on marathon day (talking about you guy-who-started-an-hour-later-than-me-yet-finished-like-two-hours-earlier and man-carrying-American-flag-for-the-entire-marathon and the Forrest-Gump-look-a-like) are people I will never forget. And the same goes for all of the awesome, loving and, um, occasionally eccentric, folks I meet on my military spouse journey.
11. Both transform you in ways you never imagined.
I stand firm on the fact that that the semi-recent college grad who married that blue-eyed soldier a few years ago is not the same gal I am today. And the body-image-wrestling-asthmatic-who-will-never-be-a-runner that started marathon training is not the same person who crossed that finish line with a smile on her face after more than five and a half hours of running with a 2,100-f00t elevation change.
Take it from me, folks. Military spouse life and running a marathon are two of the hardest things I have ever done… But both have bene so worth it, a thousand times over.
Are you runner? How do you think milspouse life and running are connected? Jump in and leave a comment here.
