Having a boyfriend who runs marathons might seem intimidating. I’m extremely proud of his awesome times and running skillz, but he’s what I would call a normal guy who lives with a running addiction. It does keep me motivated to stay in shape, though! However, unlike what I perceive to be extreme – runners who join track clubs, obsess over training and intervals and whatever else – Collin just runs. He runs short and long, to feel better or just because he wants to.

Sure, it can be frustrating during the peak of his marathon training when he goes off for hours on the weekends or just has to get a run in before dinner (and I’m hungry!). Really though, Collin is the ideal competitive runner to date. Running is clearly a part of who he is, and he’s great at it, but he doesn’t let it define or overwhelm him. He’s in grad school, working on awesome projects, has a career plan and a great network of people in his life. I could go on, but then it would just ramble on with more reasons as to why I admire him (can you read my insecurity about my future career here? I digress).

Before the marathon last year I had been a spectator once before. My friend Lisa ran the marathon in Newport, OR, right before we all graduated college. It was fun and was on the Oregon coast (beautiful!).

However, last November I learned that nothing is quite like the NYC marathon. My roommates and I stood on the sidelines of 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, at a spot I predetermined with Collin. Of course, I wanted him to know where I was so he’d see me, but we also had a plan. He knows himself well enough to know he could slow down for a few seconds to high five me. It was fantastic! (Unpictured, though, because I was just nervous about missing him and didn’t properly prepare my roommates.) I stuck around with my roommates to cheer on more people and look for their friends running. The excitement is so palpable out there between the crowd and runners.