Your Sweaty Friends

It was my first 5K and I was dragging at the half-way point. This petite woman running on my left with a pink baseball cap kept encouraging me. Who talks during a race? Who can even breathe, I thought.

I learned she was a marathon runner, with a spunky attitude and positive energy that gets things done. Then I found out what drove her. She was a breast cancer survivor who wanted to be as healthy as possible for the race of life. It was pure inspiration knowing that if Tina survived breast cancer and could run long distances, I could finish the next mile and a half.

An Accountability Partner Keeps You Going.

When I told her it was my first race, she hung with me, every step of the way. She could have breezed past and made better time. But she didn't. She stayed with slow poke in the slow lane and we crossed the finish line together.

That was about 5 years ago and Tina--that woman in the race, became my accountability partner. Also known as a friend! I actually tracked her down after Race For the Cure and asked if we could run together. I was inspired by her story, and I also wanted to learn how to run, train and pace myself.

In the beginning, we ran a couple times a week. When you know your friend is on your doorstep at 7 a.m. to accompany you in exercise, you don't leave her hanging. We used to joke that during our 3 or 4 mile runs, we would exercise, but also solve the world's problems with our endless banter.

I've run lots of races since then and improved my times. I admit, I've been known to talk to complete strangers and encourage them in races. I try to be an accountability partner to friends, because I know it matters.

So who is your accountability partner? Is it a spouse, a girlfriend, the guy in the next cubicle? Having a partner on a fitness journey, or even a coach or trainer to hold you accountable can really be the key to reaching your goals and finding sweaty success.

Me and Megan

I have noticed that friends or spouses who sign up for group exercise classes together lose more weight and keep it off longer because they create a level of expectation for each other. They're also more likely to share common interests, like healthy cooking and an active lifestyle. You essentially are a reflection of the people who occupy your time.

An accountability partner is someone you don't want to let down. It gives an added layer of pressure to accomplish things you might never do on your own. If I'm on the treadmill by myself in the basement, I'm probably just giving the bare minimum amount of effort. No one will know but me.  But kickboxing on a gym mat surrounded by 50 friends, I'm kicking it into gear.

I worker harder as part of a team. You've probably seen the acronym: T.E.A.M.

Together Everyone Achieves More. It's a little corny maybe, but so true.

Megan and Me

And I've learned that sweaty friends, are the best kind to have.