#120 - How To Train For Marathons And Triathlons As A Couple w/ Marla & Leonard Rosenthol
In a world full of distractions, couples are finding themselves drifting apart.
Here are 3 quick tips for couples to assure their relationship stays grounded;
Keep Lines of Communication Open
Show Attention and Appreciation
Make Time For Couples Activity
Here is some food for thought;
Have you ever thought about doing a marathon or triathlon as a couple?
If you have thought about it, then this blog and podcast may be just the thing you need to put the thought into action. This week I got a chance to catch up with an amazing couple from Margate, NJ, that joined our Run To The Best You Club in April 2021. Marla and Leonard Rosenthol were gracious enough to talk to me as to how they both got into triathlon training, how they train together although they are at different levels, and how they still find time to ballroom dance twice a week!
Listen to Marla & Leonard explain for themselves on this week’s podcast.
If you are already running marathons & triathlons as a couple
we invite you to share your experiences in the comments below.
I (Coach Tadris Parker) met Marla Rosenthol as I was picking up my race packets for the April Fools Half Marathon in Atlantic City, NJ. Marla was very sweet and found out that I coach people to use the run, walk, run strategy to help people begin the process of loving to run instead of hating to run. Marla was so excited about what she heard and went home to tell her husband all about our program. The following week they both showed up to Thursday’s practice ready to go. Let’s learn all about their journey.
Coach: You guys are an amazing couple. I feel like your spirit has added a ton of energy into our program. Then to find out that you do triathlons together, really hkicks things up a notch. How did you guys get into triathlons?
Marla: I started working out at the JCC when we first moved to Margate but I didn’t really have a goal. I talked to one of my brothers, who was doing the Iron Man competitions and he suggested that I work towards a Sprint triathlon.
Coach: Leonard, when you saw Marla entering these sprint triathlons, what moved you to get involved?
Leonard: I saw her doing all this training and these events and it inspired me to want to try to do them as well. This led to us starting to train together, which just added to the overall time we were able to spend together.
Coach: Marla, how does that make you feel to have inspired your husband in this way?
Marla: Because I grew up in a household where the gender roles were more traditional, and athletics was ascribed to the men, it is satisfying to me to be able to be the mentor to both my husband and brother.
Coach: How long have you guys been married?
Leonard: We’ve been married for 15 years, but we’ve been together for 20 and consider that the real date since that is when our lives changed.
Coach: What do you both do for a living?
Marla: I’m officially a retired graphic artist and printer, but I do a lot of volunteering in the community such as delivering kosher meals on wheels while also serving on the boards of a number of organizations including the JCC.
Leonard: I am a Senior Principal Scientist for Adobe, where I am responsible for the PDF technology that enables the world to communicate electronically.
Coach: Wow, guys with such a busy schedule, how do you find time to train for triathlons?
Leonard I used to travel a lot before COVID, but have been enjoying being able to spend more time at home this last year which has enabled us to train together more often.
Coach: I think couples may not tackle huge health goals together due to not wanting to hold the other mate back. How do you two train for marathons and triathlons together when you are at different levels?
Leonard: We don’t hold either other back, we hold each other up. We start together and then I’ll (since I am faster and she usually trains for longer) wait for her to finish with encouragement.
Coach: That is so awesome that you guys are so supportive of each other. Do you believe that participating in races has brought you closer together?
Marla: We are already very close so it wasn’t that, but more importantly we don’t let it come between us because we aren’t competitive with each other but instead supportive.
Coach: Were you guys athletes growing up?
Marla: Not at all!
Leonard: I swam competitively up through, and including, high school.
We don’t hold either other back, we hold each other up. - Leonard
Coach: Marla, I’m so impressed that you didn’t take up triathlons until you were 52 years old. I’m so proud of you. I know that you both are very active in your faith and the community overall. How has doing these healthy activities together helped you give back to others?
Marla: Because I can do my own amateur coaching for friends and family and have led others to start doing even basic working out that they never did before.
Leonard: Since the activities we do, whether it is running or triathlons or even dancing, are all related to charity events, being able to help others directly as well as bringing the awareness of people’s needs to our friends and family who also are able to help.
Coach: I hear date nights are spicy with you two as well. A little ballroom dancing! Who got that started?
Leonard: Marla is our social director and it was something we had always wanted to do, and when she won some lessons at an auction it was the start of another ongoing activity together!
Coach: What are you excited about today? Any special goals that you are working on at that moment?
Marla: The upcoming half-marathon is my short term goal...because if I can do that, then I will be able to do a half-Iron Man next year at 60!
Leonard: Keep up with Marla!
Coach: We are all routing for you both!
Thank you for being on the show!
Before we let you go........
WHAT final piece of advice can you give to our couples reading this right now
who may be ready to start their health journey together right now?
Leonard: Get up and do something. Start with walking around the block, going to the gym one day a week - anything that gets you moving. Once you start, the rest will come.
Marla: Find a coach, a trainer, or a partner. Knowing someone is waiting for you, or having someone (like your partner) get you moving when it's the last thing you want to do, makes all the difference!
Do Us A Favor……..
If you enjoyed this post as much as I did to record the podcast and write this blog, please comment below, share on your favorite social media feed and rate and leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Thank you - Coach Tadris