Anytime is a great time to be thankful for our family’s support of our running routines. Whether you run a few miles or few dozen miles per week or more, having the support of your family is important for to being successful. We will cover a few ways you can share how thankful you are for your family’s support.
Ways to thank your family’s support
My wife is not a runner. She has run a few half marathons in the past, but does not currently run. I think her history with running helps because she doesn’t think I’m completely crazy with the amount I run. We have two small boys. Balancing childcare with running is difficult. She has done so much during early mornings or lunch time runs to watch the kids or give me the time to leave the house. I am thankful for all she does to support my routine.
Whether you get support from your spouse or another family member, here are a few ideas to show how thankful you are:
- Help with a task: Whether you have kids or not, show how thankful you are by offering to help with a task. It could be cooking a good meal, helping with a project, or taking over the kids to give a few hours of extra time to your family member.
- Buy a gift: A favorite food item to a bottle of wine could be a nice gesture and go a long way. If you are a really racking up the mileage, a keepsake may not be a bad idea.
- Write a thank you: Giving a card with a personal message can show how thankful you are for their support. A personal message can a genuine way to convey how you feel.
- Adjust your running schedule: Either run earlier or later than you usually do to better accommodate your family member’s schedule. This could be more difficult for long runs, but can be manageable for shorter runs.
Acknowledgement is key
Regardless of what you do, make sure acknowledge your family for their support. Those days of short or long runs can result in hours away from home. Even if you don’t have kids to take care of, the time away from the house for outdoor training can require some compromise. Sharing your gratitude can make your family understand how thankful you are for the support.
I am ready to take my own advice. Thank you to my family for all of their support for my crazy love for running! It means so much to me and I could not do it without you. Make sure to do the same to those special family members in your life.