Valentine’s Day for Runners: How to Win Their Heart

To all my clients, fellow runners and athletic fans worldwide, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Below are some ways to win the heart of your running crush this Valentine’s Day

Are you falling in love with a runner? Do you have a crush on a runner? Or have you already hooked up with one, only to discover their idea of a “hot date” is a tempo run at 6 am? Here is a cheat sheet to help you go the distance together—till death (or plantar fasciitis) do you part.

They say that the best gifts in life are intangible: creating lasting memories, fostering deep connections, and experiencing joy rather than accumulating possessions.

What presents are you giving your loved ones this Valentine’s Day? Chocolates? Roses? Or perhaps a shiny new foam roller—because nothing says ‘I love you’ like helping someone attack their IT band pain.

For example, by subscribing them to my online coaching, it is possible to gift them a healthier heart, a lighter body, lower their risk of lifestyle diseases, improve their musculoskeletal strength, give them good mental health, good sleep, more energy for daily tasks, and a longer lifespan… all these for almost free!

A valuable gift should demonstrate your understanding of your loved ones’ values and interests.

If you love and care about your running partner, you will probably think about their hobbies, their need to run faster, to remain healthy, to register for a new race, to relax after their hard workouts, and the gadgets they use to measure their training progress.

Bars, chews and shakes

Instead of just chocolates, think outside the (chocolate) box! For the endurance runner who dreams in electrolytes and protein shakes, surprise them with a sampler pack of running nutrition goodies. It’s the only box where the only thing sweeter than the gels is your thoughtfulness.

The box should include pre-, during-, and post-performance nutrition products, such as energy gels, caffeine tabs, electrolytes, chews, bars, and powders.

Massage

Sports and aching muscles go hand in hand—like runners and their Strava stats. Runners, especially endurance enthusiasts, often crave a massage after a tough training day. Offer to give a deep-tissue massage to your running partner on Valentine’s Day (bonus points if you don’t complain about how much Tiger Balm they use).

Nothing speaks more about the need for massage by athletes after a hard day than the video clip that went viral, of Ons Jabeur, who, after making it through to the second round after a tough first match at the Australian Open against Tamara Zidanšek, said, “I am going to make my husband sweat tonight!”

Apparel

Because of the additional care they receive to ensure athletes’ comfort, running attire is usually made more durable and lighter, which unfortunately makes them more expensive.

Consider buying some nice, comfortable items, such as track suits, socks, tights, and jerseys, for your crush or running partner. Just remember: nothing says true love like knowing their sock size by heart.

Underwear

Runners are choosy about the underwear they wear during runs. The best running panties prioritise moisture-wicking, breathable, chafe-free materials, with seamless laser-cut styles to prevent chafing and visible panty lines.

With this tip, you are sure to win over your running crush or strengthen your love with your running partner. If they ask who gave you the secret, you can tell them you heard it from an experienced Kenyan online running coach.

Register them to run a marathon

A race weekend experience is one of the most cherished moments of any serious runner. Instead of just taking out your running partner to watch a waterfall or wildlife, why not incorporate the outing with a marathon event somewhere?

One of my memorable marathon race weekend destinations was the Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay, NorthAmerica’ss premier destination road race. The award-winning course features miles of pristine terrain passing tranquil lakes, soaring mountains, sleepy Maine villages, and stunning seaside vistas—including Somes Sound, the only fjord on the Eastern Seaboard—all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Acadia National Park in peak fall foliage season.

You can accompany your running partner to pace them, cheer them on, or hold their extra gels and take post-race selfies. True love means never complaining about the 4 am race-day alarm.

Running shoes

If two things make up the anatomy of running, judging from all the publications on heart rate zones and running shoe technologies, they are: the heart and shoes.

You buy one; you win the other!

A serious runner will be so excited to get an additional pair of running shoes. It could be a racing shoe for their upcoming marathon, or a well-cushioned training shoe for their regular runs. Take them to a running store nearby, but just be prepared for them to spend more time picking the right shoe than they did picking you.

Go for a run together

Why not go out for an easy 14km run together? Besides fitness, running to raise money for charities and other causes has become part of the marathon experience.

But for Valentine’s Day, why not run for your love? Nothing says romance like matching GPS watches and arguing over the optimal pace for a “recovery run.” Run together to celebrate your love—and maybe to justify that post-run pizza.