Twice As Nice

Ron and Glori Weinert have been married for 29 years and have always lived active lifestyles. (Photo by Melissa Emory)

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Let’s face it — life is busy.

It’s so busy that it can become difficult for a couple to find time to exercise in between family obligations, work and all of life’s other challenges.

So, why not work out together?

Exercising as a couple has many benefits and offers partners a great way to spend quality time together while getting in shape, experts say. Working out with a significant other can boost the bond between partners and improve their relationship.

One of Matt Petersen’s favorite things as coach/owner of The Fitness Pursuit in Grayslake is seeing couples work out together. He loves the idea that health and fitness is valued in a relationship and that it’s something enjoyed together.

Exercising is a wonderful way for couples to inspire and encourage each other and to give each other the gift of more happy, healthy years together, he says.

Having an exercise partner also can help you stay on track, Petersen says.

“If one spouse doesn’t want to go on that run, the other will say, ‘Go do it,’” he says.
Stacey Davies says having her husband, Scott, as her workout partner definitely helps keep her motivated.

“Scott knows how to push me and when to back off,” she says. “We are happier people during and after our workouts. We keep each other accountable by wanting to spend time together, and exercising is how we do that.”

In particular, the Davies, both 35, of Grayslake, enjoy working out together because it’s time shared outside of their daily responsibilities.

“[It’s] a time for the both of us to release stress and feel great doing so,” Davies says. 

As triathletes, the couple — who has been married 11 years — swims, bikes and runs together. The Davieses have found a lifestyle that they both believe in and love, and they say it’s nice to have someone to share that with. The couple also enjoys reading about health and fitness topics and watches sporting events together.

“It is just a piece of our entire family,” Davies says. “Our kids love watching triathlons because of this.” 

Gurnee couple Jon and Glenda Sundberg, both 42, have been married for 14 years and enjoy exercising together simply because it lets them spend quality time together as a couple. They motivate and push one another as they try to improve their fitness levels through swimming, biking and running.

Since exercising is a big priority for the couple, they work at balancing it in their schedule along with church, kids, work and other commitments.  

Thus, when the Sundbergs spend “alone” time together, it’s often at the gym. 

“We have re-defined ‘date night’ as it may be a nice swim, bike, or run together as opposed to dinner and a movie,” Glenda Sundberg says.

However, working out with her husband helps them to be more in sync during their non-workout time together, she says.

“We share our healthy eating and recovery time with an understanding of what we have done or are preparing for,” she says.

Ron and Glori Weinert, both 52, of Mundelein, enjoy a nice run, bike or swim together, as well. The couple shares a passion for exercising and living a healthy lifestyle, which dictates how many hours they sleep, what they eat, who their friends are, what they do in their spare time and where they go on vacation.

The couple’s occupations even reflect their desire to live a healthy lifestyle – Glori Weinert is a dietitian, and Ron Weinert is a pharmacist.

The Weinerts have been married for 29 years and have always lived active lifestyles. Ron Weinert has been an athlete his whole life, and he’s competed in 22 triathlons. He also has competed in Ironman Wisconsin, and he’s getting ready for his next Ironman, which will take place next summer in Louisville, Ky.

Glori Weinert took up running about 15 years ago and ran her first marathon last October.

The couple competes together in races, such as half-marathons. While they often start together, they cross the finish line at different times because, “Ron is faster,” Glori Weinert says.    

But when Ron Weinert started going to The Fitness Pursuit about two years ago, he saw a lot of couples there working out together, and he told his wife, “You have to start coming here, too.”  

Since then, the two have taken running classes and personal-training classes, and they say going to The Fitness Pursuit has made them smarter, faster and safer athletes.

Ron Weinert says working out occupies such a big part of each of their lives that it’s wonderful that they share the same level of enthusiasm and commitment for it.  

“Exercising brings us closer together,” Ron Weinert says, noting it has been great for their relationship.

“This is our lifestyle,” says Glori Weinert.