Love, Miles, And Marathons: How Couples Conquer Races Together

“We love doing it for our benefit, for our health, and for our kids, so we can live long enough to spend more time together, with our children and loved ones,” Michelle Maravilla Oraña says of her motivation to run. “Our goal is to be strong, healthy, and mobile enough to sustain ourselves when we grow old.”

Parents can relate to this sentiment–focusing on their wellness and living healthily to stay strong and maximize their time with their families. Some couples do it with intensive gym workouts, others with nutrition-based fitness plans, while others do it running.

Running and marathons have always been consistent fitness options ever since the running boom (most millennials will probably remember) in the early 2000s. These days, it’s common to see young parents enjoy it together–as a couple and even with kids. Smart Parenting has talked to three inspiring couples who train, race and finish together.

Wesley and Michelle Oraña: From Running Together To Raising Kids

“When running a marathon together, it displays a solid relationship that sets an example to our kids about love and trust, grit and determination, patience and hard work.”—Mish Oraña

How It All Began

Michelle (Mish) and Wesley (Wes), parents of three kids, have been running for over a decade. Mish, a breastfeeding and healthy lifestyle advocate, ran more than 10 marathons in and out of the country, multiple duathlons, triathlons, and ultramarathons, and even finished the Bataan Death March 102 KM twice. On the other hand, Wes found his passion for running after struggling with his weight in his early 30s. “My first 5K was 15 years ago… It was a wake-up call! I was 200+ pounds, and it was tough, even though it was supposed to be a fun run,” Wes shares. “But, you know, that first race stuck with me, and it’s what got me hooked! I also met my wife Mish because of running, which is also another story. It was the start of something big and beautiful, from running together to raising our kids today.”

First Marathon Together

“Our first 42K together was back in 2012 at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon,” Wes shares. “It was also our first international race together which made it extra special. We runners call it racecation (racing while having a vacation).” Mish emphasizes, “The training we did together made our relationship stronger, and we got to know more of ourselves, and as a couple; hence, it inspired us to run and pace each other during the marathon.”

Strengthening Their Relationship Through Running

Both Mish and Wes believe that running has played a significant role not just in their health but also in their overall relationship. “They say running is a metaphor for life; you truly get out of it what you put into it,” Mish explains. “Just like how you keep your relationship strong, you have to put the effort in deepening your connection, choosing and accepting your better half every day, and keeping the love alive. Whether consistently training or having fun, you’ll enjoy running the most with the one you love. There will be ups and downs, good and bad days. However, you can sustain your pace by not giving up on running and love.”

Wesley agrees, “Runners think alike. As a couple, we have proven time and again that running helped us a lot, especially in our relationship. Through running, being by her side during her most vulnerable state. Ensuring that we never let go, even in the hardest of situations. You can find all the ingredients in running that would make any relationship stick.”

Parenting and Running

Mish admits that as parents, finding the time to train can be challenging, but she advised, “Finding your rhythm and a schedule that works for you and your family is key. Your habits and routine are big factors that will help and encourage you to show up early in the morning to train or have a good run so you can start prioritizing the most important people in your life, which are your family and the work you do for them. Time management and writing your goals and priorities will keep you on track.”

For Wes, it’s all about knowing your priorities and being realistic. He shares, “Work on a schedule that is realistic to train. Prioritize family responsibilities but make time for training, even for a few minutes to an hour.”

The couple admits that they also sometimes bring their kids to races. “They all love to walk and run… The two girls are in their respective varsity teams, and our youngest son is actively exploring different sports,” Mish shares.

Lessons to Share

When asked about the lessons they hope to impart to their kids, Wes emphasizes, “I want them to learn the value of working hard together to achieve your goals.” For Mish, it’s also what the kids see, “When running a marathon together, it displays a solid relationship that sets an example to our kids about love and trust, grit and determination, patience and hard work.” Moreover, it’s how they instill this passion in their kids. “I always tell my kids that the training part is the hardest, and the marathon is the celebration,” she explains. “Just like how we encourage them to train consistently with their respective sports, no pressure, but just pure passion.”

To other parents, the couple offers simple advice when it comes to running and fitness: “Just show up, lace up, do it out of sheer passion together,” Mish says. “Prioritizing your health is priceless, so make adjustments, if necessary, just to make time for fitness and training. It should be non-negotiable,” Wes emphasizes.

Cyril and Tiff Valdez: Running at Their Own Pace

“We want them [children] to see that sticking to a goal, even when it’s tough, is worth it.”—Cyril and Tiff Valdez

A Later in Life Passion

Unlike the Orañas, Cyril and Tiff Valdez found running later in life. Cyril started in 2008 but was inconsistent, while Tiff began in 2013 as a way to break free from a sedentary lifestyle. They just accomplished their first marathon together last February. “We had the mindset of wanting to improve ourselves so we could better take care of our children as we get older,” Tiff shares.

Separate Yet Together

Cyril and Tiff admit they have separate routines: “Cyril is stronger than me when it comes to endurance and speed. While I have endurance, my main purpose for running, aside from getting fit, is to unload my loudest thoughts. Also, so that one of us can look after our son while the other is training,” Tiff shares.

However, even if they don’t run together, the couple thinks running has strengthened their relationship. “It gives us time to connect, support each other, and celebrate our progress together,” Tiff says. “We push each other through challenges, which builds trust and understanding. It’s a journey we share, and that partnership carries over into every part of our life.”

Running Lessons

“We want them [children] to see that sticking to a goal, even when it’s tough, is worth it,” Cyril and Tiff say when asked what they hope kids will learn from seeing them run marathons together. “Most of all, we want to show them the strength of teamwork and supporting each other through life’s challenges.”

They have a couple of advice for other parents who are planning to start their running journey:

“Start slow.
It’s KKP – Kanya kanyang pace! So be patient with each other!
Commend and support each other.
Tayo ang nagbabayad para tumakbo so ALL PACE MATTERS.
Laugh at the tough moments and eat a lot, even small victories.”

Moreover, the couple hopes to correct a misconception that others might have of parents who participate in marathons together—“You’re making other people look after your kids while you have your own agenda.” The truth, the couple says, is: “We’re helping our child build relationships with people we also love while we’re away.”

Dennis and Joy Cabilla: Casual Joggers to Marathon Finishers

“Kahit na competitive ako, hindi ako nagiging competitive sa kanya kasi it’s better to run and finish the marathon and the important thing is that we do it together.”—Dennis Cabilla

Journey Sparked By Parenthood

Dennis, a nurse, and Joy, a freelance social media manager, used to jog casually while dating. “It was only last year (2024) when we took running seriously because as we grow older, we start feeling all the aches and pains that go with age,” the couple admits. “So we said, ‘Kailangan nating mabuhay nang mahaba kasi maliit pa sina Sophia and Clara para mahabol pa natin sila.’ so we decided to get into a better fitness routine that fits our lifestyle.”

‘Smart Date Idea’

The couple participated in their first marathon this year–the Apo Race to Reforest half marathon. “What inspired us? It was a good bonding activity and a smart date idea,” the couple shares. “Hindi mo na iisipin san kakain o ano gagawin, basta tatakbo tayo! Running is also, we think, one of the most practical and affordable sports to get into. Walang membership or class fees, just find a good running track and buy reliable running shoes.”

The couple plans to keep running marathons together: “Para siyang achievement namin na magkasama, milestone kumbaga, when we do it together,” Dennis says. Joy shares that the challenge is also a part of it: “Aside from being a great idea that benefits both of our health, masaya din na machallenge namin yung isa’t isa.”

Overcoming Differences

The Cabillas admit that they have different running styles, and in accepting these led to a stronger relationship. “Natutunan kong maging patient sa kanya kasi magka-iba talaga kami,” Dennis shares. “Kahit na competitive ako, hindi ako nagiging competitive sa kanya kasi it’s better to run and finish the marathon and the important thing is that we do it together.”

Joy admits she’s the “Enjoy the journey type” but appreciates how Dennis could boost her performance. “I noticed that my fastest times were those when he was coaching me by my side. So in that way, nag-iimprove talaga ako sa kanya and na-aappreciate ko siya kasi alam ko competitive siya by nature, but when we train, I see him sacrifice being his PR for the sake of coaching me.”

Running as Parents

When asked how they balance training and racing with their family responsibilities, they share, “Running takes 5 to 6 hours of training a week, so it’s not that time-consuming.” They also make sure to make time for school-related activities for their kids: “On the day of the marathon, we had to rush to our eldest’s family day in school. We try to balance everything and ensure we are still spend quality time with the kiddos.”

Start Running

Their advice to other couples is simple: “Start running today, not tomorrow,” Dennis says. “Kasi kung hindi mo sisimulan, madedelay lang siya nang madedelay. And when you get into long runs, you will start feeling the pain, and you feel like giving up, but that’s your body slowly getting used to the pain hanggang matrain na yung katawan mo to longer and faster runs.”

“Learn from each other,” Joy says. Focusing more on couples’ relationships with each other, she explains, “Expect there will be friction because men and women are wired differently. But work through it, set your goals (you can have different running goals; it’s okay!), and challenge each other along the way. And don’t forget to enjoy and have fun–this is important.”

And for parents who think that they have too much on their plate to accommodate running, the key for Dennis and Joy is to find the reason to do it: "If it's a priority then you can make time for it. And we think the key to making it a priority is finding the why behind it."

"For us, it's to live longer and have more energy to see our kids grow up, ince we're both in our mid-30s na," the couple emphasize. "So find your why, and commit to it."

Read here for stories of other couples who transformed their health together.