My husband and I would never run together—mostly because I tend to push the pace a little too much. But now that we have kids, we’ve found a solution that allows us to spend some quality time together on the run. I run at his pace while pushing the jogging stroller, and we both feel like we’re getting a good workout. Of course, that strategy obviously doesn’t work for everyone, so here are some others tips for running with your significant other (and keeping it enjoyable).

Speak up. Good communication is super important in a relationship, but it’s also vital for running partners. Let your partner know if the pace is too fast, you need to make a pit stop, or you want some quiet time. If you’re running a race together, it’s good to talk in advance about the race plan and possible scenarios. You should discuss, for example, whether you’ll stay together no matter what or if one person should go ahead if he or she is feeling really good.

Show support. Try to make your sweetheart feel good about the run, especially if he or she is brand-new to running. Keep conversation light and fun. Your comments should be supportive and motivational.

Treadmill together. If you belong to the same gym, running alongside each other is a great way to support each other and chat while you both run at your own pace. And you don’t have to fight over who holds the water bottle.

Get creative. Even if it’s difficult to log serious miles together, running can still be a shared experience. Can't do an entire run together? You could always warm up together, do your own run, and then meet up again for a cool-down and stretching.

Do you ever run with your significant other?

Tags: running, valentine, partner