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The two moved to Miami in 2006 because David’s job brought him here from Los Angeles. Sarah, who owns an apparel company, joined Team In Training, an organization that trains marathoners and triathletes and partners with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
She began training every weekend.
“I was still in party mode, but Sarah was at a completely different page,” said David, executive vice president for Engine Shop, an event marketing company in Miami Beach. “Either I was going to follow her in this passion and join or I would have just been on my own every Saturday and Sunday morning.”
One year later, they started running marathons, doing triathlons and got into CrossFit.
“Now we are both at the same page and we are both very passionate about it,” he said.
For Lori and Kevin Hart, their early morning runs began in 1990 when Lori, a personal trainer at Memorial Fitness Centers in Broward, convinced her husband to train with her.
“It was challenging, but when your wife is a personal trainer it makes it easier,” said Kevin, who is a civil engineering at South Broward Drainage District.
Today, the two have completed half marathons, full marathons and triathlons. They have been married 26 years.
“Marathons take commitment, dedication and training,” said Kevin. “We run the whole race together, and doing it with your wife is fun.”
They start their Sunday mornings running on Hollywood beach with the Memorial Milers, a training group they coach together. The Memorial Milers is comprised of about 250 people who train from September through February for the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon, which is Sunday.
Lori, 51, is the head coach and supervises the slower part of the group; Kevin, 53 , handles the faster ones.
“I can’t imagine being married with someone who is not doing this, sharing this with me,” she said. “It gives us a common treat in our lives.”
Sometimes, the couple workouts begin later in life.
Jesus Miguel “Chucho” Gomez, 67, started biking 12 years ago after he hurt his knee playing racquetball. He rode a stationary bike but got bored and switched to a tandem bike, which he rode with his wife.
She passed away, however, as did the husband of one of the couple’s longtime friends. He got together with the widow, Helin, and began riding the tandem bike with her.
Today, they’re married and often lead the weekly rides with the Everglades Bicycle Club, South Florida’ biggest cycling group.
“It’s always nice to ride the tandem because you are never riding alone,” said “Chucho,” who rides in the front, turning, steering and braking.
“Basically she just pedals,” he added. “She has a chance to answer the phone and things like that.”
The couple bikes an average of 140 miles per week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they ride from their Schenley Park home to Key Biscayne, where they stop for coffee and then head home.
They have taken their collapsible bike on trips to Montreal and the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. They pack the bike in two suitcases.
“The best is that we’re spending the time together,” says Helin, 64, who is retired. “Otherwise I’d be home alone and he’d be out there alone.”
Miami Herald writer Margaux Herrera contributed to this report.
