JAY FREEMAN, 29, AND ANN FREEMAN, 27
ST. PAUL
Workout of choice: Spinning, running, biking, swimming, strength training. (I even got Jay to go to a Zumba class. Only once, though.)
How does exercise strengthen your relationship? If we are stressed out or getting fussy with each other, usually a trip to the gym cures it. Before we started working out we spent a lot of time watching TV and using the Internet. When we work out, everything is turned off. It's kind of hard to update your Twitter when you're running.
Motivation techniques: We'll send each other text messages throughout the day: Guess my weight? How much water have you had today? It keeps us accountable to one another when we're not together.
Valentine's Day plans: Aside from running the Twin Cities in Motion Valentine's Day 5k, we'll cook a healthy meal together and work out. After all, it's on the schedule. We don't use holidays as an excuse to break our healthy habits.
DEBBIE WARD-BAKER, 50, AND PETER BAKER, 59
MINNEAPOLIS
Workout of choice: Boxing.
Why it works: It's something we both love to do. It's a great way to spend time together and still get exercise. Both are important. Boxing is great for getting all your aggressions out. We both joke when we're having a bad week that we look forward to getting in the ring with each other. Having a set time to do something every week gets us both home from work at a decent time. It keeps our lives in balance.
Tips for other couples: Turn your date nights into workouts. Most of the time we go out to dinner after boxing and make a night out of it.
Valentine's Day plans: Hitting the boxing gym, then a nice homemade dinner.
LAURIE KOCANDA, 41, AND TONY KOCANDA, 39
MINNEAPOLIS
Workout of choice: Running. It's more time efficient than other forms of exercise -- just lace up your shoes and head out the door.
With kids, how do you make it work? It sometimes takes enlisting a baby-sitter or swapping play dates with friends. We've also found that we can work out with our kids, maybe not to the same intensity, but together.
How does exercise strengthen your relationship? We're both into ultra running now, mostly trail stuff, which is both beautiful and super challenging at the same time. Last spring we ran a 50K race together. I wasn't really trained for it and had lots of ups of downs, but Tony kept me moving the whole way. Those are the times that really strengthen you as a couple, you see the other person when they are most vulnerable.
Valentine's Day plans: Basketball playoffs begin for our oldest daughter's rec team on Valentine's Day. I'll be coaching and she'll be sweating. Tony and our youngest will be cheering her on. Shared sweat and support. There's nothing more romantic than that.
