Roaming Frames

Write about your first crush.

Hmm…write about my first crush…

I never expected my first crush to unfold on an exercise website. It was a place to track my fitness goals and share tips about staying healthy, not a place to find love. But fate has a funny way of bringing people together.

It all started one evening as I browsed through a forum about running races and joining a group for the weekly challenge. His profile picture caught my attention. He was part of the group I had just joined, and was more of a cyclist than a runner, although he had done many running races. One day he posted that he was involved in a bicycle accident where a driver clipped his back wheel. Worried about him, I replied, and that marked the beginning of countless conversations.

Our chats evolved from running and bike tips to full-blown discussions about sports and life in general. He introduced me to the world of triathlons. I was initially hesitant, thinking it was too intense, but his passion was contagious. He described the thrill of swimming through open waters, cycling along scenic routes, and pushing through the final stretch of a run. Before I knew it, I was hooked.

For the next eight months, our virtual friendship grew stronger. We shared our training schedules, encouraged each other, and I even shared with him my first successful Triathlon race, which was  the Diablo Man Triathlon. We laughed, supported each other, and celebrated our progress. Our bond was undeniable, and it became clear that this was more than just a shared interest in sports.

One day, he suggested we meet in person. He offered to fly to California to run a trail race with me. The idea was both exciting and terrifying. I had never done anything like this before. But something inside me knew this was right.

When he arrived, it was as if no time had passed at all. We fell into an easy rhythm, and the trail race became more than just a physical challenge; it was a symbol of our journey together. After the race, we spent a week exploring California, deepening our connection, and making plans for our future.

A week later, with our decision made, we packed all my belongings into my car and began the cross-country drive to South Carolina. As we drove, I enjoyed our conversations, his encouraging words, and the excitement in his voice when he talked about our future together. By the time we reached South Carolina, I felt like I had known him forever.

Our life together in South Carolina became an adventure of its own. Triathlons and all kind of other races were still a part of our lives, but they were just a backdrop to the real journey: building a life together.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that an exercise website brought us together. It wasn’t a dating site, but it turned out to be the perfect place for two hearts to meet and fall in love over a shared passion for sports and life.