Love is in the air, and it certainly is in PPTC: This month’s Member Spotlight shines on some of PPTC’s couples. We’ve seen them together at PPTC’s social events, running together (or not, as the case may be). Here’s some insight into our favorite running couples.

CHARLENE KOHLER-BRITTON AND TONY WATSON

Whether they’re in the park or at the track, Charlene and Tony work together to make PPTC faster by coaching our members at Tuesday and Thursday evening speedwork classes.

When did you meet and how did you meet?
We first met at the Good Sheppard's race in Marine Park and finally connected at the Buckley's to Kennedy's race in 2000.

Were each of you runners before you met?
Yes, but Tony was an accomplished and veteran runner and I was a new runner.

Do you run together?
Yes. When Tony was training me, he was so fast and I was just learning to run. I never could keep up with him unless he let me!

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Charlene: Tony is an amazing and talented runner. He seems to know everything about form, pace, competition, injury prevention, motivation, and on and on and on. Yet when he first coached me, he had a way of offering encouragement and support that made me feel like I could accomplish anything as long as I worked hard and believed in myself. He is a humble man, but he is truly a gifted athlete. I admire him more than I can express. Tony is fast as heck and as a runner he will execute a race strategically. You'll never know he is coming up to pass you. But he has an unbeatable kick that can take your breath (and your medal!!) away.

Tony: Charlene is a very passionate runner and pays a lot of attention to details. She is very caring and is always my biggest supporter and cheerleader. She is always there to greet me when I come in. Her zest for running is more than I can say. She loves to run and so do I. She's my soulmate. We have run all over the States together and we're still doing it even though we're in a different era. She has brought happiness to my life and continues to do so today. We continue to support each other in everything we do. She's always by my side no matter what. I couldn't have found a better partner.

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Charlene: About Tony, nothing at all! Except that I could never, ever catch him!! LOL!

Tony: Nothing really bothers me about Charlene's running. Her eagerness to define running amazes me all the time. Even when she's injured, the questions keep coming about running: "What can I do to get me back to the next level?" And I like that.

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
Our relationship began with running and our mutual passion for the sport. Being a runner takes a particular level of commitment as well as time, and our shared focus on the sport only compliments who we are together as a couple. We take great joy in running and great joy in sharing all aspects of being runners together.

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Charlene: I wouldn't have become a runner without PPTC. And Tony and I wouldn't have met if I hadn't been a runner. We have built our PPTC Speed classes together and for over 15 years have worked coaching together every Tuesday & Thursday evening, meeting and supporting PPTC runners who wish to improve. We have been blessed with getting to know countless wonderful PPTC members though the speed classes, many who are now dear friends.

What advice do you have for new couples?
Support each other’s passions, and never stop enjoying each other's company. Get to know each other, be patient in what you do, and support each other.

What advice do you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
First and foremost, enjoy your sport and believe in yourself, and stay focused on your goals. Everything takes time. In a great club like ours, if there is that special someone there for you, believe us, you will surely "run" into each other!

CLAIRE AND DAN DOUGHERTY

You may have seen them running around together, and most recently, you cheered on Claire as she spoke as part of the panel at the Harry’s Handicap post-race gathering.

When did you meet and how did you meet? Were each of you runners before you met?
Dan was a friend of my brother, and we were aware of each other in the local running scene in 1980 when I was dating someone else. Dan's father, who was also a runner, asked me at a race if I had a partner for "The Trevira Twosome" race because he thought Dan and I would be a good team. Trevira was a 10-mile couples race in Central Park. Male/Female teams competed together for a combined best time. It was a very competitive race, because Road Runners matched some world class runners together like Joan Benoit and Bill Rodgers. I asked Dan if he wanted to run with me. At the time, I did not think of this as a date in the romantic sense of the word. We discovered we had a lot in common and I thought he was a very nice guy.

Do you run together?
We always ran a lot together. The best part of living with a runner is always having someone to run with. Dan runs much more than I do now so we don't run together as much, but we enjoy participating in races.

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Claire: Dan is a gifted runner but is very modest about his talent. To me, that makes him a real champion. We have run countless miles together and he NEVER made me feel like I was slowing him down.

Dan: Claire still runs, but also swims, bikes, and teaches. She has a zest for life.

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Claire: He never gets tired on a run. He only gets tired when we watch a movie.

Dan: The Laundry!

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
Running has always been a big part of what we do.

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Ironically, the newest influx of members has made being in the club more fun and exciting for us. Connecting with the club and meeting new people is something that we have enjoyed doing. In particular, we have loved meeting the younger members, which is practically everyone.

What advice do you have for new couples?
Stick with it. Not every day will be rosy, much like running.

What advice to you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
I believe that the most important thing you can do is to be happy with yourself. Nurture all the things that give you joy. Keep an open mind and don't ever feel you are less whole without a partner.

JOANNE AND MARK GURALNICK

You’ve seen Mark holding a seat for Joanne at the pub after the Pub Run and if you follow them on Strava, you’ve seen their weekend cycling adventures.

When did you meet and how did you meet?
January 1990. We met through a personal ad in the New York Running News - the then-monthly magazine of the New York Road Runners Club. The NYRRC attempted to capitalize on the popularity of personal ads in New York Magazine — this was pre-eHarmony, Tinder, etc. Mark placed the ad; Joanne responded.

Were each of you runners before you met?
Yes, but Joanne was the real runner in those days. When we met, Joanne had already run three NYC Marathons. Mark infamously said, “I will never run anything longer than a 10K.” [Interviewer’s note: Mark has gone on to run distances longer than a 10K, including six marathons (two being the Boston Marathon), but he says he is now retired from running marathons. He now runs mostly 5Ks and 10Ks, but enjoys PPTC group runs of 10-12 miles.]

Do you run together? Why or why not?
We do not run together. We want to stay married. We make each other miserable if we attempt to run together. Mark struggles to slow down for Joanne’s pace, and Joanne feels too pressured to keep up with Mark.

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Joanne: That Mark is running as good as, or better than, ever.
Mark: That Joanne is making an effort to run more after a long hiatus.

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Joanne: That Mark is so disciplined.
Mark: That Joanne is too slow for us to run together.

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
We both value a healthy lifestyle, so we give each other personal time to pursue our athletic endeavors.

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Joanne introduced Mark to other runners in PPTC almost 30 years ago. Mark began introducing Joanne to PPTC’s “Next Generation” about five years ago. We love relaying our “back in the day” PPTC stories (and running stories) to the PPTC kids.

What advice do you have for new couples?
You don’t have to do your workouts together. Respect and appreciate each other’s goals and efforts to achieve them.

What advice do you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
Participate in as many PPTC social and group runs as possible. Running puts everyone in a relaxed, social mood where conversation flows freely. You never know…

MARY JOHNSTON AND JOHNNY NUZZELA

Mary and Johnny make up one of PPTC’s faster couples. Although they aren’t married (no pressure kids!), one can’t help thinking of Mary and Johnny when thinking of PPTC couples.

When did you meet and how did you meet?
Mary: We met in November 2015 on a PPTC coffee run to Hungry Ghost. I was new to New York and not a PPTC member yet, but after the run Johnny made me go home and sign up for PPTC, NYRR, and register for the Ted Corbitt 15K the following week so I could score points for the team.

Were each of you runners before you met?
Yes.

Do you run together? Why or why not?
Mary: Yes! Our first ~solo~ hangout was a run to see the Dyker Heights lights. I thought it was very romantic, but then it started to hail on us. Now we run together as often as we can, and I like to end at coffee shops.

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Mary: Johnny just, like, LOVES running. He’s obviously super-fast, but he has all this knowledge about the science behind running — he’s explained VO2 max to me 50 times, and maybe one day it’ll stick. Plus, he’s so happy to help others become better runners, and he gets equally excited about their success as he is about his own.

Johnny: I'm honestly not saying this because she's my girlfriend, but Mary is the toughest runner in PPTC. She's proven time and time again that she can really grind through a marathon. She PR’ed in a constant 20 mph headwind with a torrential downpour at Boston 2018. At Boston 2019, she PR’ed again, and went sub 3 for the first time after splitting her first half in sub 1:27. At NYCM 2019, she again PR’ed while throwing up along the course multiple times (TMI?!)

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Mary: Johnny never wants to hold my hand while we run!
Johnny: She's always trying to hold my hand while we run!

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
Running is a great way to communicate with each other without having the distractions of technology like phones or television.

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Mary: Being in PPTC together means I always have a running buddy at group runs, and someone to whisper jokes to during meetings. And I love going to races together, ‘cause we get to be all matchy-matchy in our uniforms.

What advice do you have for new couples?
Couples that run to diners together, stay together.

What advice do you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
Go to social runs/events!

LEANNE AND DILLON GLASSER

Although they are newer members of PPTC, they are a fixture at PPTC events and at races. Leanne and Dillon were lucky enough to both get spots to run the 2019 NYC Marathon through PPTC’s Pick-Me promotion.

When did you meet and how did you meet?
We met in August 2014 in Busan, South Korea. Leanne’s former students were in Dillon’s class during his first week of teaching. Leanne had previously worked in Busan, left for a year, and had just returned. Her students didn’t know she was back, so she coordinated with her former co-teacher to surprise them.

Dillon happened to be the teacher for the class, and was very surprised/concerned when his entire class started screaming and ran out of the room. It wasn’t until he saw Leanne that he realized what was happening. Leanne was able to track down Dillon later to apologize (in true Canadian fashion) for interrupting his class. She thought he was angry with her, but he thought: “Who was that cute teacher?”

Were each of you runners before you met?
Dillon had been a runner since middle school and had just finished his college running season when they met. He was running off and on in some of the local races. Leanne was not a runner at the time, but through a work event, she ended up running her first 10k in Busan. She didn’t start seriously training for another two years.

Do you run together? Why or why not?
It’s important for both of us to run together when it makes sense. We often run our easy runs or our long runs together. We run together for a number of reasons, the most predominant being that we enjoy each other's company. The miles fly by when we are exploring a new area talking about future plans, what happened last week, or running in silence, enjoying being together. We really started running and exploring together when we lived in Monterey, CA, and have enjoyed exploring Brooklyn and New York City together.

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Leanne: I most admire Dillon’s positive mindset. When I feel frustrated with results, or with the training process, I know I can count on Coach Dillon for some solid advice and sometimes a little tough love. He has been in the running community for much longer than I have, and has so much knowledge of the ins and outs of training and racing. He also knows when to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. He keeps me grounded and supports me no matter what.

Dillon: I admire Leanne’s dedication to training and taking running seriously. The entire time I’ve known her she has steadily improved her health. She’s recently adopted a very healthy diet based off of the Run Fast, Eat Slow cookbooks. Like a parasite, I have benefited by eating all of her healthy (and delicious!) meals.

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Leanne: It’s hard to choose something that is ‘annoying’ about Dillon’s running. I think the most annoying thing that he does is wait until the last minute to get ready for a run. We often plan our long runs together and I’m usually finished warming up and waiting at the door for 15 minutes before he starts getting ready.

Dillon: It’s not so much 'annoying' as it is worrisome. She often (due to her schedule) wakes up early to run. I end up waking up at the same time, then worrying about her running in the dark. My anxiety is much worse when the park lights are out, or when I know she isn’t meeting anyone.

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
Running keeps us healthy and happy. We both feel better when we are training for an event or race. It’s great having someone else at home going through the same (or similar) training, and it helps keep us both accountable. We skip fewer workouts, and we also eat much healthier and get more rest when we are training. We are also each other’s biggest fan, and enjoy showing our support. If one is racing and the other is not, we always show up to cheer (sometimes with our two dogs: Ruby and Winston). There is nothing better than knowing there is a smiling face waiting at the finish line with a big hug and a “How did it go?”

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Running with PPTC has been great! It gives us the opportunity to explore new areas with a group, meet new friends, and run with new people. We have moved around quite a bit and find that no matter where we live, one of the first things we find is a running group. When we lived in Thunder Bay, we joined the Lakehead Running Team. When we lived in Monterey, we joined the NPS Running Club. When we moved to Brooklyn, one of the first things we did was join PPTC.

What advice do you have for new couples?
Just be yourself! You never know when you’re going to meet someone special. We never would have guessed that a girl from Canada and a guy from New Jersey would meet in South Korea, get married in California, and live in Brooklyn, NY.

What advice do you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
Don’t eat spicy food before a run with a potential “running mate.”

CHLOE FREE-NOZIL and YVES NOZIL

If there were a competition to see who PPTC’s fastest couple would be, there’s no doubt that Chloe and Yves would be sharing the podium with Mary and Johnny. Chloe and Yves are newlyweds.

When did you meet and how did you meet?
We met at a PPTC Saturday group run, and got to know each other more at coach Tony’s & Charlene’s speed sessions.

Were each of you runners before you met?
Yes. Chloe started running in middle school, and Yves started running about a year before we met.

Do you run together? Why or why not?
Yes, sometimes: For warm-ups, when traveling together, for Yves’ easy miles, and on the track. It’s a great way to enjoy something we both love, or to see a new place together. For obvious pacing differences, we don’t run together more often!

What do you admire most about your partner’s running?
Chloe: I admire Yves’ talent and dedication to improving, and his enthusiasm for encouraging others.

Yves: She is very determined, puts in a lot of effort, doesn’t give up, and really enjoys being outside and taking in all of nature when she runs.

What annoys you the most about your partner’s running?
Chloe: The laundry.

Yves: Chloe sometimes takes the runs that don’t go well so personally. Also, planning days where we can both sleep in is challenging.

How does running affect your relationship with one another?
It makes us closer because we share a common passion and understanding of the highs and lows, excitement about elite runners we like, and shoe excess. We also have similar needs for lots of food and extra sleep!

Has being a PPTC member contributed to your relationship?
Yes. We likely wouldn’t have met otherwise!

What advice do you have for new couples?
Go for a run together: It’s easier to have awkward conversations when you don’t have to make eye contact and when you have endorphins flowing. Also, Yves says, it’s okay to talk about your passion for running, but don’t get into debates about specific modalities and training recommendations!

What advice to you have for any of our single members looking for that special “running mate?”
Chloe: Be yourself and wear deodorant.
Yves: Try to be consistent with a particular group run or workout. Also, small settings like speedwork groups are good because you regroup with each other even if you aren’t the same pace.

Thank you to all the couples for agreeing to be interviewed. We love you all!

Interviews by: Linda S. Chan
Produced by: Alison Kotch
Photos provided by each respective couple

Happy Valentine's Day, PPTC