Reluctant Runners Secretly Train to Surprise Partners

They Hated Running—Then Secretly Trained to Surprise Their Partners on Race Day

The Idea

Jill Frisch was waiting at a stoplight during a run when she saw something that sent her into a panic. A car, her car, with her husband, ultrarunner Zach Frisch, at the wheel, was approaching the intersection. She knew that Zach always noticed a fellow runner on the street. “I really thought he saw me,” she said. When she told him about this later, “he was like, ‘Honestly, I think I would have just been like, Wow, she looks a lot like Jill.’ He couldn’t even comprehend that I would be running. If that doesn’t show you how much I hate running, then I don’t know what does.”

The panic stemmed from months of secret training. Jill Frisch, a Utah florist and cake artist, had an on-and-off relationship with running, mostly after breakups. She once ran a half marathon but had stopped before meeting Zach. “When we first met, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, I run all the time. I’m a big runner.’ I kind of catfished him,” she joked. Between meeting Zach and secretly training, she estimated only five runs total. When he signed up for a race offering both full and half marathon distances, Jill saw an opportunity. “It just popped into my head,” she said. “I was like, ‘This would be such a cool surprise.'”

Training in Secret

Jill hid her Altra running shoes in the trunk of her car, next to the spare tire. Her mission resembled a spy movie. Her father dropped her off, and she had to sneak over without being seen, open the trunk, grab the shoes, then hide them again. Location sharing on their phones added pressure.

She could track his proximity but couldn’t run familiar trails he’d recognize. She planned her runs around his unpredictable ultra-training schedule, which could span one to seven hours. “I was so cooked after that, but I made it home right before he did,” she said, heading straight to shower to avoid suspicion.

Ben Carpenter, a personal trainer, had similar motivations. His wife, fitness coach Sohee Carpenter, had restarted running in her twenties. When she mentioned enjoying runs together, Ben saw an opening. He’d never run as an adult, detesting it even while understanding its benefits. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, he feared running would aggravate joint inflammation. His first outdoor run lasted four minutes in March 2024, leading up to the November Anaheim Turkey Trot 5K. The event succeeded, earning both medals. Ben then aimed for the Mesa Half Marathon in February 2025, planning to surprise Sohee. “At that point, five miles was the longest I’d ever run, maybe not even that,” he admitted.

Civil engineer Will Granbery was inspired by Ben’s first video. His wife, Andrea, had started running, and after her first half marathon, he was impressed. When she signed up for the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, N.Y., Granbery spontaneously joined the same race, securing a bib number immediately after hers. He stored running gear at his office, denying his wife’s questions about his shoes. “I always tried to ride the line of not straight-up lying, because that made me uncomfortable, but still keeping it a secret,” he explained.

Shared Goals and New Routines

Since completing their surprise races, Ben and Sohee Carpenter have maintained a regular running routine. Sohee credits running with helping her feel “like herself again” after pregnancy and postpartum. Their shared experience deepened their bond, with Ben noting that their relationship with running has evolved beyond physical appearance. The couple prioritizes shorter workouts to accommodate their newborn, avoiding overtraining. “It’s been a steeper progression curve,” Ben reflected, having never run a mile outside his adult life before their journey began.

Reflection and Growth

Granbery acknowledged that his surprise nearly overshadowed Andrea’s first marathon. He regretted not considering how his actions might make her feel “fooled.” However, they reconciled before the race, running together for 10 miles. Granbery admitted he pushed too hard to stay with her, leading to a poor finish, but they remained happy with their shared experience. Today, they “take turns going on our runs,” supporting each other in the sport.

She attributed her motivation to the surprise itself, finding it hard to restart without a clear goal. While uncertain about continuing, she remains open to returning: “I probably will keep running.” Her dual commitment to running and wedding flowers on race day exemplified her juggling of passions, though she admitted it was “a little bit dumb” to take on both.

The Carpenters’ New York Marathon experience, marked by tears and a $3,000 last-minute entry fee, highlighted their emotional investment. Sohee’s transformation in viewing running as a personal journey rather than a calorie-burning exercise became clear during the London Marathon, where she sobbed at the finish line. These moments revealed how their shared secrets ultimately strengthened their connection to each other and the sport.