
Do Opposites attract or does like attract like? In the case of these four fitness couples, like attracts like. They’ve built a life around fitness and share a passion for fitness in some form, albeit sometimes different to their partner’s.
These four fitness couples share the role of fitness in their lives, the meaning of a healthy relationship beyond exercise and things they love most about each other.
Ann and David Ashworth
It’s hard not to pin Ann and David Ashworth as South Africa’s Road Running Golden Couple. Aside from their own individual podiums and accomplishments, it’s their commitment to the other people that make up the majority of South Africa’s running scene that stands out.
Between the two of them they have 9 Comrades silver medals, a slew of podium finishes and the ability to run marathons in under 3 hours. Their ‘little’ running club – Born2Run that began in 2013 has grown into a booming National Running Club that develops both the average and elite runner’s ability to reach their potential.
Ann: I’ve pretty much always been active. As an only child it was much easier for me to participate in sports such as swimming and x-country rather than team sports which required a partner to practice with. After school I continued to run through University and was lucky to start working with other people who enjoyed long distance running.
David: I only started running in 2006.
Ann: David and I met at a Nedbank Running Club function in 2010. Gill and Bruce Fordyce did the introductions and I was immediately keen to see if David would train with me (hoping that he would help me run faster). I guess the rest is history! Together we have started a running club [Born2Run Athletic Club] which we hope epitomises the type of club which we wanted to be a part of. The club is a HUGE part of our lives – a bit like us having a baby – and working together (in addition to running together) has certainly influenced the shape and nature of our relationship.
David: It is important to have common interests. Running provides a social aspect, as well as being a healthy outdoors activity that we can both participate in. It is also so nice to be able to chat and catch up on other topics.
On Training Together
Ann: David is injured at the moment, which means we haven’t been able to train together over the past three months. Instead, David has taken up the role of “chief second”, spending hours on the side of the road or in the car handing me juice and water during my longer training sessions. Usually David and I will go to gym together (although we do different things at the gym) and try to do many of our training runs together (particularly the long slow ones when David can run at my pedestrian – for him – pace).
David: Sometimes [we train] together, depending on the session.
On motivating each other
Ann: David is hugely supportive of my running and is very accommodating of the time and sacrifices I need to make to run. I think for many ladies, their home, family and professional lives are already so busy that their running can’t always be a priority. Because my home life and my running life are so intertwined, it’s easier for me to juggle things and it helps hugely that David is happy for me to run. I think because we both run, we are better able to support and motivate each other to get up and get running. It would be far harder to get out of bed if one of us got to carry on sleeping.
David: We are lucky to have similar goals. Early morning runs have become part of our lives and we often have to count on each other to drag ourselves out of bed and hit the road, especially in the winter months.
The most important thing for a healthy relationship is…
Ann: I think communication it critical. As long as each of us know what the other has lined up for the day and how we can fit our training in, it’s easier for us to accommodate each other.
David: Positivity, healthy mind and body, and a glass of wine!
What I love about my Partner
Ann: His sense of humour – David really knows how to make me laugh! (Oh, and he has a cute butt ;))
David: The small things – like a surprise or caring thought.
Our favourite thing to do together
Ann: Post-long run picnics. The perfect opportunity to nap in the shade after tucking into delicious picnic box goodies.
David: Definitely some down-time and going for a picnic.
Linzie Sullivan and Wilhelm Schröter
Originally from Canada, Lindsay’s modelling career brought her to Cape Town where she picked up a love for running. She runs for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, a foundation close to her heart as her mother suffers from Muscular Dystrophy. Her husband, Wilhem owns a group of gyms in Germany and the couple, along with their 3 month old son, split their time between Cape Town and Germany.
Will: When I was 17, I played basketball and realized I was too weak and needed to gain some weight, so I started strength training.
Lindsay: I started training as a model in order to maintain my physique. When I arrived in Cape Town, I started to run to create awareness for muscular dystrophy by running marathons and trail running competitively. I was more focused on fitness and what it helped me to achieve in that respect.
Will owns several gyms in Hamburg, Germany so [fitness is] a huge part of both of our lives. It enables us to connect on another level!
On training together
Lindsay: I do more super set and leg specific training in order to complement my running, while Will is more strength and power oriented. But we do enjoy training together from time to time.
On motivating each other
Lindsay: We both have high motivation individually, and so we tend to apply our motivation to each other- it’s a balance.
The most important thing for a healthy relationship is…
Lindsay: Communication, partnership, and liking each other for who we are individually- even our differences! Also maintaining our health and fitness as a couple.
What I love about my partner
Will: her butt 🙂 haha, no really, her honesty. Even if it’s a truthful mirror, I still appreciate it.
Lindsay: his dedication – to our family, and to everything he does. He also has an amazing work ethic, and by proxy, a dedication to health and fitness – both ours and that of others.
Our favourite thing to do as a couple
In Cape Town, we like to be active outdoors and to enjoy the beautiful nature.
In Hamburg we love training together and spending time with our 3 month old son 🙂
Alexandra Stevens and Clive Steyn
A former model, Alexandra quit the fashion industry to focus on helping women and girls love their bodies the way they are. Passionate about changing lives through fitness and nutrition, Alexandra is a personal trainer, editor of Bella Magazine and owner of Bodies by Alex which offers personal training and meal plans. Her boyfriend Clive Steyn is a sports cameraman and photographer.
Clive: I have always played sports, since my school days. So fitness has always been part of my life and weekly routine.
Alexandra: I used to be a dancer when I was younger. I then started working out at the gym and running when I started modelling when I was 16. After leaving the modelling industry I decided to pursue a career within the fitness & health industry and that is how I became a Personal trainer.
Alexandra: Fitness is a very big part of my life. Sharing the passion with Clive makes it easy for us to spend time together, as well as it creates a positive and uplifting bond between us and an environment where we can grow stronger together. I think it keeps us both motivated and is a great stress reliever. Sweating together and pushing together builds such a good and positive base in our relationship.
Clive: It creates a place where we can spend time together doing something we both love. And helps us motivate and support each other which brings us closer together.
On training together
Alexandra: Clive travels a lot, and my hours are not 9-5 so whenever we get the chance we workout or go for a run together. My goals and his goals are different, but he started running with me and then I do more weight training with him. We balance it.
On motivating each other
Alexandra: It’s my job to motivate people to stick to their fitness goals, but we both set our own goals and try as much as we can to stick to them. He always supports me, and I always support him. When we go out we make healthier choices together, and during the week I cook healthy food and I do meal prep so I make sure there is always something healthy to snack on. Our first priority is health and performance and then aesthetics. When I need to run, he comes with and runs as far as he can with me. His support is what keeps me going.
Clive: At home we motivate each other by making healthy food and eating food together. When I struggle, Alex motivates and reminds me of my goals, and I do the same with her.
The most important thing for a healthy relationship is…
Alexandra: Balance, Trust, communication and having a passion to grow together and share goals. Balance between work, friends and hobbies.
Clive: Having respect for each other and trust and honesty. And it is important to have fun together.
What I love about my partner
Alexandra: His big heart. And constant support he gives me with everything I do.
Clive: Her passion and drive with everything she does.
Our favourite thing to do as a couple
Alexandra: We love to hike together & trying out new food.
Clive: Running together and making food together.
Landie and Christiaan Greyling
It’s hard to think of South African trail running without its star couple coming to mind. Landie and Christiaan Greyling share a passion for their faith, outdoors, running crazy endurance trail events and winning them. When they’re not racing together you’ll find one of them on the side-lines seconding and cheering the other on. In 2015 Christiaan won the Ultra-trail Cape Town, a victorious win that Landie followed with in 2016.
Landie: I met Christiaan at an adventure race and I was instantly hooked to outdoor nature activities. From there he introduced me to trail running and I have loved it ever since!
Fitness and being active is part of our lifestyle and we spend a lot of time on it. We therefore make a point of having fun together while we train.
On Training Together
Landie: Most of the time we work out together. For us it represents great quality time and we keep each other motivated.
On motivating each other
Landie: Fortunately, because we are two, when the one feels less motivated, your better half can still inspire you. We also help each other with goal setting and getting excited about each other’s dreams.
The most important thing for a healthy relationship is…
Landie: If God is the centre of your relationship and you have the greatest admiration, respect, love and belief in your partner. When you are willing to give more than you expect in return. When you can laugh together. When you share a passion and get excited by a common dream.
What I love about my partner
Landie: He is the most level-headed, positive, good-natured, caring & innovative person I know!
Our favourite thing to do as a couple
Landie: To summit a mountain or enjoy a self-brewed coffee at a special place somewhere in nature.

Zissy is the co-founder of Nutreats. She likes to make things, do things and wear things.