How We Met
Sean and I met during a Spartan race in South Carolina. He is stationed in Ohio with the Air Force and I live in Atlanta. We both traveled to SC for the weekend to race but there were three times that I came extremely close to having to cancel my trip. Luckily, I made it up there, double knotted my trail shoes and hit the course. Muddy and determined, I was approaching mile 9 and about to slide down a VERY steep hill. All of a sudden I hear “WATCH OUT” from behind me. I whipped my head around and saw a ridiculously attractive guy sliding toward me. Luckily he caught himself before knocking me over the edge and he gave me the biggest, most gorgeous smile I had ever seen and said, “oops, sorry!”. We continued racing, him running beside me and chatting for a while but we eventually parted ways. I assumed that I wouldn’t see him again- I’m so glad I was wrong.
After the race was over, I got my medal and went to go get my bags. I hear a voice right behind me say, “you’re not supposed to look this good after a mud race”. I turn around to see who dropped that cheesy (yet cute) pickup line on me and saw the same gorgeous smile right from mile 9. Thousands of people were there on race day and we managed to put our bags right next to each other and go to grab them at the same time. Sean convinced me to stay and we chatted for a while over some pizza. Even though I was running another race the next day and was completely exhausted, I couldn’t help but spend more time with him and get to know him. We exchanged info and parted ways- each heading to a different part of the country. He told me later that he had called his sister on the way home that night and said “I think I found the one”. We talked on the phone for hours every night the week after and decided to meet halfway between Ohio and Atlanta or the weekend. Long distance can’t keep us apart- we’ve been inseparable ever since.
how they asked
Sean and I went to visit my grandparents down in North Palm Beach, FL for a little birthday getaway. Saturday morning, Sean asked if I wanted to go for a run on the beach so we headed down and began trekking through the sand to train for our upcoming races. We were approaching the point of our agreed finish line and as I got closer, I saw a group of people wearing grey t-shirts- my family and Sean’s wonderful sister were all there on the beach!!! That’s when it hit me. Sean turned to me, flashed that gorgeous smile that I fell in love with a long time ago, got down on one knee, handed me a medal with THE question on it- “Will you marry me?”.
Through the sweat and tears, of course I said yes!
He had finisher shirts for us, as well as for my family, all to commemorate the serendipity of our Spartan race.
Looking back at the runs I’ve been on over the last few years, it’s obvious that his heart is the best prize I’ve ever won.
