How It All Started (2004-Today)

So here it is. The story of how it all began. Just a brief background on our pre-running relationship:

We went to preschool together, and then met back up again in high school. Ryan was a football captain, valedictorian, and physics club member (a.k.a. nerd). Miss Bethany was one of the 'popular' girls, pretty, skinny, and too good for Ryan. However, things changed after high school. We started chatting again after freshman year of college, and things have only gotten better since. Our first date was August 4th, 2004, and we started 'officially' dating on August 24th, 2004. Bethany has been running since she was 12, and Ryan was a rather large rugby player with a keen distaste for running. So that's it in a nutshell. However, Miss Bethany convinced Ryan to start "running" (i.e. slow jogging) and we started in Spring 2005, and ran our first race together in Summer 2005. See below for the past 4 years of 'Our Love on the Run' in a nutshell.

August 2005: Feast of the Blessed Sacrament 5k
Our FIRST Love On The Run

February 2006: Hyannis 10k (Ryan) and Hyannis Marathon (Bethany)
Back in Ryan's SUPER Clydesdale Days :-)

August 2006: Louie's Run 5k

January 2007: Disney Half Marathon
Ryan's First Painful Foray into Distance Running

January 2007: Disney Half Marathon
Ryan was in so much pain, Bethany had to feed him.

January 2007: Disney Marathon
Miss Bethany's Second Goofy's Challenge

August 2007: Louie's Run 5k

January 2008: Disney Half Marathon
Miss Bethany's Third Goofy's Challenge

May 2008: Cox Providence Half Marathon
Our first half marathon that we ran side by side

October 2008: Tufts 10k For Women
Bethany even got Ryan's Mom into running!

January 2009: Disney Half Marathon
Note Ryan's face. After putting his arm around Minnie, she quickly moved his arm away. Bad boy. Bethany's Fourth Goofy's Challenge.

February 14, 2009: Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler
What better way to spend Valentine's Day than running 20 miles side by side? Ryan's FIRST Podium Finish: 2nd Place Age Group!

April 20, 2009: Boston Marathon
Just Engaged! The bench where the pre-race proposal occurred.

April 20, 2009: Boston Marathon
"Hopkinton: It all starts here."

April 20, 2009: Boston Marathon
Ryan struggling around the mile 24.5 mark, with Miss Bethany pulling him along.

April 20, 2009: Boston Marathon
WOW! What a day! Ryan's FIRST 26.2, and our engagement!

We've run countless races together over the past 5 years, and as you'll come to see, Our Love On The Run only gets stronger with each mile!