A Running Engagement

Aug27

Well so it happened, we am engaged!!! But you want more details than that right? This is more personal that running, but I think it fits perfectly in a running blog because we were in running clothes, In Central Park, and in front of Fred Lebow, so yes, sharing…

The last weeks have been a little hectic, plus weird with me being sick with the ulcer and dieting to make it heal and not running much because I was weak. Juan was always by my side, not matter what. Always keeping me happy, making me smile, watching all the Harry Potters with me, and bringing me graham crackers or something. So much happened to us since we met, and even more in the last months, that we knew exactly in which direction we were going…. The truth is we got along perfectly since day one, I shared our crazy love story with you all a couple of months ago. Things kept developing fast and we decided to keep moving forward.

As we’re both Argentinians in NYC, we can pick and choose which rituals we’d prefer. I never wanted a big dress or a big wedding, but I did want a nice ring, which is not customary in Argentina. I love jewelry. But, I had no idea type of ring what I’d like, so it took a long while for me to make a pick! Two Fridays ago, after I found it. Wedding bands were purchased and sent for resizing. We were so happy, we made out right outside the store and went to get sushi to celebrate. We then decided to get married within 2 or 3 weeks, so… early September wedding!

But, alas, he said he wanted to propose like they do here in the movies… Ugh, I said, I want my ring! No, you’ll have to wait, he said. Okay. Resizing would take over a week so on Wednesday, when he started acting REALLY WEIRD, I figured it had to be something else. There was no way the ring would be ready.

I emailed to check what he was doing that afternoon, if he wanted to do something with me, or otherwise I’d make other plans (I wanted to go to Bloomingdale’s to find a cute dress). He said, can you come to the park with me and videotape me and we’ll do drills? This was suspicious enough: he hates drills more than winter! Can we go at 6:15? what weird schedule is he on??!?! Then he made me change into running clothes, then he asked me if I liked him better in shorts or tights, all ready weird things… and he was a complete mess! He was NERVOUS. Juan, you’ll know when you meet him, is NEVER NERVOUS. Never! NEVER.

Anyway, we walked around, he takes me to 85th st, we enter the park, then turns into the bridal path, very strange as we always walk in a different path… then we get to Engineer’s Gate.

Engineer’s Gate, if you are not familiar with the park is one of the nicest entrances, or the one I like the most! It’s also the way we enter the park from our apartment! And Fred Lebow’s Statue is right there.

Fred Lebow’s Statue… Make sure and watch Run for your Life, amazing movie!
**All pictures by Richie Hildebrand

He then starts talking about how special this part of the park is, and to us, and how we both always are happy there, and we always salute Fred… all so ceremonial… he was on some kind of speech…

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Everybody was across the street!!!??????????????????????????

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Juan had duct-taped the whole ring box to his back… apparently it hurts when you rip it out. But he was so nervous, he was sweating a lot and almost lost it midway!

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Also, I could have worn some decent-sized shorts if I thought about this twice…

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I hadn’t screamed yet about the duct tape on the floor. Yes, yes I did!

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ah, finally, he’s breathing…

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My precious!

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See? he picked it up. By the way, we were happy. He was relieved. I was a bit embarrassed. But overall HAPPY.

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Look away!!! GROSS!

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Then we became a little bit social…

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I can’t say this often enough: I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS.

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Juan’s never looked so tired in his life. I have no idea why he was so stressed out!

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Of course we were jumping with joy. hahaha, got that?

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well, everyone was…

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So we sat down. he was sweating for two days and I had to walk 7 blocks and then jump. I am too old for this.

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We went up the stairs to the reservoir to take some pics. It never gets old up there. Always gorgeous.

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Don’t we look like we belong together??? WE’RE EFFING ADORABLE!

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**All pictures by Richie Hildebrand

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**All pictures by Richie Hildebrand

We took off after that. Everybody was going to some bar for a ultra celebration (as in ultramarathon!) and we were exhausted. He had stressed like crazy and I wasn’t feeling so great that day so we just wanted to keep it quiet. The thing is, as soon as this was done, it was all over facebook. We turned the phones silent and went to have a romantic dinner, and a moon-lit walk by the river. It was perfect.

Anyway, here is my good news for the month! We’ll be getting married in a couple of weeks and all needs to be planned URGENTLY. It includes a little City Hall thing, with a friends thing, and then a picnic ceremony in Central Park thing, and maybe running a race that same weekend in bride/groom outfits thing. So ALL very running related, because, really, that’s us! (Or that’s just me, he’d tell you he’s not a runner: he’s a triathlete, but sushhhh!)

Posts following this one: Engagement Pictures / I get married today!!! / 

A PR Wedding! / Our Central Park Wedding Ceremony / 

NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile – the Wedding Version

55 thoughts on “A Running Engagement”

  4. Congratulations!I grinned as if I knew you guys and got all misty reading this.

    My engagement was almost as fast. We walked past Tiffany’s and went to pick out a ring on a whim. I wore it right out of the store. We got married 3 months later. We’ve been married 16 years. I hope you guys have as great a ride (or better!) than we’ve had!

    Congratulations again!!!

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    • wow, I love this! thanks for sharing!! I thought we were crazy doing this so fast, but then all of a sudden it turns out I knew a lot of people who did the same thing…. my best friend, one week, my trainign partner, a month… why wait right? I just wish I could have worn it out of the store… I have freakishly small fingers… I am a 5 and a quarter, which is curious, because I have enormous feet (I am a 10!). Oh well. Congrats to you too. Any advice?

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  9. This makes me so so happy!!! Juan is such a good, thoughtful egg – you two are perfect for each other and really, when you know, you know! Who says you gotta wait to celebrate it!!! YAY small fingers, I am a size 5 too, and I love that this all happened while you were in spastic spandexity!! Love and hugs always!!!

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  12. she would LOVE this story, feature it, and then pay for a honeymoon somewhere…but you guys a house. lol ANYTHING. seriously. this is one of the greatest love stories i’ve heard of and the running bit makes it so SPECIAL

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  14. CONGRATS! Good grief, you two are the cutest… love that you’re both wearing tops that are specific to your sport; him with Ironman, you with Boston… this post made me smile all the way through. And being proposed to in Central Park is so fitting for NY-rooted-you!

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    • awww, thanks! Had I known earlier I would have done something about my hair and nails… but it was spontaeous, funny and cute, and whatever, I would have loved him if he just gave me box at home! 😉 We are excited!

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  15. Awww. Congrats to you both! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.

    My advice: Be the partner you expect him to be. If you want to be treated like a queen, treat him like a king 🙂 Don’t ever stop doing the little things, like leaving notes for each other or planning special dates.

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  21. Juan is a very lucky man.
    My very best to the both of you all.
    I hope you keep us informed on this wonderful life journey.
    I life most of us all dream about.
    Congrats young lady!!!!

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