Went to Florida for a medal...Came home with a ring!

Hey friends!  I had a very exciting weekend last week, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!  In a nutshell: Flew-to-Florida-for-Disney-Marathon-boyfriend-surprised-me-I-said-yes!  Phew!

Ready for the real story?  Telling it never gets old. :)

I escaped the bitter Chicago cold last Thursday morning on a plane headed for Florida.  Even though training through the winter did a number on me, I'd been looking forward to running the Disney Marathon (My third 26.2) since I registered in April.  I also couldn't wait to spend the weekend with my parents who were also coming down, as well as my brother, sister-in-law, and their kids who call the Sunshine State home.  I'd invited my boyfriend to come along for the weekend, but he told me that it was a busy time after the holidays and would be kind of a long trip to watch a marathon.  No worries!  I said goodbye to him at the airport Thursday morning, and he promised he'd be at my next race.  I hopped on a plane in -8 degree Chicago weather, more than ready for some family time, running, sunshine, and Disney magic!

Riding the rocket ships in Tomorrowland with Dad!

My family spent Friday at the Magic Kingdom where I had a blast playing with my niece and nephew and catching up with my brother and sister-in-law.  I will always love Disney, but it is even more fun when you're there with a little kid!  We took a brief stop back at the hotel in the afternoon to layer on more clothes (it was chilly!) and give the kids (and me...) a little nap break before heading back to the Magic Kingdom around 4.  Heading for the Haunted Mansion ride, we walked through the entrance to the park and over the bridge next to Cinderella's castle when I heard my name.  I looked up and saw my boyfriend walking towards me!  Honestly, according to him he had to call my name several times because I looked right past him!  I certainly wasn't expecting to see him there!  It took me a few seconds of staring at him for it to sink in that he was really here in Florida, and I must have asked him what he was doing there 5 times.  

   

Crying like a baby just from seeing him

I started crying almost immediately as he told me that he was here to see my race, and would never miss it.  "Of course I came.  I told you I'd be at your next race.  I'll always be there for you," he told me--or something like that, my emotional memory is a little fuzzy!  I couldn't believe he'd flown to Florida to surprise me in Disney World the weekend of my marathon.  I have never been so surprised in my life!

 

Can I just say that it's probably perfect that I'm wearing running shoes and a running jacket?  

#reallifelove

As shocked as I was to see him there, never in a million years did I expect there to be more to the surprise--but there was!  Superstitious marathon runners that the two of us are, he said, "I know it's bad luck to wear anything new for a race, but I'm hoping you'll make an exception."  And in that second as he reached into his pocket, it finally clicked.  He pulled out a ring, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him in front of my family, Cinderella's castle, and a crowd of random strangers.  I about lost my mind crying, shaking, and saying, "YES!  OF COURSE!!"    

  

  We spent the rest of the day wandering around Disney, then headed to Downtown Disney in the evening to celebrate with some champagne.  The perfect end to a perfect day.

After that, running the marathon Sunday seemed like such an afterthought!  I still cannot believe that this all happened.  It truly felt like a Disney fairytale!

 Disney Magic :)