Will You Marry Me at Mile 26.2? A Runner's Proposal Playbook

Ready to take the plunge with a race day proposal? This special bonus episode offers everything you need to create an unforgettable finish line moment without the potential pitfalls that could turn your romantic gesture into a viral disaster.

Coach Christine delivers eight essential tips for crafting the perfect race proposal, starting with perhaps the most crucial advice: timing is everything. Before planning that finish line surprise, understand your partner's race goals. Interrupting a Boston qualifying attempt or long-sought PR might transform what should be a joyous occasion into an awkward moment. Instead, learn how to read the room (or racecourse) and choose the perfect moment when emotions are high and accomplishment is fresh.

From selecting the ideal location (hint: stay far away from the port-o-potty zone) to assembling your proposal support team, every detail matters. Discover practical advice on race-day attire that balances looking special without sacrificing comfort, securing that precious ring throughout the race, and capturing the perfect photos without blocking other runners. The episode also covers essential contingency planning for weather challenges and unexpected race day issues – because flexibility is key to proposal success just as it is to race day triumph.

Whether you're a runner looking to combine your passion for racing with your love story or simply someone searching for a unique way to pop the question, this guide provides the perfect balance of practical wisdom and romantic inspiration. With Coach Christine's straightforward tips and cautionary tales, you'll learn how to create a proposal that feels authentic, meaningful, and perfectly tailored to your relationship – no elaborate flash mobs or drone shows required!

Share your own race proposal stories or questions by texting the number in the show notes. And remember – just like a good race strategy, the most successful proposals come from thoughtful preparation, genuine emotion, and keeping your focus on what truly matters: the extraordinary journey you'll be starting together.

Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, runners, romantics and those proposal
planners, welcome to an extraspecial, sparkly, bonus episode
of Extraordinary Stridesinspired by Cole and Ashley.
Of course, I'm Coach Christine,and today we're diving deep
into the ultimate guide on howto pull off the perfect road
race proposal.
Whether you're looking for amagical finish line moment or

(00:23):
simply trying to avoid becominga viral meme sensation, I've got
you, my friend, and I canpromise you that we have got
tons of tips ahead with a fabversus flop finish line proposal
guide.
So buckle on up or tie up thoseshoes, grab those ring boxes
and let's dive on in.

(00:44):
First and foremost, we're goingto talk about our fab tip
number one choose your momentwisely.
A perfectly timed proposal atthe finish line symbolizes the
start of a beautiful new journeytogether.
Think shared accomplishment andmutual support right when
emotions are at their highest.

(01:06):
However, to avoid that floppitfall, we do not want to
interrupt anyone's personal bestPR.
Boston qualifying time.
Proof of time finish.
Are you seeing a theme here?
If they're racing the clock, ifthey've been training for
months, if you have heard themsay nothing, but this is the
time that I'm going for, I wantto sub this, and they're not

(01:28):
talking about public subs, myfriends, if they're talking
specifically about a time goalat this specific race, please do
not interrupt that.
Just even possibly consideringtrying to interrupt the mid-race
or even at the finish linecould be a huge pitfall.

(01:49):
We don't want that flophappening at all, because
misreading the timing canquickly shift joy into
frustration.
Now let's take it back to ourfab tip number two Pick a
memorable scenic spot.
So aim for a picturesque spot,like the finish line, after
they've crossed it, of yourfirst race together, or that

(02:12):
stunning sunrise viewpointmid-course or somewhere along
the way, maybe afterwards atthat finish line party, but you
definitely want it to beInstagram worthy photos that are
guaranteed to make your heartswoon forever, which means that

(02:36):
we wanna avoid that flop pitfall.
Number two avoid theport-o-potty zone.
This should go without saying.
Romance and portable toiletsare polar opposites, so keep
your moment fresh in more waysthan one, of course.
As we continue to talk aboutthat, I want to reiterate that,

(02:57):
while I just said, definitelypick something that's memorable
for them, a scenic spot Ifyou're doing it mid-course,
please be conscientious of yourfellow runners.
My friend, we definitely wantto be that fab proposal line
kind of do.
We don't want everyone andtheir mom hating us for ruining

(03:18):
somebody else's race.
Now fab tip number three dressadorably, but of course,
practically.
Now this should go withoutsaying.
Again, customize race shirts.
Maybe you even have a shirt forlike the finish line that you
change into personalizing yourbib theming.

(03:38):
Accessories that shout yourlove story are a must.
Keep it comfy, keep it cute,keep it practical, because maybe
trying to don that formal tuxor that ball gown for that
finish line proposal might makethings a little bit more
difficult.
Maybe, maybe not.
We know we've seen plenty ofrun Disney friends that run in

(04:01):
ball gowns and are fabulous nomatter what.
But if you've never done itbefore, this is likely not the
time to start.
So that brings us to our floppitfall number three you don't
want to overdo your wardrobe.
Sweaty tuxes or elaborate gownsmay sound romantic.
You may think that you're doingit for that gram life, but they
may quickly becomeuncomfortable distractions.
So keep your attire fun andfunctional, which is all about

(04:25):
that.
Fab tip number four you want torecruit your proposal squad.
Bring in your trusted cheersquad Friends, families.
They could bring banners andsigns.
They can bring tons ofenthusiasm to heighten the
excitement and capture thosesurprise expressions which will
help you avoid flop pitfall.

(04:46):
Number four Do not block thefinish line.
Being tackled by exhaustedrunners is no way to start an
engagement.
Keep your cheer squadstrategically placed off course
to avoid chaos Again, we cannotstress this enough.
Super important, but fab.

(05:06):
Tip number five capture themagic.
Hire a professional or entrusta reliable friend to capture
this precious, sweaty andemotional milestone on camera.
You're going to cherish thesephotos and videos forever.
Do not recruit me.
I was way too nervous.
I don't think I did a good job.
I have some strengths, but thisis not one of them.

(05:31):
But that said, flop pitfallnumber five it's going to be
really hard to capture thatmagic if you drop the ring.
So let's avoid that ring.
Drop disaster at all costs.
Secure your ring safely.
Maybe you'll take a page out ofCole's book.
You'll wear it the entire race,but dropping it mid-proposal

(05:51):
turns romance into frantictreasure hunting.
And if you think about it, ohmy goodness, if you're running
the race as well, you have toalmost go back and do double the
distance.
Your 10K all of a suddenbecomes practically a half
marathon.
Your half marathon distancebecomes a full.
Your full becomes an ultra.
Let's not do that.
So secure your ring.
That might be a greatopportunity to get into recruit

(06:11):
your proposal squad to hold ontothat ring very securely for you
.
Now, fab tip number six planthat post-race celebration.
You're going to be elated.
You're going to have so muchwonderful endorphins and you're
going to be super happy andexcited.
You're also going to beexhausted.

(06:32):
So plan ahead of time for thatpost-race celebration.
Arrange a cozy post-race spotwith maybe champagne or snacks
and relaxing vibes, or a funbrunch location that your
friends can join in withWhatever speaks to your heart,
where you and your partner willbe able to have a little bit of
time to just kind of soak in theawesomeness that was that race

(06:55):
and that finish line proposal.
Of course, my friend with thatsaid, we're going to ask you to
avoid that flop.
Pitfall number six, which isskip the mile 22 madness, and by
that I mean there are certainparts of every race distance
that are a little sticky formost runners, right?
So for the marathon, whenyou're in like that 21, 22,

(07:17):
you're just kind of in that zonewhere you're a little bit just
your mood's low, you're tired,you're not quite yet to the
finish line.
We could see that maybe in mile10 or nine of the half marathon
.
So every distance has that.
We're almost there, but notquite yet.
We still have a ways to go andyour runner could be a little

(07:38):
bit dehydrated, a little bittired, a little bit weary.
You don't wanna dampen the moodof your proposal by having an
emotional meltdown there.
So it's not ideal for proposals.
Save it again for that postfinish line or again finding
some place on the course thatreally speaks to your heart.
Now, of course, as a runner,you already do fab tip number

(08:02):
seven all the time anyway, whichis weather preparedness.
You likely check forecastscarefully.
However, it's really importantthat when you're taking into
account that the race day may beyour proposal day, you want to
have umbrella, sunblock or evencute matching ponchos ready.
So nothing dampens your specialmoment.
Bonus points if you havematching ponchos like seriously,

(08:24):
that is quite adorable.
But with said, we want to makesure that you avoid pitfall.
Number seven, which isforgetting your basic needs.
So sometimes you're so caughtup in the process of your
proposal, or your significantother is so caught up in
whatever it is, that they'rechasing for their race day that
hydration and fueling, while weknow that you want it to be at

(08:47):
its best for your optimalperformance may not be quite
there.
So you don't want to be hangry.
You may have been nervous andmaybe having a hard time keeping
fuel down.
So please do take care of thosebasic needs.
You don't want to be hangry oremotional when you're proposing
and you don't want your runnerto be hangry or dehydrated when
they are listening to you popthe question Now fab tip number

(09:11):
eight, my favorite, it's alittle sweet kiss, and by that I
mean keep it super simple.
Heartful proposals don't have tobe super elaborate.
You don't have to have a fulldance squad with choreography.
You don't have to have dronefireworks.

(09:31):
You don't have to like, gocompletely out of the left field
making it over the top.
You just really want simple,sweet sincerity.
It wins every single time.
However, we're going to alsoavoid flop pitfall number eight
by always having a backup plan.

(09:52):
Please, please, please, do notgo into your proposal without a
backup plan.
You need a plan B becausethings can happen on the course.
Maybe there's bad moods, maybesomebody doesn't feel well,
maybe there was an injury orunexpected race day issues.
So be ready to pivot gracefullyfrom that finish line to ensure
that your proposal remainsmemorable for all of the right

(10:15):
reasons.
Now, with that said, my friend,I am super curious if you have
your own tips, your own thoughtson race day proposals, because,
again, it's always fantastic tokind of hear what you're
thinking.
So, while I feel like this isthe ultimate fab versus flop

(10:35):
finish line proposal guide tomake your running romance
sparkle and shine, I want tohear from you.
So pop on in.
You can use that phone numberin the episode notes to shoot me
a text.
Let me know what you thinkabout finish line proposals.
I do want to say, if you areconsidering a race day proposal
yourself, I wish you endlessluck and magical miles for that

(10:58):
big day.
And if you love these tips, besure to subscribe and share this
episode with your running squad, or maybe someone special
that's planning their own finishline fairy tale.
Until next time, I'm CoachChristine.
Keep striding boldly, proposingbravely and creating
extraordinary moments everysingle step of the way.