'Way to steal her thunder': Man's proposal to girlfriend mid-marathon has social media up in arms
Running the New York City Marathon is an emotional feat as it is, but for one woman who was faced with a proposal midrace, the 26.2 mile route was seriously life-changing. However, many people are saying they wouldn’t be happy with the timing of the engagement.
Kaitlyn Curran, a New Jersey nurse, was approaching mile 16 at the Queensboro Bridge when her long-term boyfriend, Dennis Galvin, hopped over the barrier separating the runners from spectators and dropped to one knee. Videos captured by Curran’s two cousins show just how shocked the runner was once she was able to process what was going on — and how quickly she took off once the ring was put on her finger to finish what she was there to do.
SHE SAID YES: A woman who was running in Sunday’s New York City Marathon was at mile 16 when her longtime boyfriend hopped over the barrier and dropped to one knee. She ended the day with a medal around her neck and a ring on her finger. https://t.co/8xbZ6P24RM pic.twitter.com/YizdEJYOhc
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) November 5, 2018
Although the moment may seem sweet to some, many are actually responding negatively to the way that Galvin popped the question midrace, calling his proposal “selfish” and “thoughtless.”
He just couldn't let her have her day running in her first marathon without throwing himself into the mix. Seems selfish by him to me.
— Chatty Charlie Chaplin (@ChattyChaplin) November 5, 2018
Mile 16? Way to steal her thunder. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being best), I give this proposal a 1 for its thoughtless, selfishness, and poor timing. Booo, dude!
— Krista Nugent (@KristaChirps) November 6, 2018
Revised headline:
BULLIED INTO YES AS CROWD WATCHES: A woman who was running in Sunday’s NYC Marathon was interrupted mid-race when her boyfriend broke the crowd barrier to steal her thunder. She ended the day with a medal around her neck and a self-absorbed “partner” for life.
— Natalie (@girlbossphd) November 6, 2018
I wonder what dude would’ve done if he was in the middle of a huge work presentation that he was working on for months and then, midway through, she interrupts with a proposal
— tullymox ❄️ (@tullymox) November 6, 2018
One woman, Rachel Komyati, who actually got engaged after her first marathon, even responded to the tweets, saying that she “would 100% say no if [the proposal] was during [the marathon].” She told Yahoo Lifestyle it’s the time and money that goes into training for such a challenging race that would make anything interfering with that accomplishment upsetting.
As someone who was proposed to at the NYC Marathon AFTER I finished, I would 100% say no if it was during. #womenalwaysneedtocomefirst 🤦🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/4BiMzHvEuG
— Rachel Komyati (@rbraunwell) November 6, 2018
“The marathon, NYC in particular, is a mental challenge with hills and bridges,” Komyati shares with Yahoo Lifestyle. “If someone interrupted this, even if it was my future fiancé, I would be devastated. My fiancé (now husband) made sure my accomplishment was at the forefront; the ring and proposal was a bonus!” Still, she hopes Curran feels differently.
Others have come to Galvin’s defense, pointing out that people on social media can’t possibly understand the pair’s relationship or determine how Curran might have felt about the special moment.
Like someone else posted, we don't know the dynamics of their relationship. What I do know is I read the story which I'm sure all the negative posters didn't read. There was a reason, there were many family and friends there. Stop raining on their happy moment.
— confuzled (@confuzled) November 6, 2018
The amount of negativity on this is astounding. As someone who has actually run a marathon, I would have been v happy to get engaged at mile 16. It would have helped! Maybe she didn’t care about her time (I certainly didnt). Maybe her fiancé gave her a dream proposal for her.
— Christina SB (@ChristinaRoseSB) November 6, 2018
Even Curran’s cousin Rachel Bossbaly responded to tweets to clarify how exciting the moment was for Curran and the entire family.
Everyone, the runner is my family. I can’t tell you all how happy and grateful she was and still is about how everything turned out. She was already stopping mid-race to come and see her family. They’re both happy! Let’s just be happy for them please! No anger here ❤️ thank you!
— Rachel (@TC_Rach) November 6, 2018
She absolutely loved the way everything turned out and loved every minute of it. This is a happy memory that they will both have for the rest of their lives. They also left the following day for a vacation so they could enjoy their first week of engagement in paradise.
— Rachel (@TC_Rach) November 6, 2018
Not allowed at the finish line, after this he went and waited until she finished the race to where he met her somewhere he was allowed to be. Wanted it to be a special moment for all her family to see, and we were all so happy and proud.
— Rachel (@TC_Rach) November 6, 2018
Despite mixed reactions from people on the internet, Curran and Galvin both seem to have accomplished big things on marathon day.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• Fan who lost his mind during marriage proposal at a basketball game gets invite to couple’s wedding
• Photographer searches for couple whose proposal he captured at Yosemite National Park
• Man accused of battery against Disney employee is now suing Walt Disney World over ruined engagement
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
