The worst thing that could happen to a person in the middle of running their first marathon would be some sort of giant interruption. But what if that interruption came in the form of a romantic gesture?
This is essentially what happened to Kaitlyn Curran over the weekend after her now-fiance Dennis Galvin bounded over the barrier enclosing mile 16 of the New York City Marathon, got down on one knee, and popped the big question.
The video—obtained by CBS Evening News—was shared on Twitter and quickly began to go viral. Not because Dennis’ proposal was so charming and romantic, but because people are upset the man ruined his girlfriend’s marathon time. Couldn’t he have waited until the finish line?
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
In the video, Kaitlyn accepts the ring and is like, “ok I gotta finish the race now,” before taking off. This is probably not the first thing a newly engaged man wants to see or hear, but what did he expect? He brought this upon himself.
this guy clearly needs better friends because not a single one of them told him NOT TO FUCKING DO THIS https://t.co/l8pNfbptZA
— Whitney McIntosh (@WhitneyM02) November 6, 2018
If you've ever trained for a marathon, the amount of time that goes into, is a lot. To be interrupted for a damn proposal is insane. https://t.co/bW6ocBqwuQ
— Joel Macke (@NotJoelMacke) November 6, 2018
This guy interrupted his girlfriend's marathon to propose. I would have been mad if @pablohidalgo had interrupted me while eating a sandwich. https://t.co/e5OcVw8Lm4
— Kristen Hidalgo (@manraysky) November 6, 2018
It couldn't wait until the finish line because..? ?
— Cas (@casempire) November 6, 2018
Guy totally ruined her marathon time https://t.co/75TTF0dVww
— Liam Martin (@LiamWBZ) November 5, 2018
In fact, many thought that the proposal concocted by ‘Marathon Guy’ was nothing more than an egomaniacal ploy to make his girlfriend’s first marathon all about his own ding dong self.
*Raises hand. His male ego was too small to let her get all of the attention for even a few hours
— Mike (@12MBerry) November 6, 2018
This is just the beginning of him getting his without waiting for her to finish.
— Ron Jenkins (@RonAJenkins) 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
"My girlfriend is running the Marathon…..how can I make this about me?" https://t.co/5RBwDgtmJv
— bed stuy guy (@DTenenbaum) November 6, 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
Guy Watching His Girlfriend Run Marathon Quietly Finds A Way To Make It All About Him https://t.co/hGuP4nmxiD
— Kashana (@kashanacauley) November 6, 2018
Women can never just finish first, can we? ?
— Kelly (@Kelly_QPR) November 6, 2018
this guy jumped the barrier and proposed to his girlfriend at mile 16 of the nyc marathon
MILE 16 IS NOT THE FINISH
proposals mid race cannot be a thing no no no nopic.twitter.com/tgPhncGxzQ
— Cross Country Probs (@CrossProb) November 6, 2018
This is a perfect proposal because there's no better metaphor for hetero marriage than being well on your way to accomplishing your personal goal only to be stopped by a man asking you to do something else. https://t.co/wMRg1qTdaA
— Panic Pixie Scream Girl (@jelenawoehr) November 6, 2018
On a day when there’s so much discord, I’m glad we all agree that marathon proposal guy fucking sucks
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 6, 2018
Seeing all of Twitter pile on the NYC marathon proposal guy gives me faith in America.
— elaine corden (@elainecorden) November 6, 2018
no one likes marathon proposal guy on this website and that is how i know i’m in the right place
— Scaachi (@Scaachi) November 6, 2018
marathon proposal dude thought he was being all cute now the internet is ruining his life wow life comes at u fast :
— PRISKILLA (@priskillinit) November 6, 2018
Twitter had some suggestions on what Dennis could’ve done better, besides the obvious choice (waiting until the end of the race, for those still oblivious).
For example, he could’ve grabbed her sweatshirt which “she clearly didn’t want or need,” as one user pointed out.
AND he didn't even take her sweatshirt that she clearly didn't want or need!
I'd have given the ring back at the finish line.
— Sarah Spelt (@SarahMSpelt) November 6, 2018
He also could’ve waited until the next day.
If he really loved her, he would've waited until after the race, given her a massage, taken her to a nice dinner, left her alone all night so she could have a nice long rest, woke her up the next morning with homemade waffles and strawberries, then asked her to marry him. Geez.
— Grateful (@canwejustbecool) November 6, 2018
…Or, you know. He could’ve waited. Until. The. End. Of. The. Race.
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
To be fair, maybe Kaitlyn enjoys having a day she trained months for completely thrown off balance. Probably this was just an accident and is the first time Marathon Guy has ever made her dreams and accomplishments all about himself. Right? RIGHT?? (Keep running, Kaitlyn.)