‘It’s a special race for both of us’
In a beautiful moment in 2016, Andy and Anna Gibson got engaged in front of thousands of people at the Belfast City Half Marathon.
They returned to the race in Ormeau Park yesterday to mark the 10-year anniversary of the moment.
On September 18 2016, as they reached the finish line, Andy got down on one knee and asked his then-girlfriend, Anna Brown, to marry him using a ring he’d carried in his water pouch.
The crowds cheered as he popped the ring on her finger, and they crossed the finish line holding hands, getting a time of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
At the time Anna spoke to Belfast Live said: “I was so shocked and really happy – and sweaty.
“Andy had had it all planned, and I’d had no idea he would pop the question on the half-marathon. I just had no clue. It all happened so fast that when he slowed down, it seemed OK, and I just thought he needed to stop for a second, and we were really close to the finish line.
“But then he leaned over and was on one knee, and it clicked, and I was grinning. He just asked me to be his wife, and of course, I said yes. He slipped the ring on my finger and we kissed and hugged and finished the race.”
Since then, they have tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in October 2018 and have also continued running.
Andy has run several ultramarathons, including running 100 miles from Dublin to Belfast. He is also on course to have run over 100 marathons by the end of 2027.
We caught up with the couple who ran yesterday’s race in under 2 hours. Andy ran it in 01:21:42, and Anna ran it in 01:55:59, which they were both delighted with and happy they got “the goal”.
The avid runners try to take part in as many of the half marathons as they can, but this was extra special and said: “10 years on here we go again”.
Adding that “Running brought us together from the start, and every year, we aim to do the Belfast Half Marathon together, as that was the very first race we did together back in 2014. We have always enjoyed running together on the roads and in the mountains as well.”
The Belfast City Half Marathon will always hold a special place in their hearts, saying that they ‘don’t think running will ever not be a big part of our relationship, and we will be at the Belfast Half Marathon together for as long as we can. It’s a special race for both of us.”
They were off to Terracota on the Malone Road for a coffee and then on to Bullhouse East afterwards for much-deserved celebrations for the run and the 10-year anniversary of their engagement.
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