One WWU faculty member proposes to another - in the middle of one of America's most grueling races

In the race’s final miles, at Putnam Ridge, Jeffery Hart of Bellingham, Wash., proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Thistle. He carried the ring 92 miles on a keychain in his pack, nervously checking periodically to make sure it was still there. He and his young son had selected the ring. Thistle was going to pace him for the final 11 miles.

“I wanted to make sure I could get there,” said Hart, 48, who was running in his first Hardrock. “I was motivated to finish.”

“We get to the spot, and I said, ‘We should really take a (picture); this is amazing.’ It was a high point, high on a ridge. You can see 50 miles in any direction. So I said, ‘Let me get down and get my phone out.’ And then I said, ‘My legs, I can’t get up. Will you give me your hand?’ She reached down, gave me her hand, and I said, ‘Jennifer Joy Thistle. There is nothing in the world more…’ And at some point, she said, ‘Shut up, are you serious?’