Forget Hawaii — the most romantic place to get engaged just might be on Boylston Street.
Several men used the backdrop of the Boston Marathon on Monday to propose to their girlfriends.
Around 6 p.m., runner David McGuire, 39, of Marlborough, dropped to one knee a couple hundred yards from the finish and proposed to his girlfriend, Jen Orangio, 29.
Orangio said yes, and the couple crossed the finish line together, to whoops of applause from hundreds of strangers.
Orangio said she was “surprised” McGuire popped the question at the tale end of the race, which she did not run.
But she was thrilled to walk onto the final leg of the course for the proposal from McGuire, who was running his first marathon.
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“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me and for her,” McGuire said, drenched in sweat afterward but grinning from ear to ear.
Orangio, who was also beaming, added, “I’m so happy.”
And, just over the finish line, Harry Moulton kneeled down and produced a black ring box, asking a surprised Kellie Marshall for her hand in marriage.
Marshall, who suffered some minor injuries in the 2013 Marathon bombings, started Monday’s race with Moulton by her side. He was running his first marathon; this was her third.
“I was really surprised and I’m really happy,’’ said Marshall afterwards, beaming over her shiny new ring while also consoling Harry, who unfortunately got sick a few times after the big question, the aftereffects of his first marathon taking their toll. “It was a pretty tough race . . . we had to stop a lot. But we finished in under five hours, so that’s pretty good because we’re not really runners.’’
On Twitter, runner Bronson Venable posted a video of himself running to the sideline to propose, slip a ring and plant a smooch on his girlfriend, and issue a few high fives to nearby spectators. (Venable had quite a few things to celebrate: according to the Boston Athletic Association, the Rhode Islander finished 122nd overall in the men’s race).
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Engagements at the Marathon are certainly not unheard of. Last year, Dan Koh, chief of staff for Mayor Martin J. Walsh, proposed to his girlfriend Amy Sennett at the finish line. This year, they crossed the final mark together as an engaged couple.
@wpri12 Bronson Venable, Wyoming RI. 122nd overall at the boston marathon in 2:39:19 and a proposal! She said yes! pic.twitter.com/OYeYsavZIH
— Bronson Venable (@bvenable1990) April 18, 2016