Move over romantic walks on the beach, a Port Macquarie couple is proving heart pounding 5km runs are the way for Valentine's Day.
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Local running couple, Kylie Scott Young and Kiel Bigeni are due to be married next month after meeting each other at their local, Port Macquarie Parkrun last year.
Cupid shot its arrow just before Valentine’s Day in 2018 when Kiel's running token was missing but was tracked down by Kylie, a Port Macquarie run director.
“Kiel had been attending Parkrun sporadically for about six months and after Strava (running app) stalking each other for a week or so, we went on our first date in February last year,” she said.
“Now Kiel’s a Parkrun tragic like me and we haven’t missed a Parkrun together since then. We even take part in tourist Parkrun when we travel.”
The couple now plan to complete their regular event on the morning of their wedding day, from 7am Saturdays at the northern end of Town Beach.
“We’ll head down to Parkrun together and then see about 30 of our Parkrun family later that day at the wedding,” said Ms Young who has two daughters aged five and seven, also occasionally take part in the 5km run.
“Kiel was in a car accident when he was 18 and told he would never run again, so what he has achieved is pretty amazing.
“It was Parkrun that got me into running, however and I’ve probably missed about two since I’ve started.”
Parkrun chief executive Tim Oberg said the running community was brought together for the free 5km run or walk each Saturday at 7am.
“People are very passionate about Parkrun and it tends to bring them together as they have that in common,” he said.
“We have had several love stories over the years. Parkrun is a family event and the community that surrounds all of our events are part of that family.”
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