Couple Gets Married During 2015 Chicago Marathon

The pair stopped at Roscoe and Broadway, one block shy of mile 8 in the race, for a short ceremony to say “I do."

Stephanie Reinhart and Mark Jockel love running, but it was their love for each other that had them stop mid-race during the 2015 Chicago Marathon – for their wedding ceremony.

The pair stopped at Roscoe and Broadway, one block shy of mile 8 in the race, for a short ceremony to say “I do.”

“I wanted a little wedding, and Mark wanted a big wedding. My colleague suggested that we get married during the marathon, and it was perfect: I get a short and sweet ceremony, and Mark gets several thousand guests,” Reinhart said.

The pair said getting married near mile 8 also held special significance for them.

Reinhart and Jockel met in 2013 while training for marathons – she for the Chicago Marathon and he for the Marine Corps. They both decided to run their Saturday morning long-runs in the Chicago Area Running Association’s 8:00/mile pace group. Not to mention, the ceremony’s location is where they live in Chicago.

The bride’s best friend since kindergarten married the couple during the race.

Invites to the wedding included packets with race bibs and wristbands. The rehearsal dinner was a pasta dinner for the marathon-running friends and family looking to carbo-load. And for the reception favors, the couple will give their guests drawstring race bags filled with “running-related items.” 

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