Luis: The first time I saw Jo was at the Lake Baldwin 50K in July 2021. She stood out immediately—strong, steady, and focused. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t have the confidence or the right moment. Over the next few months, I kept noticing her at races, and when I saw her name on the PTC registration list, I hoped for another chance. As the race director, I finally had a reason to message her. We ended up running near each other that day, and I remember being impressed by her steady determination.

Jo: After PTC, Luis reached out to run together, and I agreed. The first time we grabbed coffee after a run, I was blown away by how easy he was to talk to—he was incredibly intelligent and thoughtful. There was something about our conversations that just clicked.

Luis: When I flew to Greece for the Spartathlon, I found myself wanting to message Jo, and when she wished me luck the night before the race, it meant more than I expected. I didn’t fully understand what I was feeling yet, but I knew she was someone special.

Jo: By the time Space Coast Marathon came around, we had built an easy friendship. When we picked up our packets, we had lunch together, and the conversation just flowed effortlessly. There was an amazing yet comfortable connection—it felt like we had known each other forever.

Luis: I offered to pace Jo at Space Coast, and running that race beside her changed everything for me. Seeing her fight through exhaustion, pushing herself to the limit, I realized just how much I admired her. And in a single moment, as I watched her dig deep, she took my breath away.

Jo: In early 2022, I was supposed to pace Luis at his 100-mile race, Long Haul. Even after battling COVID, I was determined to be there. During that race, I was in awe of his determination and grit, but even more so, the vulnerable side of him I saw—his ability to dig deep and push through when things got tough. It was one of the most incredible race performances I had ever witnessed.

Luis: By then, I knew I had fallen for Jo. But I hesitated, unsure of how she felt. Eventually, I started pulling away, and when she told me it made her sad, that was it—I couldn’t keep pretending. I told her everything.

Jo: We met before dawn at Starbucks, and Luis finally told me how he felt. He said he wanted to win me over. What he didn’t realize was that he already had.

Luis: On April 10, 2022, I went to see Jo—determined to convince her to never be single again. From that moment on, we’ve been building a life together, one filled with love, laughter, and endless miles side by side.

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