Manchester Road Race's 'Runaway Bride' Couple Tying The Knot This Year

MANCHESTER, CT — One of the Manchester Road Race's most recognizable running couples — the Runaway Bride and her groom — will actually be tying the knot before the event begins on Thanksgiving Day.

That's right, Nithyalakshmi Kannan and David Kamphman will exchange wedding vows in a ceremony at about 9:15 a.m. at Center Park, near the starting line. Their wedding fits right in with the mission of the race, which combines world class professional runners with accomplished amateurs and those who decide to dress up in costumes. Iconic local justice of the peace Tom Topping will be presiding at no charge.

Kannan, who is 41 said she and the 37-year-old Kamphman met about four years ago via the internet. They are no running slouches with finishing times of between 36 minutes and 38 minutes for the 4.748-mile course, but they wanted a common theme they could enjoy, Kannan said.

"At first, the theme of Cleopatra came up and I said noooooo. I then went to Savers a week before a race — yes the Savers in Manchester — and I found a wedding dress for ten dollars," Kannan said. "That's when our theme became the Runaway Bride and it came out of nowhere."

It's been a three-year streak now with the theme. Kampfman would either wear a tuxedo or the uniform of his beloved New York Mets.

Kannan works in the dental profession and Kampfman works at an area manufacturing company. Kannan said the road race has become special to her because of its atmosphere. She said she is of Indian descent and since coming to the United States in 2006, she has experienced cultural and personal pressures over a marital split and a relationship "with a white man."

"What better place to (get married)? The race is a place of inclusiveness and I do not feel like a cast away there," she said. "We have been included in the road race community and it has been nothing but welcoming. I am engaged to a white man, but I'm the person I've always been.

"Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to be happy and, over here, I'm included in society and community here. It's not a taboo topic here."

Will she be wearing the $10 dress?

"No. I have a new dress," she said with a laugh.

When asked if it were a celebrity wedding, Kannan smiled again.

"If the wedding and the race go very well, maybe I'll auction off the dress," she said. "It's going to be a beautiful day, a beautiful race and I'll be in a great environment."