Before Tying the Knot, Needham Couple Runs 5K Race

A soon-to-be married couple from Needham, Massachusetts, completed Saturday’s Charles River YMCA Independence Day 5K before getting married later that afternoon.

The bride, Ashley Griffeth, and the groom, Brendan Mackoff, ran in a 16-person group, and surprisingly avoided catching a glimpse of one another during the race.

Griffeth ran the race wearing a wedding veil and a white tank top which read “in it for the long run.” Mackoff’s shirt read “Get me to the church on time.” The bridesmaids sported pink tank tops and the groomsmen rain in tuxedo t-shirts.

“The race was awesome, we were able to stay with our bridal parties the entire time, so no one got separated,” Griffeth told The Boston Globe.

The race marked the third time the couple had participated together. Mackoff’s family has been participating in the race for over 30 years.

“We had the most fun time ever,” Griffeth told The Boston Globe.