London Marathon runner proposes to his girlfriend 200 metres from finish line

 
Alex bows down to pop the question to his girlfriend

With just 200 metres left to go, most marathon runners have their minds staunchly fixed on the finish line.

But for one London Marathon runner, the most daunting challenge was still to come as he proposed to his girlfriend on the home straight after completing nearly 26.3 miles.

Alex Prior, a 25-year-old project manager for the Football Association, surprised his stunned girlfriend Jess Seldon, 27, in front of an enthralled crowd as he attempted to go down on one knee.

Jess Seldon is overcome with emotion after her fella proposed

Miss Seldon, who was supporting her boyfriend from the sidelines with her family, including her father the political historian and commentator Dr Anthony Seldon, did not know anything about the proposal.

Mr Prior told the Standard: “I had my friends and parents help me organise it. They were standing at the barrier marking 200 metres to go.

“My best friend Chris had the ring as I didn’t want to be carrying it 26 miles with me - it would get a bit sweaty. So when I got there he gave me a high five for a faultless transition.

Smiling Alex carries on towards the finish

“I took a few steps back and tried to get down on one knee but because of cramp it was more of a lunge. I had a huge speech planned but it was so loud and I was so tired everything went out of my head. It was surreal – so much so that I had to text her to ask if she had definitely said yes.”

Miss Seldon, a civil servant who met Mr Prior at university four years ago and lives with him in Wimbledon, was in floods of tears as the crowds erupted in cheers.

Mr Prior completed the race in three hours 23 minutes – exactly the same time as his most recent previous effort.

The couple share a kiss on the happy occasion

He said: “But if you take off the time for the proposal, I was actually a bit faster.”

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Dr Seldon, who is headmaster of Wellington College and also writes for the Evening Standard, said it was a “lovely” moment.

He said: “Most people there knew that it was going to happen but she didn’t. It was amazing seeing those photographs seeing her reaction and when she turned around I could see she was very happy and emotional.”

Alex Prior takes a selfie after proposing to his other half

He said the crowd reaction was “very fun”, adding: “It was obvious [that he was proposing] because he went down on one knee but he couldn’t fully because he was in so much pain.”

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