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Grand Rapids couple to marry halfway through marathon in Detroit

The wedding will include a ring bearer, witnesses, an officiant and members of the Grand Rapids Gazelle Sports Run Camp. .
Credit: Freep Marathon/Twitter

Bring some tissues to the Detroit Free Press/Chemical Bank Marathon.

You're going to need them.

Whitney Black, 31, and Steven Phillips, 33, will tie the knot during the Detroit marathon on Sunday. The Grand Rapids-area couple will stop halfway through the 26.2-mile race, at mile marker 13.1, near Congress and Woodward, where family, friends and other runners will watch them exchange their vows before sending them off to finish the run.

It's the first wedding in Detroit marathon history!

And it's sure to be emotional.

Since last week, Black has been mourning the sudden death of her father, who was a staunch supporter of her growing passion for running, which began after she was involved in a car accident 14 years ago and was told she wouldn't walk again.

Black underwent 20 surgeries, years of physical therapy and eventually met Phillips, who lost 130 pounds through his training and motivated her to run.

After Black started training, she was hit by a car and needed yet another surgery. Sunday will mark her first full marathon race.

The couple has written vows for their ceremony, which will be "5-to-7 minutes long," according to a Detroit marathon news release. The wedding will include a ring bearer, witnesses, an officiant and members of the Grand Rapids Gazelle Sports Run Camp.

Credit: Michigan.com
Grand Rapids-area resident Whitney Black will wear this shirt during the 2018 Detroit Free Press/Chemical Bank Marathon on Sunday in downtown Detroit.

Black will wear a visor with a wedding veil, according to the release, and a shirt that reads "Something Borrowed Something Blue at Mile 13.1 We'll Say I Do."

Phillips plans to wear a tuxedo shirt.

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