Springtime, 6am on a weekday... Both Cory and Lauren went to a FitFam (a free fitness community) workout. Lauren was wearing her Bay to Breakers T-shirt, an infamous San Francisco fun run where some people run naked, and tortillas get thrown into the sky. Cory, who if he hasn't told you, is from California, noticed her shirt and they talked about San Francisco. He had recently moved to Shanghai and it was one of his first FitFam workouts he had begrudgingly joined. (He later became a leader and then Co-Director of the community). Lauren was on the verge of opening the first F45 Training Studio in Shanghai and after learning Cory was a physical therapist, knew there was a good reason to connect for future collaborations. Cory came to her studio opening party and for the next year, they would see each other occasionally in the gym, at FitFam events or playing summer softball. Cory was jealous because Lauren's team (Team Graey) was the most fun, and only hoped that one day he could be on a team as Graet as hers. They didn't begin dating until over a year, and many workouts and runs (including a Japanese food and sake run) later...

It was Cory's birthday, which just so happened to fall on a Thursday morning - a day when FitFammers get up and run to different parks around the city and do HIIT workouts at each park. Cory leads this session every Thursday, which starts at 5.30am. Being his birthday, he had invited EVERYONE out (including two others who also shared the same birthday - thank you Nat and Laren for sharing your day with us). Lauren agreed to also join the run that morning for his birthday. The night before, Cory was looking for his backpack, which he uses for supplies for each HIIT station. However, a friend had borrowed it for a trail run that he and Lauren had done the weekend prior. Cory bewilderingly asked if the friend was ever going to give it back (?!?), to which Lauren responded calmly: "Yes I'm sure, after he washes it..." The now agitated Cory next asked if he could use Lauren's (much smaller) backpack. "Sure," she said, "and I'm happy to carry it." To which, Cory's tone immediately changed and he said he'd be happy to run with it... The next morning. It's 5.30am. They arrive to the first park with about 70 people. "Look at this turnout!" says Cory. "It's amazing, everyone I want you to take as MANY photos as possible.. let's PHOTOBOMB this morning!" There is a quick warm up, then the mob begins to run to the first park: Jing'an Sculpture Park. This is Lauren's favorite park and one she introduced Cory to on a run. 6am. Their friend Tom gathers everyone into a circle, orchestrating what's to come: It's a partner workout and Cory needs someone to demonstrate. That someone is Lauren. They hold hands and begin to demonstrate the movement: jumping lunges... while wearing Elephant hats. Another friend, Robin, dressed as a caveman, 'discreetly' runs around the circle of people filming everything. All of a sudden, Cory stops, down on one knee, holding Lauren's hand so she can't jump anymore, and pops the question. She says yes. There are cheers, a confetti cannon explodes, Lauren's Strava gets hit and ends her run. Everyone must continue to workout, so they immediately go from jumping lunges to pushups, but now Lauren has a ring on her finger. There are a few more exercises and a great group photo. The park guard comes over and gets angry someone brought a bike into the park and that we are blocking the empty path with our pushups, but doesn't say anything about the confetti. However, this is still just the beginning of the morning... The group must then run to another three parks to perform more exercises, as the sun rises over the city. When they arrive to the Bund front (the final stop), another friend Steven has organized many Chinese photographers to take more photos on the Bund. There is cake. There are people dressed as unicorns. A whole Shanghai circus has come out to celebrate. After the last of the photos and congratulatory remarks, Cory and Lauren jump in a taxi to go to an F45 birthday workout because a run, HIIT and proposal weren't enough. Then they enjoy a coffee at home before he leaves for work at 9am.