While our paths had crossed earlier, we trace our friendship back to June 2017 at a local 50k trail race in Golden, Colorado. Brian was racing, and Gwen was working the final aid station. Gwen was still setting up tables and putting out food for runners when all of a sudden, out of the woods came a wicked blur - it was Brian charging at the front of the race. Brian came sprinting into the aid station, where Gwen began to ask if he needed anything. Brian’s eyes darted around the table until he found what he was looking for - the bowl of Gu Gels. Ripping two open and slurping faster than a vacuum cleaner, putting the empty gel packets down right in front of Gwen, Brian then took off like an antelope and went on to win the race. Tossing the sticky Gu wrappers, Gwen thought, "I’ve got to talk to that guy!" Striking up a conversation at the finish line, we discovered we both lived in Boulder, exchanged information, and went on to have a strong friendship filled with many trail miles, crewing one another in long endurance endeavors, beers, plates of fries at the Sun, and Halloween parties together for many years to come. We were friends who always supported one another in pursuits, dreams, goals, and passions. Fast forward to 2024, where Brian and Gwen’s strong foundation of close friendship started to blossom into more. Sauna sessions discussing training, life philosophy, and going over our day-to-day became the norm several days per week. Yet it was really in Leadville that summer, after long days in the alpine, swimming in cold mountain streams, soaking in hot springs, sipping brews and eating High Mountain Pie Pizzas together, that it became clear our relationship was meant to be a lifelong partnership. Absolutely no one was at all surprised. Our partnership is thriving, and we are continuing to collaborate on turning our dreams into reality. We cannot wait to spend quality time with all of you over our ceremony weekend and celebrate and share our strong love. Together, let’s laugh, dance, get our mountain time on, and PARTY!