Man who proposed at Jones Beach Half-Ironman says plan was a year in the making

Matt Hurd got a friend to hold the ring during the race and even faked a cramp at one point to make sure his legs were ready for the proposal.

Kevin Maher

Oct 6, 2023, 10:36 PM

Updated 294 days ago

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CrossFit fanatics Matt Hurd and Daniella Kuritzky believe the 'couple that plays together, stays together.
"That's us! We do everything together," said Hurd, who is also a CrossFit trainer.
"Our relationship is high intensity, but in a good way. CrossFit is something new every day," said Kuritzky.
Last month, they participated in their biggest and most challenging event yet - the 70.3-mile Jones Beach Half-Ironman. They said it was a tough event made worse by Tropical Storm Ophelia that hit Long Island.
"People were getting pulled out due to hypothermia and people on bikes crashing all over," said Kuritzky.
But the couple finished the race and when they crossed the finish line Hurd pulled off a surprise he said he'd been planning for a year. He asked Kuritzky to marry him.
"I had no idea what was going on. I was like what, where do I go? Next thing I know he was down on one knee," explained Kuritzky who said she had no idea Hurd had the proposal planned. "I immediately gave him a hug and a kiss and of course the answer was 'yes."'
Hurd got a friend to hold the ring during the race and even faked a cramp at one point to make sure his legs were ready for the proposal. He said when he got down on one knee he wanted to make sure he was able to get back up! The proposal got a big ovation at the finish line, just like Hurd hoped it would.
"Swim, bike, run, propose," he said smiling.
Extended Interview:


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