Posted on 11/10/2019 8:35:29 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
When Sgt. Michael Nowacki of the Chicago Police SWAT Team had a day off this past weekend, he needed to find something to do. His longtime girlfriend, Officer Erin Gubala, was busy working the finish line of the Hot Chocolate 15K as part of Chicago Police’s bike patrol unit.
Nowacki, an avid runner since he joined the Army in 1990, decided he might as well run the race, and represent his department while doing so—by completing it in his SWAT gear. An experienced marathoner with 11 Chicago Marathons under his belt, a 15K wouldn’t be that bad.
The gear aspect, though, would be a little challenging. Nowacki, 46, had done a few 5Ks in it, but tripling that would be a decent jump.
But the pros for running outweighed the cons. He’d represent his department, run for the Make a Wish Foundation, which the race partners with, and challenge himself to run that far in his gear.
The biggest reason, though, was an opportunity to surprise Gubala.
“I told her that I’d see her at the finish line and we could hang out there,” Nowacki told Runner’s World. “I’ve wanted to ask her to marry me for quite a while, so I put the ring I had gotten her in my cargo pocket and planned to ask her at the finish.”
The race was difficult due to his gear. As the miles added up, he slowed down, and as he neared the finish line, he was relieved that his run was almost over and nervously excited to pop the question. He had thought about what he was going to say the entire race, and he felt ready.
Then, he saw a crowd formed about 150 yards from the finish.
(Excerpt) Read more at runnersworld.com ...
Show off...
Twice.
Well at least he’s happy now.
Ooof, she’s changing her name from Gubala to Nowacki.
I say, “Congratulations and my best wishes for a long and happy life.”
Great post. Thank you.
What a great story! Nice respite from sleaze and corruption.
Phone Call Unit.
Nobody gets to CPD Swat unless they’ve previously agreed to be somebody’s bitch.
Would be nice if it were otherwise; but, fairy tales don’t exist in Chicago.
Based on my experience with marriage, I would have raced 15K AWAY - no matter what I was wearing!
“she’s changing her name from Gubala to Nowacki.”
—
I had a bad case of gubala nowacki once, but the doctor cured me. Nasty stuff.
For one night, after that is debatable.
Jealous much. 8>)
Maybe she’ll hyphenate it.
That looks like former Gov. of S.C. Mark Sanford, posing with a cherub faced Irish lass who’s wearing a Jihab.
.....Maybe it’s time for me to go to bed.
At least you have the experience of the hell of war...
WOW! Me too. Maybe I should go back to bed.
She's wearing a hoodie and a cap -- rational for standing around on a cold Chicago morning.
Much better picture.
I think it looks like Tim Allen.
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