\u201cI was just in the moment, and I was really happy,\u201d Shaarujaa Nadarajah said in an interview with CTV News Toronto on Friday. \u201cThere was a big crowd around us … (but) I just felt like the moment was mine and his.\u201d<\/p>\n
How they met<\/p>\n
Nadarajah and Thevendran connected over Bumble in September 2024, a dating app where the woman makes the first move to strike up a conversation with a potential suitor. <\/p>\n
It had been about a week since Thevendran moved to Mississauga from Montreal for a new job. Nadarajah said she had a \u201cfunny rule\u201d for dating at that time. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just had a rule that I don\u2019t date like suburban men,\u201d Nadarajah said. <\/p>\n
But Thevendran was one worth breaking the rules for.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was an anomaly to people I typically would go out with,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The commute between Toronto and Mississauga was made easy after they learned later that Nadarajah\u2019s parents lived about five minutes away from Thevendran\u2019s home. <\/p>\n
What kept them running to each other for more was their shared values and experiences, despite being different people. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, I might like beer more and she likes wine more, but we had other things that we really cherished about each other,\u201d Thevendran said, pointing to the importance of family as one of them. \u201cThe rest of it is history.\u201d<\/p>\n
One interest they shared was their love for running. <\/p>\n
When they met, Nadarajah said running was a huge part of her life. A passion borne out of the pandemic, she said she joined run clubs, participated in a few half-marathons, and even ran a couple of races in New York City. <\/p>\n
As for Thevendran, he says he got more serious about running and prioritizing his physical health when he settled down in Mississauga. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt became something that we did quote often. She supported me throughout my long runs whenever I was building up to the marathon training,\u201d Thevendran said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe spent a lot of time running together and connecting, having our post-run pizza meals and chilling. It just became part of what we do as a couple, and it\u2019s something that grew into a hobby or a habit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Planning the proposal<\/p>\n
The idea to propose came when Nadarajah ran the New York Marathon about 15 months ago, he said. <\/p>\n
It took a lot of coordination, ensuring that the ring arrived on time, hiring a private photographer to take photos at a more secluded location, and figuring out the timing of it all. The idea didn\u2019t fully go to plan, Thevendran said, but he said at the end it turned out better.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened was that I missed my mark,\u201d he explained, saying they were supposed to get engaged in a more private place along the route. So, he had to find another photographer fast. <\/p>\n
\u201cI locked eyes with someone who was a public photographer, and what ended up happening was I ended up proposing to Shaaru not at a private spot, but probably most likely the most public spot you can find out of the entire 42.2-kilometre stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though several people were around them at the time Thevendran got down on one knee; they both said it felt like it was just the two of them in that moment.<\/p>\n
The proposal completely took Nadarajah by surprise. In the days leading up to the marathon, Nadarajah said she was studying hard for her MBA as the program wraps up at the end of November. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/WFLNBN32JFGF7N3UHI7AKRZDDQ.jpeg\")
Shaarujaa Nadarajah Shaarujaa Nadarajah at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, as she was being proposed to. (Graham Baird) <\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back, I think there are small indicators, like when we were at the start line, I remember that he was saying that he was really nervous,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Even as he was proposing, Nadarajah said she was concerned he had been injured because of how he was holding onto the railing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen he was going into his pouch to grab the ring, and I thought he needed a gel,\u201d she said. \u201cHe did eventually explicitly say, \u2018I\u2019m trying to propose to you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The runner\u2019s high coupled with their newfound engagement propelled the couple faster down the finish line. Nadarajah said the last 400 to 500 metres of the race was one of the fastest splits of her life, while Thevendran said several of his run club friends commented on how his second half of the marathon was much faster than the first. <\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe for some obvious reasons, but also because I was very motivated to get to the finish line and get to see my family and friends and my fianc\u00e9 as well,\u201d he said. \u201cI was very intrinsically motivated, I was on cloud nine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple celebrated at King Taps immediately after the marathon, a place that is near and dear to Nadarajah\u2019s heart, as she used to work there, and it\u2019s become a post-race tradition for her. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/L32ISXPK5ZEQ7KA4KFCF7D27QM.jpeg\")
Gowsic Thevendran and Shaarujaa Nadarajah) Gowsic Thevendran (left) and Shaarujaa Nadarajah (right) after they completed the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. <\/p>\n
Friends and family came to celebrate with them, carrying personalized signs specifically made for their engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was cute to see,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
The couple hadn\u2019t started their wedding plans yet, but they plan to do so once Nadarajah completes her master\u2019s degree. As for when they will run again, Thevendran said he already registered for the half marathon in Mississauga, and Nadarajah hopes to run in Chicago or Berlin next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cSharing this moment, and then sharing it with the people of Toronto, and for the many reasons why they run, I think is a little bit extra special for me for why I like participating,\u201d Nadarajah said, adding that she usually runs to raise money for cancer. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow this race is going to be even more memorable.\u201d<\/p>\n