Groom runs marathon before his wedding

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A 32-year-old man said he got a bit of exercise in the hours before his wedding by running a 26.2-mile marathon in Charlotte, N.C.

Jeff Hartman said mere hours before he was scheduled to get married in Boiling Springs, N.C., he and a friend braved sub-freezing temperatures to take part in Charlotte's Thunder Road Marathon, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported Sunday.

Hartman completed Saturday's marathon in 3 hours, 47 minutes, all the while wearing a T-shirt reading "Kiss Me! Getting Married Today!"

Hartman admitted his handwritten message got a variety of responses as men offered warnings of marriage and women offered congratulations or messages of hope.

As for kisses, Hartman lost out as he failed to slow down enough to collect offered kisses from a woman in her 70s and a male runner dressed as an elf.

Hartman said after the marathon he showered, changed and drove 50 miles to get to his wedding in time. He told the Observer his exhaustion from the race did give him an excuse to avoid dancing at the reception.

"I'm a horrible dancer," he admitted.