Ten years ago, Frank Bisceglie started volunteering for the Beargrease and was hooked. Five years later, he roped his girlfriend, Leah Neidecker into it.

“The Beargrease is definitely one of our most favorite parts of the year,” Bisceglie said.

The two live in Chicago, but make a week of coming up to the North Shore to volunteer at the Sawbill checkpoint. This year, Bisceglie roped both sets of parents into coming along. He had a question to ask Neidecker.

“Driving down the Sawbill Trail, pulled off at the overlook in the morning to go fetch our parents before we went to the start of the race on Sunday, and begged her – convinced her to get out of the car at 6:30 for a selfie at the overlook,” he said. “And a few choice words, and that was that.”

He proposed with a sapphire ring.

“I was speechless, I was shocked, and I cried for probably 30 seconds with no words. I didn’t know what to say. And then he said, ‘Will you?’ And I said, ‘Yes, of course!'” Neidecker said. “Through all my tears, yes, of course.”

Bisceglie said Neidecker’s favorite place in the world is Lake Superior.

“I just knew it had to be at Sawbill,” he said. “So when the race was postponed, I was really nervous. I was like, this race better happen.”

Neidecker had no idea it was coming.

“I couldn’t have thought of a better place,” she said. “And as surprised as I was, when I think about it now, it is the most perfect place.”