We’ve all heard of the runaway bride, but few women actually go on a 5km sprint immediately after a proposal.

Becky Robertson got the shock of her life when she limbered up for her usual parkrun at Shorne Woods and partner Matt Baxter dropped down on one knee.

The 38-year-old said: “I was gob-smacked. We had talked about getting married but we’ve both been married before and while I said I wanted to, he was more ‘been there, done that, wasn’t very good at it’.”

The pair live in Darnley Road, Gravesend, with Becky’s son Jack, eight, Matt’s son Ollie, seven, and their daughter together, Emily, two.

Just before the race Matt went to the front of the crowd to make an announcement.

“I assumed he was just going to ask for more weekend volunteers, but then he called me up as well. Suddenly he was down on one knee and people were clapping and cheering and crying before I’d even had a chance to say ‘yes!’. Once I did, the race suddenly started.

“It was surreal, people were congratulating me and hugging me throughout the run, even those I didn’t know.”

Matt only got the go-ahead to make the romantic gesture after getting permission with little Jack. While training for this year’s London Marathon, he took Jack out on a run.

Becky, a freelance consultant, said: “Apparently during their little chat Matt wanted to make it clear that I’d still be the same, still Jack’s mummy, even though we’d have different last names.

“Once he knew Jack was happy with it, he went ahead.”

Jack has now also offered his services walking his mother down the aisle on the big day later this summer.

Becky said: “It’s only going to be a very small affair – probably just myself, Matt and the kids. It’s just about making promises to each other and coming together as a family.”

Parkrun was a deliberate choice as the pair have been running at the same site for a number of years. They also set up and are the run directors of Junior parkrun on a Sunday, which their boys take part in.

Becky said: “Parkrun has become a bit of a thing for us, so it felt like the right place for this. We’re hoping to go on the morning of the wedding and have our friends and family here dress up and come for a run before a bit of cake and champagne.”