Like every good love story, theirs began with blood, sweat, and tears. Just kidding. But theirs actually did, as it aptly describes Allison’s first workout at Unleashed NYC.

She walked into the gym in October 2022 desperately looking for a new activity to keep her mind and body busy as the cold months were approaching. As a lifelong acrobat, CrossFit sounded like just the thing when it was suggested by her friend Stephanie. Allison stopped in for a trial class taught by the gym’s owner, Anthony. And somewhere between the warm up and cool down, Allison knew she kind of liked this guy. Anthony knew he was hooked.

Allison left the gym with the biggest smile on her face. She knew she wanted to see him again and planned to take his class again the very next day. (This plan was immediately foiled when she woke up in the middle of the night too sore to move).

Over the next week or so, Anthony did his best to remain completely professional, which mostly involved pretending not to notice her while noticing absolutely everything. After a little back-and-forth, several gym encounters, and what was probably an unreasonable amount of internal debate, Anthony finally mustered up the courage to make the bold romantic gesture of the modern era: he slid into her DMs.

Fortunately for Anthony, Allison replied. That message led to a first date, and that first date became the beginning of their life together in October 2022.

Since then, they have shared more adventures than they ever could have imagined. They have traveled the world, pet all sorts of animals, survived medical emergencies (unrelated to the petting of exotic animals), began performing together, advanced in their careers, gone back to school, celebrated milestones, and cheered one another on through it all. And Anthony stepped into what was arguably his most important adventure -- becoming a fur dad to the two four-legged loves of Allison's life, Misha and Kodi. When they officially moved in together in early 2024, they created a home of their own full of laughter, movement, an inordinate amount of hair (pet or otherwise), socks that never seem to make their way to the hamper, and most of all, love.

When Allison and Anthony traveled to Costa Rica in 2024, this particular adventure took an unexpected turn when Allison suffered an accident that left her with a broken nose that required several stitches. Navigating the healthcare system while they were experiencing a medical emergency in a foreign country where neither of them spoke the language was a terrifying experience. Thakully, Anthony is exactly who you want by your side in an emergency -- he stayed cool, calm, and collected; he remembered to grab all of the important documents they would need at the hospital; his google translate skills are unparalleled; and he even kept Allison's parents in the loop (major bonus points from them on that one). That night when they sat in the hotel restaurant, Allison's face all bandaged and black and blue, Anthony would admit that it was in those terrifying moments, he knew he couldn't live without her.

And so it was only fitting when they returned to Costa Rica in 2026 that Anthony would take that opportunity, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery, standing in awe before the magic and magnitude of the Arenal Volcano, all bones exactly where they belonged, to ask Allison to marry him. For her, it was a "yes" as natural as breathing.

They returned home engaged and excited to plan this next big chapter of their story, and they cannot wait for you all to be a part of it!