Sometimes, you can find love in the most unexpected places. Carol Christina Thompson had just divorced her ex-husband and was on a mission to drop more than three stone and was training for her first half marathon.
The 37-year-old, from Detroit, Michigan, US, was focusing on herself and had downloaded a fitness app on her phone to track her progress. But when she asked an ice-breaker question in the online forum, it was Ash Smith, 41, from Brighton, who caught her attention by confessing his fear of melted chocolate - and quite literally melted her heart.
Four years later, they are married with a baby and Ash relocated to Carol's hometown in the states. But before their romance could really blossom, Carol, who goes by the nickname CC, flew 3,748 miles for their first date in London after talking online for hours on end.
Despite never meeting in person, the pair texted and video-called each other from morning and night, with CC claiming they were 'completely besotted' before they even met after coming across each other on MyFitnessPal - an app which helps members track their nutrition and fitness goals.
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"We fell in love very fast and were completely besotted with each other before we ever met," CC tells The Mirror.
"We talked all day long, every day, messaging through WhatsApp and having morning and evening FaceTime calls.
"When we finally met, in person, it was the most natural thing in the world.
"There was no nervousness or awkwardness, it was like we were always meant to be."
When the director of catering, who divorced when she was 32, started running, she found that while her family and friends were supportive of her goals, they had become "a little sick" of hearing about her race times.
She realised she needed to find like-minded people who were on the same path so she turned to MyFitnessPal.
But during her training, in March 2018, she opened up to the online community for advice, which is where she met Ash.
"I had days where I felt exhausted by 6pm and couldn't figure out why," she says.
"My friends on the app looked into my diary and pointed out I wasn't getting enough calories or protein for the daily distances I was going and that I also needed weight training to vary it up."
Looking to get to know her new pals better, she posted an ice-breaker question asking people to share a random fact about themselves.
There were stories of broken bones and silly talents, but one response really caught her attention.
"It was from a guy named Ash in London, who confessed he had a fear of melted chocolate," she recalls.
Ash, an artist in his spare time, reached out to CC and asked if he could draw her after he had sketched other members on the platform.
The pair exchanged social media accounts and started speaking one-on-one, where they hit it off instantly.
CC had made a post-divorce self-promise to travel more and had booked a trip to London in August, with Ash offering to play tour guide.
"We spent the weekend doing touristy things, and when I left, I already knew we needed to go on another trip," she adds.
The couple, who became official in November 2018 after their summer together, went on to explore Mexico, Iceland, Italy, and their respective hometowns and remained in constant contact.
"He [Ash] had a really horrific accident when he was nine-years-old and his left leg was amputated," CC, who lost 60 pounds before the Detroit International Half Marathon in October 2018, continues.
"We're always doing physical things when we're together, but he doesn't like any special treatment.
"When we were in Italy, we were always going on hikes, constantly moving, and the fact that he does what everyone else does without even blinking... it's awesome."
It was in Italy in 2019 when Ash pulled out a ring on a hike and proposed to CC.
Deciding they couldn't do long-distance any longer, he then joined CC in Detroit earlier this year in January, before they tied the knot in March.
The pair then welcomed their baby boy Harrison two months after, and each share a daughter from previous marriages, forming a blended family.
The mum-of-two admits she never expected to fall in love with someone the way she did.
"Neither of us ever used dating apps and MFP was such a fun, non-threatening place to meet people and form a community," CC explains.
"I made friends from all over the world and have stayed connected with many of them over the years.
"Having shared goals and a passion for healthy living, we celebrate our successes, our struggles, ask questions, share opinions and cheer one another on.
"So to find the love of my life on this platform was wonderfully unexpected."
Do you have an interesting dating story? Please get in touch at saffron.otter@reachplc.com
