"They say marriage is a marathon, not a sprint — but Nick Cordes and the former Leigh Daniel couldn’t resist taking a jog down the aisle after exchanging vows live on national television Wednesday in the 10th annual TODAY Throws a Wedding.

The comely couple, whose story is like a modern-day "Romeo and Juliet” for the sweat set, said their “I dos” under balmy morning skies at the plaza in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center before 180 smiling family and friends — and millions more watching at home.

Bride Leigh, escorted down the aisle by her father, Tab, was a vision in a Christos tulle A-line cap-sleeve gown, leading TODAY’s Matt Lauer to gush that the bride was “stunning beyond belief.” She was met at the altar by Cordes, decked out in a Tommy Hilfiger seersucker suit, and presiding minister Dr. James Hampton.

A secret romance
Given the couple’s highly romantic backstory, it was only fitting that they wrote their own vows for their wedding day. Ohio-born Nick, 29, and Texas gal Leigh, 30, were both track stars in college and met at the Olympic Development Program for runners in Detroit in 2003.

The demanding camp had a no-dating edict, but the couple couldn’t help but get starry-eyed around each other. They had their first, very covert date in the parking lot of a grocery store. Soon the training camp was buzzing about the young lovers — and camp officials issued Nick and Leigh their walking papers as a result.

An Olympic dream may have died, but love bloomed — and six years later, Leigh and Nick’s story so captivated TODAY viewers that they won the TODAY Throws a Wedding contest with a whopping 66,000 votes.

“You look amazing!” Nick told Leigh at the altar in beginning his vows. “I am lucky to know you and am even luckier to be marrying you.

“We’ve been together for six years now, and I look forward to the next 60. You are an amazing person. You taught me a different and better way to live, and I promise to put God first, and keep that as the centerpiece of our relationship. In the beginning, we were best friends; we moved on to training partners, and I would be most proud to call you my wife.”

In her vows, Leigh spoke of a life filled with wonder and much togetherness — the pair both coach track at Nick’s alma mater, Ashland University in Ohio.

“I feel so blessed to be standing in front of my best friend, my training partner, soul mate, and to be looking forward to spending the rest of my life by your side,” Leigh told Nick.

“I look forward to a life of running with our dogs, eating chicken spinach surprise, hanging out with those that we love and just being together.”

Martina McBride sings the TODAY Throws a Wedding theme song, "I Just Call You Mine,” for Nick and Leigh's first dance as husband and wife. McBride, who attended the wedding along with her husband of 21 years, sound engineer John, offered Nick and Leigh a bit of advice on what makes a marriage last. “I think dedication, commitment and respect for each other — and a sense of humor is very important.”