Sole Mates:Lynn Native Mike Mckie Marries Abby Bent After Meeting at a Running Club in Salem

Mike McKie finished in first place in the Nahant Beach Triathlon Series last Thursday night. Abby McKie finished second.

And yes, they are related. They are husband and wife and it was the sport of running that brought this handsome and athletic couple together.

Mike McKie, 48, is a graduate of Lynn Tech (Basic Electronics, Class of 1985) and the University of Massachusetts/Lowell. He works as an electro- mechanical engineer with the company he started at 30 years ago through the Tech co-op program.

The son of Lynn resident Nancy McKie, who worked at John’s Bakery and the Lynn Community Health Center for several years, Mike did not run track at Tech. He got involved in running actively at the age of 40. It was a fortuitous decision because that’s how he met Abby Bent, the personable woman and former collegiate athlete who would become his wife.

“The first time we met was in Salem through the Wicked Running Club,” said Mike.

Interestingly, Mike had earlier moved in to apartment on the second floor of a two-family home in Salem. A month later, Abby moved in to the first-floor apartment.

“By coincidence we had moved in to the same house,” recalled Mike. “The landlord had told me that he was going to find a really good tenant for the first floor and it turned out to Abby.”

The couple started dating while also running, training and competing together in different events.

Mike began competing in the Nahant Beach Triathlon two years ago. He brought Abby to Nahant for practices for her triathlon competition. He knew she was the one with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

“The question was popped at the Mount Desert Island Half Marathon in Arcadia National Park,” said Mike. “We ran the half marathon. She did a personal best. Afterwards, we went down to Sandy Beach in the park and I proposed to her.”

Mike and Abby were married May 15. They will be spending their honeymoon in the Grand Bahamas.

Abby grew up in New Hampshire and attended Pinkerton Academy (Class of 1996) where she competed in track and field. She continued her athletic career at Simmons College in Boston and now works as a food service director in Wellesley.

“I’m happy I became a runner because that’s how I met Mike,” said Abby. “I like triathlons and I like to compete. We did the Vermont City half marathon and relay as a couple.”

Abby competed in her first Boston Marathon this year, finishing in 3:45:36. It was her fourth marathon overall. Mike ran in the Boston Marathon in 2014.

Running and training have remained a common theme in Mike and Abby’s lives since their marriage.

Mike and Abby McKie

Mike and Abby McKie

“We train a lot together, lift weights, bicycle, and swim,” said Mike.

And they’ll be back in Nahant next week competing in the triathlon.

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