By Sharon Stevens
Crestwood, MO (KSDK) - First a setback, and then good news for two gay St. Louis women.
Nancy Twilley and Christine Johnson will be running in a Crestwood race as a couple after initially being told they could not.
Crestwood city officials say a miscommunication was to blame.
For a few days, that miscommunication upset Christine Johnson her partner Nancy Twilley.
This will be the fifth year for the Valentine's Day Trail Run in White Cliff Park.
Johnson says Twilley talked with a registration official who said that gay couples could not run together.
Later, Twilley says Recreation and Parks Director Todd Stover, said gay people can run as individuals, so they are not being excluded.
The couples' friends and supporters took to Facebook and Twitter to protest.
Tuesday afternoon another city official said the rules had been changed and Johnson and Twilley could in fact, run together.
Johnson was thrilled when she was told the news.
"I recently took up running. Nancy's been running for a while. I took up running to see her and I'm really enjoying it. So, this will be a good race; it's not very far and I can just have a good time with Nancy," said Johnson.
"Of course same-sex couples are more than welcome to race in this race and we'll be talking with the staff to make sure that that is what' told to whoever comes in to register," said Crestwood City Administrator Petree Eastman.
The 3.5 mile race will be held on Saturday, February 11th starting at 10 a.m. in White Cliff Park. The registration fee is $25 per individual runner and $40 per couple.
KSDK