STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Borough resident Lisa Swan has participated in countless races since beginning her running journey, but the upcoming New York City Marathon may be her most special yet as she’s been named to run for NYRR’s Team Inspire, a select group of runners chosen for their powerful, inspirational stories.
Comprising 26 runners — one for each mile of the marathon — NYRR selected individuals who have been “profoundly impacted by the transformative power of running,” and Swan certainly fits that description, having experienced significant physical and mental benefits since becoming a regular runner.
“I started running when I was 46 and had never run a single mile,” Swan began.
“I was very heavy, a couch potato. I thought that, ‘I need to do something. I need to lose weight. I’m getting tired just going to get the bus or climbing up the subway stairs.’ That was in 2013, and I’ve never stopped. Since 2017, I’ve done over 50 races a year,” she continued.
While Swan is now a seasoned veteran of the New York running circuit, she credits her early experiences in local Staten Island races as the starting point of her beloved pastime.
“The first thing I ever did athletically was racing the Staten Island Athletic Club’s Fun Run; I walked it and it was hard, but I thought, ‘I’m really enjoying this’; it was exhilarating,” she shared.
Swan also credited Staten Island Athletic Club stalwart Mario Ricca Jr., who coached her and gave her the confidence to run her first marathon — someone she described as a true mentor.
“He was recovering from an injury and saw me in the back of the pack during a Fun Run,” she said. “He liked my determination, so he helped me come up with a plan for half marathons. In 2016, I found out that I was going to get to run a marathon; I remember calling him and asking, ‘Do you think I can do this?’ He said, ‘If you follow my training plan, you can.’”
“He definitely helped me finish. He created a great training plan for my first race, which gave me a lot of confidence for my first marathon. He’s still out there helping other runners, so he definitely deserves a lot of credit,” she shared.
In addition to the tremendous support Swan has received from the Staten Island community throughout her running journey, she says representing Team Inspire this November has helped her realize she’ll be part of a greater whole.
“This is something that’s bigger than myself,” Swan said humbly.
“Really, Team Inspire is also just a snapshot of all the athletes running the marathon who have their own great stories. I’ve met about seven or eight members of the Team so far and they’re all really great,” she continued.
Staten Island resident Lisa Swan will be racing the NYC Marathon yet again as a part of NYRR’s Team Inspire.Lisa Swan
In addition to the honor of embodying the Team’s core philosophies, Swan is also excited about the added bonus of an earlier start time — a first for her in marathon events.
“Since I started, I have never finished the New York City Marathon in daylight; it’s going to be a very different experience. I’m also excited to see the crowds, since most people only cheer near the start, and I’ve never had the chance to witness that before,” she explained.
“It’s definitely going to give me a little bit more adrenaline with being part of this; I always hear First Avenue gets to be like Beatlemania for the earlier waves,” she added with a laugh.
Most importantly, Swan reflected that even before she could complete a full Fun Run — let alone a marathon — every running community she’s joined has made her feel welcome. She hopes her story will inspire others considering becoming more active.
“I’ve never felt like I don’t belong when I’ve done a race,” she said.
“Don’t feel you have to be fast or young to race; there are always going to be other people who are just getting started, so just get out there and see what you’re able to do,” she concluded.
Catch Swan and all the other members of Team Inspire when the NYC Marathon gets underway on Nov. 2; you can watch on WABC-TV, Channel 7 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET.
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