STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The 2025 New York City Marathon is just nine days away, which is still hard for me to wrap my head around; it’ll be the culmination of 15 weeks of training that all began with an unexpected email in the middle of the summer.
When I opened my laptop on July 16 expecting just another day of work, I saw an email in my inbox from the New York Road Runners, the marathon’s organizing body. At first, I thought they wanted me to cover the race— which I would have gladly done— but after reading it again, I realized they weren’t just asking me to attend. They were asking if I wanted to run it as part of their Media Runners Group.
Initially, I thought it had to be a mistake. Despite my background as a Division I cross country and track runner, I’d developed an on-again, off-again relationship with running as injuries and setbacks kept me from staying consistent; I’d even passed on the idea of a half marathon just a few months earlier.
But after thinking about the opportunity in front of me— something thousands of runners dream of— I knew I couldn’t pass it up.
That same day, I laced up my shoes for a 10K, a distance that once felt easy but suddenly wasn’t. Instead of focusing on how far I had to go to develop marathon fitness, I welcomed the challenge, believing that with patience and dedication, I could find my old rhythm again.
Week after week, I built up mileage, extending my long runs—the backbone of marathon training — from 10 miles to 13, to 15, and eventually to two 18-milers in consecutive weeks. I couldn’t believe how my body responded, and my legs began to feel as light as they once did.
Some runs were effortless, while others tested me greatly; but slowly, running stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like a gift again— a return to something that I’d always loved.
Nearly 500 miles of training later, I feel ready— both mentally and physically— to toe the line on the Verrazzano Bridge and run my first marathon. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous; 26.2 miles is a long way for anyone.
But I know that when I prepare to take off next Sunday morning, surrounded by thousands of runners and the anticipation in the air, the nerves will turn to excitement. With New York’s famous energy waiting to carry me to the finish line in Central Park, I’ve never been more pumped up to meet a challenge head-on.
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