{"id":19545,"date":"2025-10-28T06:44:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/19545\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:44:06","slug":"tanner-saunders-nyc-marathon-run-is-bigger-than-the-miles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/19545\/","title":{"rendered":"Tanner Saunders\u2019 NYC Marathon Run Is Bigger Than the Miles"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Tanner Saunders<\/a>, running isn\u2019t just about crossing a finish line\u2014it\u2019s about living boldly and unapologetically with type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at age 7 and now 32, he\u2019s lacing up for the NYC Marathon with the Beyond Type Run team<\/a>, turning 26.2 miles into a celebration of 25 years of resilience.<\/p>\n

After facing burnout, running became Saunders\u2019 reset button. But when his husband passed away from diabetes this summer, that loss became both fuel to keep going and a powerful reminder of life\u2019s fragility.<\/p>\n

With the support of his community and a whole lot of grit, Saunders is proving that big goals don\u2019t need perfect conditions\u2014they\u2019re built in the messy, real moments along the way. Sore knees and off days don\u2019t stop the journey; they make it human.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at Saunder\u2019s training highs, lows and everything in between.<\/p>\n

*Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity<\/p>\n

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Marathon Training Highs
\nFinding clarity and peace through movement<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found that the best part of marathon training is how running has become a mental safe place for me. It\u2019s less about the miles and more about clearing my head\u2014working through everything that weighs on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s been the hardest of my life after losing my husband, Matthew, in June, and running has given me space to process that. Sometimes it\u2019s just about moving, letting my brain catch up to everything. And along the way, it\u2019s helped me discover new corners of the city\u2014like this beautiful park in Long Island City I never would\u2019ve found otherwise.<\/p>\n

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When the challenge became a habit<\/p>\n

The first time I realized I could just put on my shoes and run 12 miles without overthinking it, I was like, \u2018whoa, that just happened.\u2019 Back in January, one mile felt impossible, and now it\u2019s second nature. My tech has made it easier to manage my glucose, so I can just focus on running. More than anything, marathon training has given me a habit I\u2019m proud of\u2014something I know will last well beyond race day.<\/p>\n

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Tech that lets me just run<\/p>\n

I use the Dexcom G7<\/a> [continuous glucose monitor (CGM)] and absolutely love it\u2014it\u2019s small, easy to put on, and super convenient. I also wear an Omnipod<\/a> [insulin pump], and the best part is how seamlessly they work together. With my Dexcom G7, I can see my numbers right on my phone or Apple Watch while I\u2019m running. Everything I need is right there if something comes up\u2014but honestly, most of the time, I don\u2019t even have to think about it. That\u2019s the best part.<\/p>\n

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Learning to pivot, not panic\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marathon training has really pushed me outside my diabetes comfort zone. You can plan all you want with snacks and gels, but sometimes things don\u2019t go as expected\u2014and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s taught me to trust my decisions and stay calm when highs or lows happen mid-run. I had a bad low on a long run recently and had to stop early, which was tough. But it reminded me that strength isn\u2019t just finishing the miles\u2014it\u2019s knowing how to adapt and take care of myself along the way.<\/p>\n

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Marathon Training Lows
\nConvincing myself to lace up<\/p>\n

One of the biggest lows of marathon training is simply the commitment. I try to stick to my schedule, but some days I wake up and just don\u2019t want to run. Early on it\u2019s easy, but as the mileage creeps up, the time and energy it takes gets real. The hardest part is often just getting myself out the door\u2014but I\u2019m always happier after a run than when I skip one. That push through the resistance is part of what makes it worth it.<\/p>\n

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The weight of why I run<\/p>\n

For me, the marathon is a huge mental hurdle because my life looks so different now. Matt passed away just weeks after I found out I\u2019d be running, so every mile since has carried his memory with it. Losing him to diabetes was a brutal reminder of how fragile life can be \u2014 even when you do everything \u201cright.\u201d It changed how I see my own diagnosis and what this race means. What started as a way to prove diabetes couldn\u2019t stop me has turned into a way to honor him and pour my energy into something that matters.<\/p>\n

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Marathon Training Lessons
\nProving I can do hard things<\/p>\n

One of the biggest lessons for me has been proving to myself that I can actually do this. Running a marathon always felt like one of those big, \u201csomeday\u201d goals, and now I\u2019m doing it. I\u2019ve learned so much from other people living with diabetes who\u2019ve done this before me, applying what I know about diabetes in a totally new way. It\u2019s also shown me that I genuinely love running and taking care of myself, even on the days when getting out the door feels impossible. But once my shoes are tied, I know I\u2019ll be glad I did.<\/p>\n

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Running alone, supported by many<\/p>\n

Community means everything to me. I\u2019m lucky to have an incredible support system in New York and beyond. Running might feel like a solo sport, but my people make sure I never feel alone in it. They check in, hype me up, and keep me accountable\u2014especially on the days I don\u2019t want to lace up. Honestly, their push is a big part of what keeps me going.<\/p>\n

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My people make the miles matter\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friends and family are flying in from all over, and my colleagues are showing up too\u2014which adds a little pressure, but the good kind. No one cares about my time; they just want to see me cross that finish line. On top of that, being surrounded by other people with diabetes has been grounding. Even if I stopped running tomorrow, I\u2019d still have this incredible network that just gets it.<\/p>\n

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Choosing to define my own story<\/p>\n

My biggest takeaway is simple: tomorrow isn\u2019t promised. I\u2019m grateful this journey reminded me to put myself first and care for more than just the numbers. Diabetes doesn\u2019t define me\u2014it\u2019s just one part of my story. Whether I\u2019m a marathon runner, a travel journalist, or just Tanner from Texas, I get to choose how I show up. And this year, I chose to run.<\/p>\n

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Tanner\u2019s not running this race alone. He\u2019s repping the Beyond Type Run squad, proving T1D doesn\u2019t set the pace. Want to back his journey? Check out his fundraising page<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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This content was made possible by Dexcom, an active partner of Beyond Type 1. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.<\/p>\n