NEW YORK (WABC) — For Shaden Awad, running has always been more than a sport. It’s been a way to manage anxiety, connect with family and celebrate her identity as the daughter of Palestinian immigrants.<\/p>\n
On November 1, Awad will take on the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for the first time as a member of New York Road Runners’ Team Inspire, a group of runners whose personal journeys embody the resilience, determination, and spirit of the marathon.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in New Jersey and now living in Queens, Awad discovered her love of running at an early age.<\/p>\n
“I’ve always kind of struggled with anxiety, even as a child,” Awad said. “And running has been really, really good for that.”<\/p>\n
She joined her middle school’s track and cross-country teams in seventh grade, beginning a relationship with the sport that would eventually lead her to one of the world’s most iconic races.<\/p>\n
But for Awad, crossing the finish line will represent much more than a personal accomplishment. It will also be a tribute to her family’s sacrifices and the opportunities her parents worked to create.<\/p>\n
“I’m the child of Palestinian immigrants who came to America when they were 30 years old and just wanted better for themselves,” she said.<\/p>\n
Awad often reflects on a Palestinian proverb that has helped shape her perspective on life and the importance of giving back.<\/p>\n
“They planted so we would eat, and we plant so those after us eat,” she shared.<\/p>\n
For Awad, those words reflect her parents’ journey to America and their determination to build a better future for their children.<\/p>\n
“My parents came here. They knew that they would have to start from the bottom and build up for us to kind of experience and enjoy the fruits of their labor,” she explained.<\/p>\n
Both of Awad’s parents have physical disabilities, but they always encouraged her and her brothers to prioritize exercise and physical activity.<\/p>\n
Now, preparing to run 26.2 miles through New York City’s five boroughs, she sees the experience as a full-circle moment.<\/p>\n
“I’m showing up as a Palestinian, as a child of immigrants on this really huge grand stage,” Awad said, reflecting on what it means to be part of Team Inspire alongside runners with their own remarkable stories.<\/p>\n
Her road to the marathon has also been a family affair. Last year, Awad completed New York Road Runners’ 9+1 program alongside her brother, earning guaranteed entry into the 2026 race by completing nine qualifying races and volunteering at one event.<\/p>\n
The experience introduced her to new parks, neighborhoods and running communities across the city.<\/p>\n
She also volunteered at the marathon expo, handing out race bibs to runners preparing for their own 26.2-mile journeys.<\/p>\n
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be me next year,'” she recalled.<\/p>\n
Now, that moment has arrived.<\/p>\n
For Awad, what makes the New York City Marathon so special isn’t simply the distance or the competition. It’s the sense of belonging that brings together runners of all backgrounds, abilities and experiences.<\/p>\n
“The thing that sets the New York City Marathon apart is the accessibility and the way that you can see yourself in all the runners,” she said. “It’s not just the top 10% elite runners that are running it in three hours. It’s everyone who’s running a three-hour marathon, a six-hour marathon, a ten-hour marathon.”<\/p>\n
She credits New York Road Runners with cultivating an inclusive running community where every participant has a place.<\/p>\n
And as she prepares for race day, Awad is looking forward to experiencing the energy of a city coming together to support thousands of runners chasing their goals.<\/p>\n
“It’s everyone coming together,” she said. “You set this goal and we are all going to come together on the day of to make sure that you can achieve it.”<\/p>\n
For Awad, the marathon is more than a finish line. It’s a celebration of her heritage, her family’s sacrifices and the power of a community that makes every runner feel they belong.<\/p>\n