Near Central Park, blocks from the finish line, I navigated swarms of proud parents and groups holding neon posters emblazoned \u201chot girls run marathons\u201d, asking runners about their sneakers, running fuel and shorts. (It turns out Nike Alphaflys<\/a> are a marathon favorite.) When I couldn\u2019t find exact matches for their items, I linked to brands with similar options.<\/p>\n From a 71-year-old who has run the NYC Marathon over 30 times to an Olympic trial qualifier who placed seventh in her age group \u2013 marathoners also shared what brought them to the starting line, with stories that remind us there is more than one way to be a runner, and just as many reasons to keep showing up.<\/p>\n Monica Hebner, 27, Austin, Texas Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The GuardianThe gear<\/p>\n Bottoms: Bandit<\/a><\/p>\n Shoes: Puma R3s Energy gels: Neversecond berry flavor<\/a> Ian Tibbals, 26, Rye, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cThe marathons are the big day of the year for the whole running community to celebrate each other.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Singlet: On<\/a> Shoes: Nike Alphafly 3s<\/a><\/p>\n Polow Lynn, 47, Atlanta, Georgia Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2023, I was out on a run, and I had a brain aneurysm \u2026 I had to learn how to walk again \u2026 My goal when I got out of the hospital was to run a marathon.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Top: Lululemon<\/a>\n <\/p>\n Hat: Luluelmon<\/a>\n <\/p>\n Sunglasses: Ridar<\/a><\/p>\n Liam Draper, 26, Victoria, Australia Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201c[Running] just separated work and life balance for me, so that\u2019s what got me into it. It\u2019s created a community for me back home. We\u2019ve just got our own little run club and stuff now.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Nike Alphafly 4s<\/a> Headphones: Shokz<\/a><\/p>\n Sunglasses: Oakley<\/a><\/p>\n Top: Nike<\/a> Energy gels: Precision<\/a><\/p>\n Nick Santorelli, 30, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cThis place, you don\u2019t really need music because the crowd is so lively throughout. [Running] is my time to meditate and get in my own head a little bit every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Nike Alphafly 4s Singlet: Nike<\/a> Hong Jiang, 57, New Jersey Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201c I started [running] from my age of 50 on my birthday. And I\u2019m not an active runner before. But somehow, once in a while in my dream, I\u2019m running on the track. So maybe God asked me to run.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Watch: Garmin 255<\/a> Gels: Maurten<\/a> (NYC marathon fuel sponsor)<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to The Filter US<\/p>\n A guide to buying fewer, better products.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Keegan Pepin, 24, New Hampshire Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cI actually raised money for Komera<\/a> \u2026 I wanted to do one marathon where it was meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Hoka Rockets<\/a>\n <\/p>\n Top: \u201cThere\u2019s a girl named Samantha McIntyre<\/a> \u2026 So she made this shirt for her six-star<\/a> race in Berlin. And now she\u2019s giving it to one person for each world major. And so I got it for New York City. So it\u2019s like the sisterhood of the traveling shirts.\u201d\n <\/p>\n Bottoms: Bandit<\/a><\/p>\n Watch: Garmin<\/a><\/p>\n Running belt: Spi Belt<\/a><\/p>\n Jaime Palacios, 71, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u2018This is why I came [to the US from Ecuador], to run the NYC marathon, and I stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Asics Metaspeed<\/a><\/p>\n Rosangela Monaco, 55, New Jersey Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cI always said if one day I raced a marathon, I would run the New York City [one].\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Puma<\/a> Shashank Sundar, 27, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cGreat day, a little warmer than I would have thought, but I was going for sub three, so I got that.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Nike Alphaflys<\/a><\/p>\n Singlet: Bandit<\/a> Bottoms: Rabbit Watch: Garmin Forerunner<\/a><\/p>\n Aurora Velazquez, 46, New York City, New York Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cRunning changes your life in different ways. I don\u2019t know how to explain it. It\u2019s really rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Nike Alphafly<\/a> Watch: Garmin<\/a><\/p>\n Kathleen Busse, 59, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin Photograph: Marissa Alper\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cYou see the mile marker and you stay in the mile and you try to be with the people you\u2019re with.\u201d<\/p>\n Time: 4hr 00min 12sec<\/p>\n Ran over 10 marathons<\/p>\n The gear<\/p>\n Shoes: Brooks Hyperion Elite<\/a> Energy gels: Buzz Hny+<\/a><\/p>\n Headphones: Shokz<\/p>\n Top: Bandit<\/a>
\n
<\/a> \u201cThey\u2019re just fast. They respond well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a> \u201cIf you bonk from carbs, they cover you; if you bonk from sodium, they cover you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cI used to have an Under Armour [short sleeve] T-shirt<\/a>. It was sort of my lucky shirt. I\u2019ve worn it all my races. And it was really hot [one] year in Berlin \u2013 it was like the mid-70s. So I was like, I\u2019ll finally invest in a singlet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cThey said don\u2019t test new things on race day and I did \u2026 They\u2019re really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cI went and got this singlet made up at the Nike shop. So they put the stickers on for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cThey just dropped, and they\u2019re hard to get. The heel is a little different \u2026 I think the biggest thing is the weight. I noticed significantly, like a couple ounces makes a big difference, especially late in the race. Yeah, I like these a lot better than the 3s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Shorts:
\n Soar
\n
<\/a>
\n
<\/a>Energy gels: Maurten caffeinated<\/a> and non-caffeinated<\/a> (NYC marathon fuel sponsor)
\n
<\/a>\u201cI took six gels today, one every 25 minutes, two caffeinated, one in a cup \u2026 There\u2019s other brands that are entering the market, but for me it helps my stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cOn my 50th birthday, my husband gave me a running watch.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/379.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cVery comfortable \u2026 It\u2019s my third pair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cI just got this a month ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cIt has a decent amount of storage and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>\u201cIt helps you to [go] faster, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\u201cI usually always wear Alphaflys, but I wanted a little more stability, but still [have] a carbon plate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a> \u201cThis is the first time I\u2019ve had the pockets. And I love the pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n