When I lived in Brooklyn, the marathon was one of my favorite days of the year. I didn’t run it, but I loved watching it parade through the neighborhood — the cheering, the cowbells, the signs, the energy. It felt like the whole city took a collective breath and said, “Let’s gooooo.”
This year, I was invited by the New York Road Runners to cover the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. I decided to do it the only way I know how: get on the ground, talk to real people, and listen. Not the pros or the influencers, but the regular folks keeping promises to themselves.
The Scene at the Javits
Inside the Jacob Javits Center, the mood was a bit hectic. Thousands of runners flowed through the aisles picking up bibs, trying on new shoes, and swapping nervous laughs. There was a rhythm to it, part excitement, part “so we really doing this, ok bet.” The kind of buzz that only happens when people know they’re about to do something difficult, unforgettable, and probably painful.
Across the room, a banner read: “The Best Day of the Year, in the Best City in the World.” The New York Road Runners describe the marathon as one of the most inclusive sporting events on the planet. More than 55,000 athletes from over 150 countries will run the same course, from professionals to everyday people, each supported by 10,000 volunteers and two million spectators.
For one day, New York becomes the great equalizer. Every runner, no matter who they are or where they come from, gets the same streets, the same bridges, the same finish line.
The Voices of the Marathon
I moved through the expo and spoke with six runners. Well, seven, if you don’t count the twins as one unit. Each story revealed a different reason people run: healing, strength, resilience, community, self-discovery, and joy.
Angel Babbitt: Healing in Motion
Angel Babbitt from Boston started running during the pandemic. “It was a really dark time,” she told me. “I used running to take care of myself and find myself again.”
She found her stride with the Pioneers Run Crew, a diverse Boston running community dedicated to inclusion. “Our mission is to find people that look like me and get them into running,” she said. “We meet people where they are.”
Angel is running her third marathon and her second major. “I’m a back-of-the-packer,” she said proudly. “I don’t start until 11:30. I’m not chasing personal records. I’m chasing personal peace.”
When I asked what running taught her, she said, “That I’m strong and capable of doing anything I put my heart to. Challenges like this keep reminding me that I am her. I am that girl.”
Listening to Angel reminded me that running builds patience, trust, and strength one mile at a time.
Sarah Correa: Redefining Strength
Sarah Correa, a trail runner from California, smiled when she told me she had run 100 miles just six days before arriving in New York. “This is my victory lap,” she said.
Sarah doesn’t believe in shortcuts. “My secret’s not a secret,” she told me. “Strength training and mobility work. That’s it. I used to get injured all the time until I started lifting and doing yoga. Now I can run 100 miles and come here six days later.”
Her most powerful reflection came when we talked about self-image. “Women are taught to mute their bodies,” she said. “Running changed that. I don’t judge my body by mirrors anymore. I judge it by what it can do.”
Sarah’s words carried quiet power. They spoke to freedom and self-respect earned through movement.
Kevin Todd: Running for a Cause
Kevin Todd came from a small town outside Breckenridge, Colorado. He began running after his father, a six-time cancer survivor, beat his final fight. “I wanted to do something hard every year to raise money for cancer research,” he said. “If I’m going to fundraise, it should hurt a little.”
His first marathon took six and a half hours. “I couldn’t even walk the last four miles,” he laughed. Three years later, he’s cutting that time nearly in half. “There’s no secret,” he said. “You just have to put in the miles. If you don’t, you’re going to hurt. You’re going to pay.”
Then he grinned. “New York is the biggest party in the world. You’ve got a million people yelling your name. It’s the only time you’ll ever feel famous for sweating.”
🎗️Support Kevin’s cause at KevinRunsForCure.com
Tirza Ortiz: The Power of Persistence
Tirza Ortiz flew in from El Paso, Texas, to run her first marathon and visit New York for the first time. She started running during the pandemic when the gyms closed. “Running was the punishment,” she laughed. “I was a basketball player. I hated it. But I started slow, one minute running, three walking, and I just kept going.”
She joined Girls Run the 915, a local women’s running club. “The best part is the community,” she said. “Wherever I go, I look for a run club to join. It’s the easiest way to connect with people.”
Training, she said, was long and treacherous. “You have to run when you’re tired, when you’re sick, when you don’t feel like it. That’s what separates people who say they want to run from people who actually do.”
Her advice for beginners: “Don’t get discouraged. Build your base. Go slow. The best way to get fast is to start slow.”
And her biggest lesson? “Rest when you need to. Don’t guilt yourself into pushing past exhaustion. It’s supposed to be hard, but it’s also supposed to be fun.”
Barbara Belch: The Marathon Spirit
Barbara Belch, originally from Scotland, moved to New York 35 years ago. She decided to start running at 50 to prove she was still strong. Her first attempt was in 2012, the year Hurricane Sandy canceled the race. “I trained all summer, but I didn’t quit. I ran the next year, and every year since. Fifteen marathons now.”
She laughed about her pre-race ritual. “Bagels. Always bagels. People say you shouldn’t carb-load, but trust me, at mile 17, you’ll be glad you did.”
Mile 17, she said, is when the mind starts talking back. “That’s the part of the race where it gets quiet. You start questioning yourself. But once you get past that, you know you’ll finish.”
This year, Barbara won’t be chasing a time. “My daughter’s boyfriend is proposing at mile 23. I’ll stop, of course. For that, I don’t care about time.”
Then she smiled. “The most important thing I’ve learned? Stay strong, stay grateful, and have fun. When it stops being fun, stop doing it.”
🎗️ Support Barbara’s cause at safecatsofbarbados.org
The Twins: Running Together
Hyacinth and Hasmine flew in from Toronto, Canada. Identical twins. Same energy. Same laugh. “Running is good for your mental health,” one said. “And it’s good for your body,” the other added.
Their running story started after childbirth. “I had postpartum depression,” one twin told me. “I needed to get outside, breathe fresh air, and move.”
They’ve been pushing each other ever since. One has run 17 marathons, the other 13. “We’re not professionals,” they said. “We just run for fun, three times a week, after work. No coach, no run club, just us.”
They call themselves Twin Strong. “Never quit, never give up,” one said. “It’s not about time. It’s about crossing the finish line. We’re all winners. We’re all runners.”
What I Learned
From Angel, I learned that running can be a form of healing.
From Sarah, that strength comes from self-acceptance.
From Kevin, that effort always equals growth.
From Tirza, that discipline builds confidence.
From Barbara, that joy keeps you young.
And from the twins, that togetherness turns pain into laughter.
Each person I met reminded me that the marathon reflects human possibility. It shows patience, community, and the quiet determination that keeps this city moving.
The Heartbeat of the City
Tomorrow, more than 55,000 runners will stand on Staten Island as Sinatra’s “New York, New York” fills the air and fireboats spray blue and orange into the harbor. From the Verrazzano to Central Park, this city will cheer until its voice cracks.
Whether you’re running, volunteering, or watching from the sidelines, you’ll feel it, the collective pulse of people doing something hard together.
Have a great race. 😉
