Hello and welcome to my first half marathon journey! My name is Elisa Liu. For those who know me, you probably know that running—and any form of cardio—was never my go-to exercise. I used to think people who ran for fun were a little crazy, simply because I couldn’t imagine enjoying it myself. But everything changed at the beginning of 2024, when I was recovering from an upper back injury that limited my ability to do heavy lifting. The injury left me feeling weak and sluggish, and I knew I needed a change. The reason I never liked cardio was simple: I didn’t have the endurance. I wasn’t sure if it was due to lack of training or possibly a heart condition I may have inherited from my mother. But this sparked something in me—a desire to test my limits and push myself to try something new for my health and well-being. So, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and at least start by joining my friends at run clubs. Worst case scenario, I’d confirm that I hated running, right? To my surprise, I actually really enjoyed it. I experienced the "runner’s high" and found myself wanting to run more. What really hooked me, though, was my friend Leland Yu’s run club, Run for Chinatown. Run for Chinatown came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to raise awareness and provide economic support for the Asian community in New York City’s Chinatown. To date, it has raised over $141,000 for the community. I am so proud to say that Leland spearheaded all of this from a simple idea rooted in running. Chinatown is where my family, friends, and I grew up—a place we all still call home, even if we’ve since moved away. It’s in these very streets where I became closely connected with the charity I’m supporting: the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club (CFMAC). CFMAC isn’t just about teaching lion dance and martial arts to younger generations; it’s a community-driven organization that celebrates and passes down culture across generations. I was a part of CFMAC in my youth, learning lion dance and martial arts as a teenager. Today, I’m running to raise awareness for this incredible community, and your contributions will directly support the club I grew up with and consider family. Thank you in advance for any support you can offer. If you can make a donation to help me reach my fundraising goals, I would be deeply grateful. If not, please cheer me on at the race or virtually by following my journey to the finish line! And even if you can’t donate, you can help by simply sharing my story.