I got into running during COVID—mostly because it was one of the only things to do, but it ended up becoming something much more. It gave me structure, a sense of progress, a reason to get off the couch, and over time, it became a consistent part of my life. (Admittedly,  I've taken some months off here and there.) 

Since then, I’ve run about three half marathons (one unofficial for those of you who know the Coney Island story), and the full marathon has always been on my bucket list—especially the New York City Marathon.

I’ll never forget running my first half, the NYC Half, in 2019. I hadn’t trained properly after injuring my foot, but I did it anyway. Running up the FDR and through Times Square with the city cheering around me—it was electric. I knew right then I wanted to come back one day for the full 26.2.

This year, I finally am, and I’m doing it in support of Girls Gotta Run Foundation. GGRF empowers girls in Ethiopia through running, education, and community-based programs. They use sport as a tool to expand access to secondary school and create safer spaces for girls to grow into confident, capable leaders in their communities.

If you’ve ever run (or done anything physical) to push through a hard moment or remind yourself what you’re made of, you’ll understand why this matters. I’m honored to run in support of girls doing just that. You can lean more about GGRF here: https://www.girlsgottarun.org/

Thanks so much for your support! It means a ton. Hope to see you on the sidelines.