Hey, I’m Dania an Aussie who moved to New York City in 2022 and completely fell in love with the chaos, grit, and energy of this city. Most people know me through strength training and Olympic lifting. Barbells, chalk, heavy weights. That’s been my thing. A masochist’s dream.
Distance running? Honestly… not so much.
The furthest I’ve ever really run is a half marathon so signing up for the New York City Marathon feels slightly psycho considering I’m literally doubting that distance and have absolutely no fucking idea what to expect. I’m going into this blind.
But maybe that’s the point.
This city has changed me over the years. It’s pushed me mentally, physically, emotionally and somewhere along the way, running became part of my story too. Runs through Brooklyn. Late nights. Early mornings. Subway rides home after training. Learning that strength doesn’t always look like lifting the heaviest thing in the room. Sometimes strength looks like showing up for something that scares the living shit out of you. I’m running this marathon in support of Art Start, an organisation that uses creativity and the arts to support marginalised youth across New York City. They create spaces for young people to express themselves, build confidence, find community, and imagine bigger futures for themselves through art and creative programs.
So this page is more than just fundraising.
I'll be documenting the chaos, the training, the wins, the setbacks, the self doubt, the growth, and 100% suffering along the way. And if you haven’t figured, I’m a bit of a sucker for pain. So hey training for and running this marathon could either be a match made in heaven or send me straight to the depths of hell.
Either way, we’re doing it.
If you’d like to support the mission, donate, share the page, or just follow along while I attempt to survive 26.2 miles / 42.1 kms through New York City, I appreciate it more than you know.
Strength Built This Marathon.
