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Fellow NYC Marathoners – The hay is in the barn! 🗽

(October 30, 2025) With just days to go, no run or workout is going to change your Sunday result. But what can make a difference? Your mental game.

As someone who’s run this course seven times as a proud back-of-the-packer, I want to share what works for me: resilience, endurance, and a strategy that’s gotten me through every mile.

My goal for Sunday (and always): Enjoy the journey. Cross that finish line. Wake up the next day as a happy person ready for the next challenge (and maybe the next race!).

Here’s my secret weapon: I dedicate every single mile to someone special in my life.

Miles 1-3? Easy: family and close friends. But as the miles tick by, I go deeper into my memory bank. Mile 10 might be for my 10th grade drama teacher. Mile 15 for a fantastic music teacher. Mile 18 for Mrs. Sparrow, my 4th grade teacher who told me to keep writing.

Every mile, another person. Another inspiration. Another reason you became who you are today.

It’s a powerful distraction. It’s a meaningful focus. And somehow, it makes those miles tick by until you reach that incredible finish line.

To all the first-time back-of-the-packers: I promise you there is ALWAYS a party at the finish line. No matter what time you cross. No matter how dark it is. The medals will be there. The volunteers will be cheering. The music will be blaring.

One more story: At my first ultra marathon, terrified and definitely at the back, one of the race leaders came up to me and said, “I could never do what you do.” I was confused, until he explained: He finishes in 3-4 hours. Me? Mountains, sand dunes, river crossings, 30 pounds on my back – some days stretched to 8-9 hours.

His point? He was applauding my endurance. My refusal to quit. My ability to persevere and make it to the finish line.

So here’s to all of us: The ones who dig deep. The ones who keep going. The ones who know that finishing is winning.

See you at the party on Sunday. 🎉

P.S. I heard back from many who resonated with this suggestion and, of course, added GREAT suggestions: “the last mile is for ME!” and “I plan on including many who doubted me or stood in my way – that mile is to show them I can and am doing it!”.

WHAT RESONATES WITH YOU? I’d love to hear!