Support me in my 26.2 mile journey as I run the 2024 New York City Marathon through NYC’s five boroughs with Team for Climate! My incredible partner Alexander is also running with Team for Climate—here’s Alexander's story and fundraising page.
WHO & WHAT:
New York Road Runners (NYRR) is a NYC-based nonprofit that organizes the New York City Marathon. NYRR is dedicated to transforming the health and well-being of our communities through inclusive and accessible running experiences, and has also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2040. This year marks the inaugural partnership of NYRR with Anew Climate to become a leader in sports sustainability and form the New York City Marathon’s Team for Climate.
The money raised for Anew Climate will help fund two forest management projects, with one project in New Hampshire where we’ve spent considerable time and have a deep connection with.
Hartwood Forestry Project: Over 6,000 acres in southern New York, reducing greenhouse gases through natural forest growth, enhancing wildlife habitats, and improving forest recreation
Eagle Mountain Forestry Project: Spanning New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, this project manages forestland for natural growth, supporting sustainable and protected land for recreation including hiking and cross-country skiing
WHEN:
The 2024 New York City Marathon is on Sunday, November 3 2024.
WHY (MY CLIMATE STORY):
It’s my hope that fundraising to protect against climate change will inspire action among friends, marathon spectators, and beyond. I’ve committed to reducing my carbon footprint and continually strive to do better. I adopted a vegan diet about a year ago to reduce emissions related to food production, and Alexander has adopted a largely plant-based diet. We also rely on public transportation to move around the city and make an effort to shop local.
WHY (MY RUNNING STORY):
I ran on and off in college, eventually falling in love with running in 2017 during my junior year. I lived at the base of a mountain and had access to a breathtaking yet little-known loop halfway up the mountain, which offered spectacular views of San Luis Obispo from above. My best friend Alice lived in that house too, and we’d run the trail together as often as we could. Her passion for running was infectious; she was fueled by ambition, competitive drive, and a genuine desire to be the best at everything she did. She introduced me to the technical and data-driven aspects of the sport—how to pick the right shoes, watches, and gear. As our legs and lungs got stronger and our runs grew longer and more adventurous, our friendship also deepened. Alice ran several marathons, further inspiring my own running ambitions.
After graduating college, I continued to run a few times a week to maintain my fitness, but my passion for running transformed when I began my run streak. This required a commitment to run at least one continuous mile every day. I began this streak on December 31, 2020, not with a specific goal, but simply to drive me forward amidst the mundanity of COVID lockdown. In the depths of the pandemic and the bleak Seattle winter, this streak proved a constant light and gave me purpose through a period of deep loss and a cross-country move.
My run streak lasted 580 days and ended in July 2022. While running on a small island in Croatia, I tripped and landed hard on my knee, causing severe cartilage and ligament damage. I was on crutches for a month. My partner Alexander understood the cardinal role that running played in my life, and his support allowed me to work through physical therapy and aim for a new goal: to run a marathon. In September 2023, I accomplished that goal. With Alexander’s infallible support on the sidelines throughout the race, he met me a quarter mile before the finish line and we crossed the finish line together.
That finish line takes us to today: since moving to Brooklyn, Alexander and I have watched the incredible runners tackle the New York City Marathon year after year. We’ve been inspired by the tens of thousands of runners who finish this monumental race in Central Park and were eager to one day earn our spot among them. At the end of June we both received emails saying that we were accepted into the marathon to run on behalf of Team for Climate. This moment will forever be featured in my life’s highlight reel—we love NYC and are excited to give back to the city and our environment in meaningful, lasting ways.
We hope that by running the New York City Marathon with Team for Climate that we encourage others to rethink their approach to sustainability, and that we’ll be able to run our favorite routes together well beyond 2040: the Brooklyn waterfront, Williamsburg Bridge, West Side Highway, and Central Park.
I'll continue to post updates about my running progress throughout fundraising and leading up to the marathon. Every donation makes a difference. Thank you for your support!
