My little sister [at heart] Theresa (Tree) asked me, “Why are you doing this?” The point she is making, is why did I agree and pay to run 13.1 miles/21 km for fun in the cold on St. Patty’s day in the Big Apple? I’ll tell you how this all came together.
Running has become a newer hobby I’ve picked up. It was actually because of Dun & Bradstreet. A few colleagues I work closely with signed up last October to do the Army Ten Miler in Washington D.C.. I had never ran a race before this invite. I was actually shocked they sold it to me, and an even bigger surprise– I trained and finished the thing. One time I was on the phone with Tree and she says, “You should sign up for the NYC Marathon. I won’t run it, but I will go to watch you run it.” I got on a buyer’s high, not runner’s, buyer’s, and started looking for upcoming races to register in. The United Air NYC Half Marathon had opened its registration lottery. I signed up assuming I wouldn’t get picked since there’s 25,000 other people trying to do it. When I got the email a few weeks later “Congrats! You are running the United Air NYC Half Marathon!”, I asked the same question Tree asked me but added a follow up question of how did I even get picked? There’s 24,999 other people who probably train more than me. Nonetheless, I was excited and nervous all at once. To run this popular race in my favorite city was going to be an unforgettable memory.
A quick shout out to the family that gave me the shirt I wore on the race day. Brad and Christine Richmond own Wipeouts Bar & Grill over in Neptune Beach, FL. I met them in 2020 before they became owners of the bar, and since then we’ve grown to be very good friends. They always say if they ever had a daughter, I’m the daughter they envisioned having. And I say back, if I asked God to show me what Guardian Angels on earth looked like, it’s them. The Richmond’s have emerged as a cornerstone in my life. To honor them and to show my heartfelt appreciation for the times I needed a pep talk, home cooked meal, and many laughs, I had Brad and Chris sign my shirt as a symbol that they ran and stood beside me during the race. Just like how they have helped me walk on a sunny or rainy day. If you are locally in Jacksonville or ever in the area, please stop by their store [1585 Atlantic Blvd. Neptune Beach, FL, 32266]. Tell them you know me, but don’t tell me what reaction you get.
This was my first half marathon, and it was rewarding to prove to myself I’m capable of anything I put my mind to. There were so many challenges — the elevation on the course, my knees and calves becoming tight, having to take walking breaks, my AirPods dying at mile 11, my morning commuting to the race from Grand Central Station to Brooklyn, my inconsistent training plan — but in the hardest moments I told myself “Don’t give up. They’re all waiting for you at the end.”
My heart is immensely grateful for the support of my family, friends and colleagues. I invited my sister and parents and asked if they would like to fly up with me to watch me participate in the race. Everyone’s schedules aligned and the plans started to come along. My childhood friends who live in the city: Katrina, Regine & Leslie and then my lil sis who’s a former D&Ber Tree also joined in on this occasion. After the race, we went to get lunch and my colleague Kevin (he also ran!) and his family walked down to come see me. I revealed to the lunch table, when the emcee at the start line counted us down I was close to tears. I knew they would all be at the end and it made running this difficult race bearable.
The reunion at the end made me more anxious. My parents had to catch a flight the second I crossed the finish line and I also wanted to uphold my estimated finish time to make sure everyone would have enough time to meet me. The day before the race, my family and I were out exploring the city all day, and Apple Watch states approximately 10 miles were completed; so now I’m sore and tired. My body was ready to sleep but my heart wasn’t. It was beating so loud I’m surprised my family didn’t wake up in the hotel. I was ready to finish, so I could finally breathe as I felt like this weekend went 100 miles per hour.
Despite the challenging moments, there were the little pieces throughout the race day that reminded me why I’m growing to love the hobby.
- Camaraderie – Not just from my friends and family. My start time was a later morning slot which means I had time to use the restroom— Which are porta-potties at races. The rookie me forgot to bring my own toilet paper, but the girl behind me offered to give me some of hers. I told her my stall had some and thanked her for her gesture. After the restroom, there was a sink and some soap. Soap was present but water was not. These racers and I found a water bottle on top of the sink and we took turns pouring it over each other’s hands. I know, guys I’m not thrilled to but it’s better than nothing. That’s great collab work.
- Travel Opportunities – Yes, I do frequent NYC more than the average person. But now I can say I’ve ran through Brooklyn, the FDR, China Town, Times Square, Central Park, the Manhattan Bridge. The views were beautiful and running is a great way to find more places to visit.
- Motivation – Between running across the FDR and Manhattan Bridge, some of me was questioning if I’d finish. With the way my body was feeling and the nonstop hills, I was wiped. My heart said move but my legs begged me to stop. I looked around and other racers were stopping to stretch and I did the same. I accepted and knew I needed to slow down my pace which is why I strategize and put work into my playlists to help me drive my speed. Stopping and quitting was not an option. I made myself walk or jog light because slower steps would still help me finish it off. At mile 12, my dad joined me and then we crossed the line together. I had never been so relieved to see the words “FINISH” and the meet up with all my loved ones was worth every moment of pain.
My friends asked me what race is next. And honestly, I didn’t prepare for anything after this one. With the way I’m physically feeling, I don’t know what distance I want to sign up for. I’m proud of my results as a first time half marathon participant with a time of 2 hours and 38 minutes. But with this first, I know there’s room for improvement; and I know how I want to train next round. I’m grateful for the experience especially in my favorite city and running is something I’ll do until my body tells me it no longer can. Besides, if I don’t keep this as a hobby how else can I prepare for my vacations and travels?
Thank you to my sister Jenn and family friend Leslie for helping me coordinate the race weekend, Regine, Tree & Kat for spending time with me, and my parents who continue to support my endeavors. It meant the world to me that this weekend also included family time. One of the pep talk podcasts I listened to during the race encouraged me to “Remember what matters the most and that once you do, the pieces you thought your heart was missing are suddenly right in front of you.” Thirteen miles later, those pieces came to hug me.
Jamie Vergara 