This November, I'm running the 2026 NYC Marathon, and I'd love your help.
A bit of background: my first two marathons happened during a really different chapter of my life. After that, I took a three-year break from running. I'd been pushing my body hard, running had taken over a big chunk of my identity, and I needed a reset, mentally and physically. After a long hiatus, for some reason I've decided to get back into the practice of force-feeding myself peanut butter toast at 7am and running 15 miles for fun on a Saturday. Lol. In all seriousness... I've missed the training, the progress, and having a challenge that has absolutely nothing to do with my job. Watching yourself get better at something even when it's hard and not always fun is a pretty great feeling.
BUT! The bigger reason I'm running this race is that lately I've been way too in my own head about my own life. I wanted to give back, and that's how I ended up with Bronx Burners.
Why Bronx Burners? Short version - Bronx Burners creates real opportunities for kids in the Bronx (that's a borough in NYC, for all of my west coast besties) by connecting high school students with one-on-one mentorship, career exposure, and professional skill-building. My favorite part of fundraising for them is that it's dollar in, dollar out. Every cent goes straight to a kid's scholarship. I get to physically hand a check to a high school kid who needs it at the end of this.
As I approach my 5-year (SHEESH) mark in NYC, I've thought a lot about how I can give back to the city that's given me so much, so running this marathon with Bronx Burners feels like the perfect homage to New York. Every dollar you give goes straight to a kid's future, and every mile I run this fall is for them.
My goal is to raise $5,000, and I'd be so grateful for your support, whether that's $10 or $500. Thank you thank you thank you for being part of this with me