NYRR Member Week Brings Community Together
Our first-ever
Member Week
was a huge success thanks to everyone who came out to share the joy and camaraderie of running together.
The week kicked off with a
special panel event
at the NYRR
RUN
CENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub where members and staff shared favorite member moments at NYRR. On Tuesday, members got the chance to
mix and mingle
with one another at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. NYRR coaches were also there to answer questions and offer one-on-one coaching and training advice. Later in the week, members celebrated National Relaxation Day with
yoga and relaxation classes
at the
RUN
CENTER both virtually and in-person. They also got the chance to join a history tour of Central Park followed by a course strategy for the members-only race
To cap off an amazing week, runners took on the members-only
NYRR Grete’s Great Gallop 10K
in Central Park followed by a special post-race festival with fun activities and a ceremony to honor several of our members.
Member Week Honorees
Congratulations to our Member Week honorees! We’d like to thank you for your passion and dedication to supporting NYRR’s vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. Read below to learn about how running and NYRR have influenced their lives.
Outstanding Member Honor: Teresa Hui, 43, NYRR member since 2004
How did you first get involved with NYRR?
After I graduated college, I signed up for NYRR, and registered for my first race. I found out that you can gain guaranteed entry [to the
TCS New York City Marathon
through the 9+1 program]. I knew that this had to be my first marathon. Little did I know that it was going to be something that I would want to be part of my life forever. Joining NYRR in 2004 was one of the best decisions that I ever made!
How has NYRR/running influenced your life?
Marathon Sunday is literally my favorite day of the year! The marathon mentality gets me through the toughest of times and taught me to be resilient. The races on the weekends are also the best, and I always look forward to them. I've also been lucky enough to be invited to sing the national anthem at the start of the New York City Marathon since 2016
What has inspired you most in your running journey?
Every race feels like a family reunion! I get inspired by every single person who gets up in the morning, laces up their running shoes, and gets out the door to run the NYRR races. I also love seeing all of the different runners of all abilities on the course with me. At my first New York City Marathon in 2006, I [was] on the Queensboro Bridge and saw so many folks from different countries, speaking different languages, and all abilities of runers. I started tearing up. As a runner now with a disability, I am always one of the final finishers. The amount of love I felt was extraordinary.
Family Ties Honor: Jaime Matamoros, 56, and Magdalena Alija, 54, NYRR members since 2015
Jaime:
How did you first get involved with NYRR?
Through the
Open Run
program in Marine Park. My wife found out about this community event and then we decided to attend almost every week until the program opened in Cunningham Park. After that, we were on the opening day in Astoria Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park; later, we started visiting other parks .
How has NYRR/running influenced your life?
When I started running in this program, I had the motivation to take the next step and I decided to get a NYRR membership with my family. After that, my family and I started running NYRR races much more frequently.
What has inspired you most in your running journey?
One of my favorite things about running the NYC Marathon is that we have the privilege to run alongside elite runners from around the world.
Magdelena:
How did you first get involved with NYRR?
I first got involved with NYRR after seeing people running through the city with bibs on. Our family was looking for a community that we could be physically active with, so seeing these runners particularly piqued my interest.
How has NYRR/running influenced your life?
Being a part of NYRR has undoubtedly helped me find a community of like-minded people who share my enthusiasm for running. Through NYRR's Open Run program, I have been able to connect with others across several neighborhoods and form close-knit friendships.
What has inspired you most in your running journey?
The greatest inspiration in my running journey was first learning that I was able to accomplish such a feat. After running for my first time, I immediately felt rewarded by my own capability to do it at all. Now, as I continue to run, I always think back to that first time as a reminder that I am able to overcome anything.
New and Improved Honor: Chris Crowe, 33, NYRR member since 2023
How did you first get involved with NYRR?
After learning about the 9+1 program and
NYRR Group Training
, I realized I might actually be able to train for and run the NYC Marathon. I had no running experience whatsoever, so I signed up for the Fundamentals group in January 2023. I learned a lot about how to run, started running races, took the advice of all the coaches, and eventually moved into the Turnover Tuesday, Tempo Thursdays, and Weekend Long Run groups. NYRR has been with me every step of the way and has shown me I’m capable of much more than I could’ve expected.
How has NYRR/running influenced your life?
Running has been transformative. I’ve met amazing people and heard inspiring stories along the way, explored interesting parts of NY, and found new mental grit to take on more challenging and longer runs. The support NYRR provides to runners and the running community is fantastic.
What has inspired you most in your running journey?
I’ve met and been supported by some amazing people in my journey, including the NYRR coaches, fellow GT’ers and runners, race staff and volunteers, spectators, and more. Hearing what inspires others to run, as well as seeing the progress of fellow runners, continuously inspires me to keep chasing my goals. The NYRR coaching team has been instrumental in my journey as a runner.
Community Hero Honor: William Best, 75, NYRR member since 2007
How did you first get involved with NYRR?
At age 57 I decided that I was going to do something different for New Year’s Eve. Why not go and see some fireworks in Central Park at midnight? I got a couple of friends together and we ran the Midnight Run in 2007 going into 2008. Take a kid from Harlem and see the fireworks over my head. I thought, “Oh my god this is incredible.”
I started Group Training two years ago in July. That’s when my only sister passed away and I needed to do something early in the morning. These coaches, they give out so much knowledge. You never feel intimidated. There’s structure. I’ve never missed a session.
How has NYRR/running influenced your life?
I love coming to these events. The people. Getting in tune with myself. There’s support behind you. You get a chance to be there amongst these people. My idea of continuing with Road Runners is the community. For everyone to come and do their best and stay healthy.
I don’t get tired of repetition. I think that’s the key to success. I’m so thankful that now as I get older, my PR is that every day I get a chance and do a group training run. If it’s a good day maybe, I’ll go a little faster. If it’s a bad day I’m not going to not finish.
What has inspired you most in your running journey?
My first time running the full loop of Central Park, I got so frustrated coming down the East Side because I didn’t know where to go . This guy came up to me, and he said just stay with me brother, just stay with me. All of this frustration, all of this anxiety just left me. He stayed with me until the finish line. He was an inspiration. He said just keep going. Just finish. You are the winner of yourself. I really thank him.
Thank you, NYRR members for your support and involvement. Whether you are a new or long-time member or have one or hundreds of miles under your belt, we appreciate the vibrancy and energy that you bring to this community.
We encourage you to become more involved and to share our programs with your network of friends and family.
Together we are stronger and more connected.