Honoring Heritage and Hard Work with Every Step
To continue our celebration of
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we’re shining a spotlight on NYRR Coach Gisela Perez and NYRR Strider Lebby Delgado. Both women remind us that community is what carries us forward.
Pictured above are Coach Gisela Perez (second from right) and Lebby Delgado (third from right) with NYRR Striders participants and other runners from the community.
Discovering Running Later in Life
After recently retiring, Lebby was looking for new ways to stay active and support her mental and physical well-being. Then she met Coach Gisela in Central Park at an NYRR Striders session near Engineers' Gate and was immediately inspired. Coach Gisela, a marathoner, talked about her love of running and encouraged Lebby to try the NYRR Open Run New Runner Clinic at St. Mary's Park in the Bronx.
“The coaches just kept encouraging me. I thought it was a great experience,” Lebby said.
Although she had always admired runners, Lebby never dreamed of becoming one herself because she’d never run before. Through the support of Striders and the New Runner Clinic, she can now run a full mile without stopping and runs several times a week.
“Step by step and [you] get to that mile. Even if you walk, you get to that mile. And I think it's healthier for you mentally,” she said.
Running has become especially meaningful for Lebby as she navigates a new chapter in her life. Following the loss of her son and mother, movement has provided her with a positive outlet, and she's now pursuing a PhD in public health. She recently achieved a longtime bucket-list goal by taking on her first-ever race at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, with plans for many more races to come.
“Coaching Lebby was truly a joy. When I learned that I would be coaching the New Runner Clinic at St. Mary’s Park, I immediately thought of Lebby,” Coach Gisela said.
Lebby committed herself to the program, practicing run-walk intervals at the clinic and on her own between sessions. She eventually became stronger and more confident. The program prepared participants for the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. After the race, Lebby came to a Striders workout excited to tell Coach Gisela all about her experience.
“That was such a proud moment for me as her coach. To see her go from being unsure whether she could run the distance to completing the race was amazing," Coach Gisela said. "Lebby did the work, stayed consistent, and began to believe in what her body could do. I am incredibly proud of her.”
Connecting Through Cultural Heritage
For Lebby, who is Puerto Rican, culture is deeply personal. She tries to attend parades and heritage events any chance she can and contributes to the community whenever possible. "It's very personal to me," she said.
Coach Gisela emphasized that her own Latina heritage means everything to her. She said that growing up, women of her generation and culture were not always encouraged to see themselves in sports. She didn’t see many women that looked like her represented in the running community.
“That makes being a Latina runner especially meaningful to me today. Every time I show up, as a runner, marathoner, or coach, I am bringing my culture and my heritage with me," she said. "I hope that by continuing to show up in this sport, other Latina women can see what is possible for themselves too.”
Representation in the Sport
Both women agree that representation matters and that there's more to do. "There should be more. Definitely," Lebby said. Coach Gisela sees real progress and growing diversity in the NYC running community. She'd love for organizations like New York Road Runners to recognize and partner with the local running groups already welcoming runners of every culture, age, and pace. That means inviting their leaders into conversations and giving them space to represent their own communities.
"Inclusion is not only about inviting people to participate, it is also about making sure they can see themselves represented once they arrive," she said.