Thanks to New Balance, a group of Charm City Run team members will be training and running the New York City Marathon together on November 6, 2022. Leading up to the race, each member will share a blog post describing why they are running, how training is going, and what it means to run a marathon as a Charm City Run team. Billy Ornold, Charm City Run Senior Events Coordinator, shares his perspective on preparing for the New York City Marathon.
A Haiku:
New York Marathon
Running Twenty-Six Point Two
New Balance – THANK YOU!
When the word came through that some of us at Charm City Run would have the opportunity to run the New York City Marathon, thanks to a generous offer from New Balance, I was beyond excited. For a few years, I have applied for entry (and even entered a few giveaways) with no luck. The opportunity to run with 50,000 people from all over the world is something that I can barely wrap my brain around. And now here we are - less than one week away from race day. The nerves are starting to build, but I just keep repeating to myself that I should “trust the training”.
Beyond all the obvious reasons like getting the rare, guaranteed entry in the race, the opportunity to run through five boroughs and to run alongside so many of my work colleagues and our partners, why am Iso pumped?
Well – I attend a lot of races, but rarely race. For over ten years now I have worked for Charm City Run Events in all capacities. I’m the guy that sends you emails so you know what to expect on race day, I’m the guy handing you your bib and shirt before the race. I’m the guy behind a computer making sure you get your race results (and more importantly that they are correct).
I love it, but I also think it is important to view a race through a participant’s eyes. To experience the excitement of race day morning. To feel the nerves slowly fade away as the miles add up. To embrace the exhilaration when you finally cross the finish line. To experience the reason you all keep coming back to our races no matter what your goals.
As the miles tick away, I am going to embrace what Charm City Run stands for – to inspire and move the human spirit one sole at a time. Who knows how the race will go? I know the marathon can humble you and I am ready to be humbled. No matter how it goes, I know I will come out better for it. The marathon will teach me something and I will bring that back to Charm City Run.
Feel free to track my progress and send me positive thoughts! Live Give Run!!
