'I Started Running At Age 40—Now I've Run Over 30 Races & Beat Cancer'
Although I’ve always been active, I didn’t get serious about running until I was almost 40. Now it’s a habit that keeps me busy and keeps my body moving.
In 2011, I was living in the Bronx and working as a Police Administrative Aide in the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn. (Today, I work in the detective squad at the 88th precinct.) Every day on my way into work, I saw runners going back and forth along the FDR Drive. One day I saw a young woman running, and her ponytail was bouncing up and down. She looked so peaceful to me, and I thought that I’d like to give it a try someday.
I mentioned this to my coworker, Detective Parker, who was a runner. Months later, he asked me to go for a mile-long run around the precinct. I had to walk, but I kind of liked it, and we kept going about once a week or so. I also started running with a group called BLACK GIRLS RUN that Parker told me about. We met every Wednesday at Yankee Stadium Track.
There was a track team out there that was looking for new members and I signed my sons up. While the boys were running with their team three times a week, I did my own laps around the track.
I started by telling myself I wanted to run one lap around the track without stopping.
I worked up to it and just kept going from there.
Parker also told me he was a member of New York Road Runners, the nonprofit that produces the New York City Marathon, and suggested I become a member, too. He encouraged me to enter my first race, the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, in November of 2014.
I also became a member of Team Lean.Strong.Fast., a Brooklyn-based run club. They have coaches, including my coach at the time, Marlon Jude, that teach exercise classes and give tips on things like nutrition and how to fuel for longer runs. I entered more than 30 races over the next few years, leading up to completing my first New York City Marathon in 2018.
Though I run quite a bit, it’s not peaceful for me; it’s a struggle.
When I run and hit hard moments, I remind myself that I'm not a quitter. I tell myself over and over again: keep going, keep moving, don't stop, you got this. I focus on my breathing and keep going.
I like getting the medal at the end of the race—the bling bling is what motivates me. And I want as many medals as I can get, but entry fees for races can get expensive.
About two years ago, I was accepted into NYRR’s Race Free program, which helps you with entry fees based on your income. It’s allowed me to enter more races—you should see my wall of medals.
Now running is a habit that keeps me busy and keeps my body moving, especially after I was diagnosed with cancer.
In September 2021, I learned I had breast cancer. Right after I was diagnosed someone told me about the Breast Cancer Awareness walk that happens every year in October in Central Park. I signed up and wore my pink shirt and socks—but I didn’t walk, I ran.
Very soon after, I had surgery and started chemotherapy treatments. I wasn’t able to run much that fall and winter, but I was already scheduled for the NYRR Al Gordon 4M in February of 2022, and I wanted to run it.
I received my last chemotherapy treatment the day before. I was very, very tired and I was getting mad at myself because I wasn’t moving at the pace I was used to. But I pushed through it, and I made it to the finish line.
A few days after that, I felt really sick. I went to my doctor, and found out that the cancer had spread to my spine as well. I wasn’t able to be active for a few months while I continued treatment.
Not being able to run, I felt like I was missing something. Running had become a habit, and I wanted to get back to my routine. I let my oncologist know that I wanted to run the RBC Brooklyn Half in May 2023, and he gave me the OK. By that time, I was taking chemotherapy orally, and he felt I was getting better.
I trained myself by walking. One mile took me 19 or 20 minutes, but I kept doing it, leading up to that race—my first half since being diagnosed. After that run, I thought hey, I still got it, I was just a little slower.
Today, I’m cancer-free, but I’m still working on having patience with myself.
I’m still slow today. It bothers me, but people keep reminding me that I’ve gone through a lot, and I need to give myself grace and enjoy the moment. I don’t want to beat myself up for moving at a slower pace than I was before I was diagnosed.
I have been NED—No Evidence of Disease—for more than 18 months, but I still meet with my cancer support group, the Red Door Community, once a week. They also have programs for families, so my kids can receive counseling as well. Red Door told me they had a spot in the New York City Marathon this November, and asked me if I’d like to run.
I am not where I used to be, and training has been much harder, but I’m pushing myself to keep going. I run/walk, mostly on my own because my pace is slower than my running groups, and I keep up with foam rolling and stretching. I do exercises to strengthen my legs, especially my ankles and knees, since I suffer from shin splints.
I've been knocked down so many times, but I keep getting up.
I don't stay down long. I've been through so much in my life. I could write a book. Running the marathon is a mind game. I just have to stay positive and dig deep inside for the strength to get me through. I have to show myself and my kids that no matter what, you’ve got to try not to let things keep you down. You have life—you’ve got to get up and move.
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