I actually started as a walker with Black Girls Run! in 2016. Later that year, some of the BGR ladies volunteered at the NYC Marathon and came back talking about how incredible it was — I knew I wanted to be part of that energy. In 2017, I surrounded myself with like-minded runners through TeamWRK and completed NYRR’s 9+1 program, and in 2018 I ran my first marathon. I used to tell myself, “If I can be on my feet all day for Trinidad Carnival, I can run a marathon.”  That mindset carried me through.

This will be my first Boston Marathon, which makes it incredibly special. I’ve completed eight marathons so far, including three World Marathon Majors, but Boston feels different — it truly feels like coming home.

What excites me most about running is how it helps me reset. Work can be intense, and while I can’t run away from my problems, I can definitely run to clear my head and deal with the crazy. Running gives me that space, and it’s also given me an amazing community. As a run coordinator for BGR! Bridgeport, I now get to help other women achieve goals they once thought were out of reach, which means everything to me.

To my fellow athletes — run happy. Trust your journey, stay consistent, and don’t forget why you started. Not every run will feel great, but there’s joy in showing up for yourself again and again. That’s where the magic is.