I accidentally* ran the NY Marathon
You know those moments that completely shatter what you think is possible?
That happened to me less than 2 weeks ago, when I "accidentally" ran 10 miles of the NYC marathon, totally unprepared, and in my dog-walking sneakers—and it changed everything I thought I knew about what happens when we let ourselves be truly supported.
(Side note: I literally couldn't sit on the toilet for 48 hours after. Worth it though? 100% 😅 )
So my college bestie flew in from LA to run her 8th marathon.
My "ambitious" Sunday plan? Watch her run past my neighborhood, then immediately retreat to Starbucks—because if you know me, you know I'd rather bike 20 miles than run ONE mile
When I saw my friend running past, I got SO EXCITED that I jumped in (sneaked in!) to snap some photos, see below. ⬇
Since she couldn't stop—marathon pace and all—so I kept running alongside her, thinking I'd hop out after a few blocks.
👀 What unfolded next showed me something profound about the transformational power of feeling seen and supported.
So there I was, running last thousands of people through Brooklyn, across the bridge and into Queens, then Manhattan.
💥 The streets were ALIVE with a spirit I'd never witnessed in my ten years in New York.
Korean drummers in traditional cultural outfits pounding a beat that vibrated through concrete. Salsa music pulsing through as children and pets were jumping up and down.
One mile turned into two. Then five. Suddenly I was running across bridges I'd never even driven on, through streets I'd only seen through cab windows. There was something powerful about running on highways completely blocked off from cars—like we'd reclaimed these streets for ourselves, for our collective joy.
💗 There were also the MOST CREATIVE signs that made me laugh:
"Leonardo DiCaprio would stop at 25.0"
"Who needs nipples, anyway?"
"Run like JD Vance is behind you" 😂
"Pick a butt and follow it"
Running through neighborhoods I usually speed past in an Uber showed me a New York I'd never known existed—one where the barriers between people and communities simply... dissolved.
Before I knew it, I looked down at my friend's running app: TEN F*CKING MILES. Me. The one who hasn't run since mandatory high school gym class. In my worn-out sneakers that were meant for casual dog walks.
👀 But here's what moved me most: My friend broke her personal record. Said running with me gave her an energy she'd never felt in her previous seven marathons. Our shared presence, me cheering her on, pushed her to run faster than she ever had before.
Ten days later, I'm still sitting with the power. When strangers look you in the eye and genuinely believe in your strength.
🦄 When thousands of people line the streets just to cheer you on, pass you water, hold up silly signs, and create music for your journey—it reminds you of what's possible when we are supported and cheered for.
In these times when the world feels heavy, when social media creates impossible standards, there's something revolutionary about spaces where people show up to support each other and truly connect.
💞 Where your presence alone is enough.
💞 And you can come as you are.
This is why our PR community is magic and I am so friggin grateful for it.
Not because we want to grow our businesses (although that happens too!), but because I've witnessed how transformative it is when real business owners support each other without agenda—especially in times like these when real connection feels rare and precious.
The real power isn't in doing everything perfectly. It's in showing up as we are, SEEING each other through our unique journeys, and creating spaces where we can all thrive—on our own terms and in our own time.
🙏 With a full heart (and finally able to walk normally again),
Gloria
P.S: If you want ME to be your biggest cheerleader and are looking for a place where you're seen and supported as you grow in confidence to share your story with the world, come check out our PR program. We're doing things differently here, and I'd love to show you how. (Book a call with me)
P.P.S.: It's NOT TOO late to pitch for gift guides, as I am sharing new PR opportunities for smallbiz heros like you in our fb community everyday, including the new one I just shared today. This is the best way to find out about new stories the top 1% of journalists in my network are writing before anyone else does! Join and come find your people