By BC

When I started my running journey back in 2023 I had no idea what I was doing. I figured I had seen people run casually in college and I had watched Kipchoge do it, so why not me too? It had to be easy, right? I quickly learned I was very wrong. Distance running is a structured sport that demands attention to detail and consistency. There are many unwritten rules and I was completely unfamiliar with most of them.

In those early days I also did not realize I needed a plan. I needed a goal that would keep me disciplined and prevent me from giving up when things got tough. That is when I discovered the NYC Marathon and the beloved nine plus one program. I will share more about my marathon experience in a future post linked here.

After doing my research around November I learned how the nine plus one program works through NYRR. You can learn more about the program here. In short it gives you guaranteed entry to the NYC Marathon after completing nine official NYRR races and volunteering at one event. This program became one of the best decisions of my life. It truly changed everything for me.

I started by volunteering at a Harlem five kilometer race in March 2024. I would have started earlier but one thing I always tell people who want to do the nine plus one is to register early. The races are extremely competitive and thousands of runners try to sign up. More than once I tried to register a day or two after general entry opened and the race was already full. If you want a spot, sign up the moment registration opens and prepare yourself for NYRR website crashes and a lot of patience.

My First NYRR Experience

My first volunteer shift was special. I woke up early and asked my father to drive me to the area where he has worked for many years. After a quick stop at Dunkin Donuts we headed toward Harlem. As we got closer I could hear the booming PA system, the loud music, and crowds of people warming up. It was overwhelming and I felt completely lost. I had never been to that part of the city on my own. My dad dropped me off and I walked into an experience that would end up reshaping my life.

My first task was to find the volunteer assembly area. I turned a corner and saw a sea of neon hats with the word volunteer written on them. After checking in at the tent I was told to wait for instructions. The volunteer coordinator gave us a quick speech reminding us to be firm, have fun, and keep the emergency phone number in mind. Then we were sent out onto the course to help direct runners.

Groups of friends paired up with each other, couples stuck together, and I stood quietly waiting to find someone who also needed a partner. Thankfully a man who looked maybe five years older than me walked over and asked if I needed someone to work with. I said yes, and we headed to our spot on the course.

His name was Harry. We started chatting about everything, from life goals to his flower arrangement job to my hopes of working in banking. He told me about his married life and I told him about my dreams of running the marathon. The connection was instant. Harry was a two time NYC Marathon finisher and when I told him why I was doing the nine plus one he was genuinely excited for me. He recommended races to sign up for and even suggested I get a Garmin watch. This was all before the race had even started.

Then the gun went off and the lead car approached. A pack of incredibly fast runners appeared behind it, their form flawless and powerful. I had never been that close to competitive runners before and the intensity was unreal. It was intoxicating.

Harry and I got to work corralling runners and guiding pedestrians. At one point an elderly man tried to cross at the wrong time and collided with a runner. Thankfully both were fine after a quick check in. The city moved on like it always does.

After the final runners passed the organizers asked us to return our vests. Harry and I said goodbye and he told me to follow him on the one social media platform he uses, Strava. The connection was too poor to add him on the spot, but I screenshotted his username. Sadly I never found him. As it turns out there are many Harry Pattersons on Strava. Still, if our paths cross again it will be a great moment.

The Journey Continues

My running journey began that day in the best way possible. I felt like a new person. I was obsessed with the sport and with the electrifying energy of the city.

From that point on I completed five kilometer races, ten kilometer races, ten mile races, and eventually the Brooklyn Half Marathon. My family started asking if I was crazy for doing all of this which to me was a good sign. I ran my best time at the Brooklyn Half and celebrated afterward at a Peruvian restaurant in Queens with my parents where we even saw Mayor Eric Adams eating there too. The city always seems to place interesting characters in front of you.

In May 2025 I made a major adult decision and moved for work, transferring from my bank assistant manager role in Westchester to an internal position in Albany. I had no family there and barely any friends. I had no idea how much my life would change. But I knew I needed the experience and a new environment.

Even with the move I refused to quit the nine plus one. For six straight weekends I drove two and a half hours back to my parents house, woke up early, and raced. Week after week until the final two races when my brother stepped in to help in December.

Finishing the nine races and one volunteer shift took nearly a year. When it was finally done I knew the next year would be dedicated to training for the NYC Marathon. To the races, the friends, and my family who helped me, I truly thank you.

If you are interested in running the NYC Marathon or simply want to run a few amazing races around the vibrant NYC area, do it. For your sake and for mine.

If you’d like to help me reach my fundraising goal, please consider donating here:

👉 Donate to the American Cancer Society through my marathon page

Every dollar brings us closer to a world without cancer.

If you’re also inspired to run for a cause, you can learn more about ACS charity teams and other amazing organizations here:

👉 Chicago Marathon Charity Teams

I appreciate your time

-BC