NYC Marathon Team Spot Check In: Carrie Cody

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1. Tell us a little bit about how you came to be involved with NBR. What was your first run? How long have you been involved?

I joined NBR in the early months of 2017 after Googling "Running clubs in Brooklyn." I've always run for exercise and fun, but wanted to meet people in the 'hood and have something to motivate me to do more. My first run was TNT, and it was already drizzling when I left my apartment, but I'd put off attending a run for a couple weeks, so I forced myself to go. I was waiting under a tree wondering if the run would get cancelled when Becca Ades and about five dudes arrived and cheerfully announced the run was on. By the time we got to Kent it was driving rain, the kind where you can barely see; Becca and the other runners (who were waaaaay faster than me) high-fived me at every pass, and when I finished they were all huddled in the rain on Kent waiting for me, and I was like, okay, these people are the real deal :) It took me a little while to really become a part of the NBR community, but now I count some of my teammates as my closest friends.

2. How is marathon training going? Are there any specific workouts that are really moving things along for you? Tell the world a good NBR long run story.

It's going! I sort of pieced together my own plan based on a couple I liked. It's honestly a lot harder than I imagined, and I'm really grateful to have so many fellow runners in the same boat. I was trying to hit Tuesday Night Tempo every week, but it's been harder to do Tuesday speed work as my weekend long runs have started taking their toll. I go to Thursday Night Track every week (just became a run leader too, shameless plug!), and Narwhals, which I'd never run before marathon training, but has been really instrumental in getting me through my long runs. My first 16-miler was with Narwhals—it was the last weekend of Summer Streets and it was just incredible—the great group I ran with, the feeling of community that comes from joining other runners while we had the streets to ourselves, all the great water stops—I never thought I could have such a blast running long in high 80 degree weather.

3. Which NBR runs are you attending regularly to train? Are there any NBR members who inspire you to train hard(er)?

Monday Night Easy Run, Tuesday Night Tempo when my legs cooperate, Thursday Night Track, and Narwhals have all been staples of my training cycle. Oh man, it's a long list, but my lil' squad—Liz Shea, who always has a positive 'tude and chants my name during every run we do together; Anthony Zhu, who's my running buddy outside NBR runs; Seth Pompan, who's been thru a lot this year and still keeps coming back for more; James Gray-King, who's heard me ask "Am I supposed to be this sore though?" almost every week since August and acts like running a marathon is the most enjoyable thing I'll ever do; Nat Gleed, who helps me be faster just by trying to keep up with her; and Sara Cohen, who's about the happiest person I've ever witnessed running a marathon. I love you all! <3

4. What does it mean to be chosen by your peers for a coveted NBR marathon team spot?

I can't even say how grateful I am—after having a great first half of 2018, I was sidelined with an injury in August and couldn't complete my 9+1. NBR and its amazing members are what inspired me to run a marathon in the first place—something I NEVER thought I would do in my lifetime, and I was low-key devastated. My injury really took it out of me, I got pretty depressed and mentally and emotionally run down, but it turns out in NBR, you're still in good company with other injured runners. I can't say enough how much it meant to have my teammates continue to motivate and boost me up during the whole lengthy injury recovery process, all culminating in this gift that keeps on giving. :)

5. What do you plan on eating post-marathon? What about the night before?

Post: probably a burger and fries and all the beer. The night before a race, I like the orecchiette w/ sausage and broccoli rabe from Scalino in Greenpoint. It's pretty reliably no muss-no fuss and has gotten me through some races.

6. What inspires and motivates you to run this year's NYC marathon?

Cheering and volunteering at multiple marathons, both NYC and elsewhere for people I know and love has been really motivational for me. I love that an entire city can come together to celebrate the months of literal blood, sweat and tears these runners have spent on their training. Running it myself, as my first marathon on my hometown turf will be so physically, mentally and emotionally rewarding. Also my sister Emily, who I planned to train and run my first marathon with before I thought my injury was gonna make that an impossibility. She's been an incredible inspiration and my rock both while I was recovering and during our training cycle, and watching her train has made me try harder to stay positive, even when I want to quit a run.

7. In your head, what animal (real or fictional) do you think you most resemble when you're running?

Oh lord, maybe a T-Rex? The short arms and torso, stomping down too hard on my feet always, sometimes known to yell.