Running My First Half Marathon Felt Lonely—Until I Discovered This Tweak to Training

It was one of those quintessential New York fall Sundays—golden leaves swirling in the breeze, tan double-breasted peacoats lining the streets, and the unmistakable sound of cowbells ringing through the air. The New York City Marathon was in full swing, turning the city into a celebration of endurance, determination, and sheer human spirit. It’s easily a top-five day in the city.

After hours of cheering on friends, family, and complete strangers, my watch crew was buzzing with secondhand adrenaline. Caught up in the magic of it all, we did what any inspired (and slightly impulsive) group of spectators who’ve never run more than a few miles at a time would do: we entered our names in the New York City Half Marathon lottery that night. A few weeks later, on November 21, 2024, an email landed in my inbox: "Congrats! You’re In."

Some call it lucky, some call it cursed: I was the only one from our group who got selected.

Once the initial excitement—and mild panic—settled in, I got to work. I downloaded the Nike Run Club app, committed to its 14-week half-marathon training program, and hit the ground running (literally).

Sure, running is technically a solo sport, but knowing my friends wouldn’t be in the race with me started to bum me out. So I started talking to anyone who would listen about the race, hopeful that I would find community. And I did, in small ways—through the pair of carbon-plated running shoes my multi-marathoner brother-in-law got me for Christmas and the hand-me-down running belt and the lent AirPods (after losing two pairs mid-run) from my ever-patient roommates.

But I didn’t start to hit my stride until I found a group to train with, the Yummy Run Club, a weekly gathering led by Food52’s very own Annie Arriaga. I first heard about Yummy while chatting with Annie at the office about her half marathon experience. She immediately invited me to join her Sunday run. “I’ve been a runner since elementary school, but I never focused on speed or intensity—just feeling good and moving my body,” she told me. Yummy, as she explained, was born out of Boston’s hyper-competitive scene—a scene that, despite her lifelong love of running, never quite felt welcoming.

With a simple Instagram story—“Anyone want to run together?”—Yummy was born. It started with just four runners. Now, the group has grown to over 500 members across New York, Boston, and Miami. The best part? Every run ends with a treat. “I used to bring sodas and bake brownies when it was a small group,” Annie shared. “Now, we finish our runs at local small businesses and bakeries.”

On a crisp (but deceptively warm-feeling) 34-degree Sunday morning, I met up with Annie and about 15 other runners in Brooklyn to see what Yummy was all about. We ran at a conversational pace—a refreshing change for someone who’s not used to having someone to chat with on runs. The 2.5 miles passed effortlessly as I met new people, saw parts of the city I’d never noticed before, and, for the first time in a while, actually enjoyed running again (I’m at that half-way point slump in my training).

We ended the run at Buddie’s, a Puerto Rican café and bakery serving Coquito Lattes and weekend-only homemade quesitos, the perfect reward for the miles. Training for a race can feel isolating, but joining a running club, even for just one Sunday, was a good reminder that it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is together—with good people, good conversation, and a well-earned pastry at the end.