Hi Friends and Family!

For the second year in a row, I’m proud to share that I ran in the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon!

Growing up with asthma and what some might call chicken legs, running was never my strong suit. Last year, on a whim, I signed up for the NYC Half—even though I had never run more than a few miles.

Amidst a year of uncertainty—career shifts, life changes—I craved something concrete to work toward, both physically and mentally. I wanted a challenge I couldn’t back out of, something to ground me. Running a half marathon felt like exactly that.

The training was humbling. The race was exhilarating. And the experience became one of the most meaningful of my life. It propelled me into a year of action, involvement, and commitment—one of the best years I’ve ever had.

So, I made a promise to myself: I’d run this race every year that I could.

This past Sunday, March 16th, I followed through. I completed my second 13.1—and it was just as magical as the first. There’s truly nothing like running across the Brooklyn Bridge, up the FDR, through a shut-down Times Square, and into Central Park for the finish.

To participate in this race, runners must support a charity. This year, I was lucky enough to receive a bib from Hudson River Park, the organization responsible for Manhattan’s incredible West Side riverfront parkland.

As the country’s longest riverfront park, Hudson River Park is an oasis for New Yorkers and visitors alike, offering endless recreational and educational activities. It’s also an urban sustainability leader, from community composting programs to its 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary, which is reviving biodiversity in the Hudson River.

On a personal level, the West Side Highway—maintained by Hudson River Park—is my happy place. It’s where I go to clear my head, work out in the outdoor gym, and catch up with friends over coffee by the water. I can’t imagine life in New York without it.

The fact that this was the one charity I was able to run for felt almost too good to be true.

If you’d like to support my commitment to this race—and to protecting New York’s most vital urban sanctuary—please consider donating to my page!

Hope your year is off to a great start, and wishing you an amazing year ahead!

With love,

Jacob