New York, May 1, 2026 – This Mental Health Awareness Month, New York Road Runners (NYRR)—the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races, including the TCS New York City Marathon, and providing free year-round youth and community programs—invites New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to support their mental health well-being through running and walking. Throughout May, the nonprofit will offer a series of in-person activities, including the third annual NYRR Mindful 5K, virtual challenges, free community programming, and digital resources designed to get New Yorkers moving and build community.

“All around the world, people are experiencing the impact running has on their physical and mental health,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners.“Running has become a source of community, connection, and belonging. This Mental Health Awareness Month, and throughout the year, our events, free programs across the five boroughs, and resources are designed to encourage people to believe in the power of every step to transform their mental well-being.”

Across the country, people—particularly young adults—are spending more time online and less time building in-person connections, despite heavy social media use being associated with nearly three times the risk of depression. New York Road Runners’ full slate of races, community events, and free year-round programming is designed to combat isolation, bring people together, and cultivate meaningful connection. The nonprofit champions social connectedness to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, New York Road Runners will increase access to movement, community, and connection with the following initiatives:

IN-PERSON EVENTS

NYRR Mindful 5K

To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, New York Road Runners will welcome 6,000 adult and youth athletes to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, for the third-annual NYRR Mindful 5K, Saturday, May 2. A celebration of running and mental well-being, the event will include several special activations, including the Zen Zone, a serene space for meditation and mindfulness offering guided sessions, therapy dogs from New York Therapy Animals, the Reflection Wall where athletes can share their motivation and inspiration for running, and resources from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City (NAMI-NYC), New York Road Runners' mental health partner.

New York Road Runners first introduced the Zen Zone at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and has since become a staple both at the marathon and the NYRR Mindful 5K.

Nearly a decade ago, New York Road Runners and New York Therapy Animals first partnered to bring therapy dogs to the start of the TCS New York City Marathon, helping calm athletes' nerves. The program expanded to the United Airlines NYC Half for the first time in March, with the therapy dogs making their NYRR Mindful 5K debut this year.

Among the NYRR Mindful 5K participants are several inspiring athletes whose mental health journeys have been shaped by running:

• Kayla Avila of Forest Hills, Queens: Kayla discovered running in late 2024 as a way to connect with her partner. It quickly became her anchor during a time of turmoil when she lost her job and health insurance and was finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after years of being dismissed by doctors. Within her first year of running, she completed three half marathons and embraced a lifestyle shift that supported her mental and physical health, which she will celebrate by running the 2026 NYRR Mindful 5K with her partner.

• Ruth Helen Medici of Floral Park, Queens: Ruth is a longtime New York Road Runners athlete and special education teacher who has run a dozen half marathons and more than 50 5Ks and 10Ks since 2014. Running has helped Ruth manage her chronic illness, lose and maintain weight, and ground her mental health. She started a girls' running club at her school, providing her students a place to belong while engaging in positive, healthy behaviors. While she runs the adult 5K, more than a dozen of her students will participate in the accompanying Rising New York Road Runners youth races and dashes.

• Nicole Schalmo of Inwood, Manhattan: Diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2018 and given just 12 to 18 months to live, Nicole defied the odds through rigorous treatment and found healing, consistency, and community through NYRR Open Run during the pandemic. She will run the 2026 NYRR Mindful 5K during Brain Tumor Awareness Month on the anniversary of the MRI that changed her life, honoring her journey as a survivor and advocate for others with glioblastoma.

Additionally, more than a dozen NYRR Run for the Future alumnae—who graduated from the six-week summer program introducing New York City high school young women to running—will participate. The NYRR Mindful 5K will also feature a Run for the Future tent where alumnae can reconnect, and participants can take part in interactive mindfulness activities such as spinning a wellness wheel and reflecting on guided prompts.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, NYRR Run for the Future combines movement, education, and community, with participants attending workshops, panels, and discussions related to overall wellness, including mental health, before running their first 5K.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

NYRR Open Run Event

For more than a decade, NYRR Open Run has brought free weekly runs and walks to 16 local parks across New York City and Jersey City, drawing nearly 100,000 community participants and volunteers since its inception in 2015. On Saturday, May 30, at 9 a.m., New York Road Runners will host an Open Run for an Open Mind event in Baisley Pond Park, Queens, dedicated to mental well-being. A representative from NAMI-NYC will be on-site providing information on their programs along with materials to aid discussion about the correlation between mental health and running.

NYRR Striders Programming

The free NYRR Striders walking and fitness program helps more than 1,500 older adults across the five boroughs—who are most at risk of social isolation—stay active and build community through free in-person group training sessions during the year. Underscoring the importance of social connection, 65% of Striders report better mental and physical health after joining the program. Striders programming is held at parks, older adult centers, and community centers across the five boroughs.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, several Striders sites will participate in a friendly walking challenge and have access to mental health resources from NAMI-NYC.

Mental Health Awareness Month Striders event series:

• NYRR Striders at Engineers' Gate at Central Park in Manhattan, Tuesday, May 5, 10 a.m.

• NYRR Striders at West Brighton Neighborhood Senior Center on Staten Island, Wednesday, May 6, 9:30 a.m.

• NYRR Striders at Albany Senior Center in Brooklyn, May 12th at 1:30pm.

• NYRR Striders at Rochdale Village Senior Center in Queens, Monday, May 18, 10:30 a.m.

• NYRR Striders at PSS Highbridge Senior Services Center in the Bronx, Tuesday, May 19, 10 a.m.

In addition, nearly 100 Striders and Open Run participants will join NAMIWalks NYC, the nation’s largest mental health event, Sunday, May 17 in New York City.

VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES

New York Road Runners’ Mental Health Awareness Month activations include several virtual races and challenges:

• Virtual NYRR Mental Health Awareness Month Challenge: Open to all, from May 1 to May 31, participants can log 31 total miles on Strava anywhere, anytime in recognition of the impact running has on mental well-being.

• Rising NYRR Mindful Virtual Run: Through May 31, young runners of all ages and abilities across the country can participate in a free virtual run or walk of any distance. Kids can print or create a bib of their own for inspiration, and once complete, they can print an official Rising New York Road Runners finisher certificate. Rising New York Road Runners is the nonprofit’s free running-based youth program for more than 200,000 kids ages 2 to 18, including 100,000 across the five boroughs, designed to get kids active and build their confidence to cross any finish line. The benefits of youth sports are well-documented, helping reduce obesity, prevent chronic diseases, and improve self-esteem, concentration, and attention.

DIGITAL CONTENT& RESOURCES

• New York Road Runners’ podcast NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton will release a special Mental Health Awareness Month episode featuring Peloton’s Selena Samuela, now a mom of three who recently returned from maternity leave after having twins. In a candid conversation, Samuela discusses motherhood, identity shifts, and the mental and emotional realities of the postpartum period, while sharing how fitness, routine, and self-compassion have helped her navigate this new chapter. A special conversation on mental health and motherhood, the episode continues the show’s renewed focus on purposeful storytelling, behind-the-scenes access, and the meaningful ways running and fitness shape people’s lives.

• Throughout May, the New York Road Runners website will have a dedicated Mental Well-Being landing page with resources, information, and stories focused on running’s positive impact on mental health, including NYRR blog posts about mental wellness.

New York Road Runners’ Mental Health Awareness Month efforts are supported by NAMI-NYC and Strava.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.