How Running Helped Me Navigate a New Life in New York City

NYRR Contributors Circle member Victoria Fortune will run the Tokyo Marathon on March 2 and is sharing her story leading up to race day.

I moved to New York in 2012 the day after I graduated from Howard University. Leaving the college dorm life and jumping right into the hustle and bustle of New York City was quite an adjustment for me. I felt the shift the minute my parents unloaded our van and moved me into my best friend's extra room that was no larger than 30 square feet.

“What in the heck did I get myself into?” I asked myself. It was one of those, “This is where we are, too late to back out of it” moments. So instead of folding into myself, I took the challenge head on.

Less than 48 hours after unpacking, I showed up bright and early to my first job working as a marketing assistant at a live entertainment/concert promotion company. I made so many mistakes my first year there. Everything was so new to me. My stress levels were through the roof. At the time, going to therapy felt so taboo, so what did I do to help cope? I started running. 

Victoria running along the East River track.

I ran every single day before going into the office. Adding a run to my daily routine was a game changer for me. I went into the office less stressed. When I made a mistake, instead of being hard on myself or over thinking, I addressed the matter with my manager and came up with solutions. Those morning runs would bring me so much clarity. It also helped get my creative juices flowing.

As the years went by, I would continue my solo runs but yearned for a sense of community. I wanted to find people who also enjoyed running just as much as I did. So, in 2013 I ran my first half marathon. It was my first time being around so many people from all over the world who shared this common interest. Whether folks were running in honor of a loved one, or for personal reasons, it was such an encouraging feeling to know that we were all in it together.

Victoria poses with her parents after running her first half marathon at the 2013 United Airlines NYC Half.

I met friends at one of the half marathon celebrations who invited me to some of the Nike community runs that were happening. It wasn’t until I started going to community runs when I realized that the New York running scene was lit. Showing up to those runs became something I looked forward to. Even though making friends at the runs was a challenge (mainly due to everyone already being in their cliques), it was still fascinating to be in the environment.

Fast forward to a couple of years and half marathons later, I felt more connected to the city and the running community—2019 in particular was a turning point for me. That year will forever be ingrained in my memory. After the loss of my dad in 2018, my running regimen intensified tremendously. Channeling my grief by way of running long miles, became a safe space for me to let out the big emotions I was feeling. I was logging about 70-100 miles a month. The increase in mileage caught the attention of my friend Arinze Emeagwali who suggested I run a marathon and apply for the Nike Project Moonshot training program.

Victoria became a featured athlete for Nike's Project Moonshot marathon marketing campaign in 2019.

So, I did, and going through that marathon training experience changed my life forever. I met some of my closest friends and began my own personal journey normalizing the conversation around grief. I’d openly share stories on Instagram about lessons my dad taught me in an effort to honor him. The stories shared got the attention of people all around the world, including staff at the Nike headquarters. I became the subject of their 2019 marathon with photos and quotes of the lessons I’d written featured at Nike stores across New York City. It was unreal. I ended up finishing the marathon under four hours that year. I couldn’t even believe it; especially given it was my first marathon. But as the saying goes “hard work pays off.”

Though being the subject of Project Moonshot’s 2019 campaign was such a great once in a lifetime experience, what I valued most about that journey was the magical people I met during that time. I met friends who have now become like family to me. In fact, as a result of the Moonshot program, I’ve joined forces with five others to co-found DeFine New York Run Club created by run coach and NoName Founder, Coffey.

Victoria and her DeFine New York Run Club crew.

Since my first marathon in 2019, I’ve run four marathons, with my fifth coming up on March 2 in Tokyo, Japan in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charity. Tokyo will be my first international marathon and third Abbot World Marathon Major.

Throughout life’s ups and downs, running has been a consistent outlet that’s helped me navigate it all. Running helped me define my relationship with grief and was a huge inspiration behind my Sunshine & Rain podcast that invites guests to share personal stories centered around grief and how they’ve healed through those experiences. I can honestly say, if it weren't for the introspection received on my daily runs, the podcast wouldn’t be here.

I give gratitude to my body, my run club, and all the people I’ve had the honor of meeting throughout this running journey. Since I moved to NYC in 2012, I'm proud of my evolution and ability to move through discomfort. I’m stronger, wiser, more determined, and ready to take on whatever comes my way. Looking forward to deepening my running journey and continuing to inspire people to lean into movement as a tool to help cope. 

Victoria as a child with her father.