2022 NYC MARATHON: Meet the Marathoners IV
Our special preview of the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon wraps up with our final “Meet the Marathoners” runners. Over 60 New York Harriers are signed up for the race. Read below on how some of them are training and preparing for the big day — and how they plan to celebrate crossing one of the world’s most iconic finish lines!
Susannah Davies
Susannah Davies is getting geared up to run her fourth marathon – and her second New York City. She ran her 3:22:17 PR at the race last year. This year, she feels ready to do even better. “Feeling good and ahead of where I was last year,” she reports. She’s stoked to be toeing the line on Sunday. “New York is magical.”
The marathon is also what drove Susannah to join the team in September 2021. “I was registered for NYC and wanted to meet new people training for marathons,” she says. “After one Harriers practice, I knew it was the team for me. Everyone loves running but also likes to have fun!”
The connections she’s made have proven key to her training. Susannah lists some teammates who’ve been by her side through it all: “Mirjam is often my morning training buddy and Simon was my buddy during evening Death Loops. And I have also enjoyed long runs with Louise.” But it’s not all about the grind. As she was coming back from an injury in June, she, Zöe and Alison (who were coming off a triathlon training cycle) would do laps around the Bridle Path while spilling tea, as the kids say, dubbing it “Gossip June.”
While she acknowledges running in the heat and humidity of summer was tough, Susannah does genuinely enjoy the training. “I actually love long runs because often you get to explore and after the first few miles sometimes I just forget I am running,” she explains, listing what she loves most about training for a 26.2 mile race. And adds: “Plus all the food after.”
Susannah is also armed with over 250 playlists on Spotify. She’ll be listening to one of them on race day morning to get herself in the zone. “I have a playlist called Suze’s Serotonin and it’s not necessarily a pump-up playlist, but they are songs that make me happy or remind me of happy memories,” she says.
Her race plan is one we all know Coach Scott endorses: hold back at the start. “Although I feel stronger than last year, I would rather negative split it than use all my energy right out of the gate,” she explains. But when it comes down to it, she plans to leave it all out on course. “When Molly Seidel dropped out of Boston she said, ‘Chin up, full send’ and that really stuck with me.”
Another person she draws inspiration from is her mom, who engrained the joy of running in her from a very young age. “My mom ran around Central Park when pregnant with me and pushed me in a stroller. She runs 5 miles every day,” Susannah says. “And running is also one of her main joys in life.” The entire family will be at 72nd Street ready to cheer her on, and Susannah may even have a dance sesh in the middle of the marathon. “Last year, I did a little jig for them without breaking stride (no hugs) and I think my dad expects that again,” she notes.
As for her post-run food afterwards? She’s looking forward to her favorite. “I’ve said it before, and I'll say it again: chicken and waffles... with a Hazy IPA!”
Kimberley Chapelle
Kimi Chapelle is probably traveling the furthest of all the Harriers to run her first marathon this coming weekend. Originally hailing from South Africa, Kimi moved to NYC for a fellowship at the American Museum of Natural History in 2021. “One of the first things I did was look for a running group! The Harriers were an awesome fit.”
Kimi was all set to run the race last year, but unfortunately suffered a stress fracture a few weeks before and had to pull out. Now she’s back on schedule and, like the rest of us, fighting those pre-race jitters. “Seeing as it's my first marathon, I have no idea what to expect,” she admits. But moving back to South Africa has helped boost her running confidence. “I do feel that since I moved back to Johannesburg, I'm getting some serious hill training in. I like hill workouts. Short, tough,” she says. Plus, “fun on the way down.” Her love for hills will definitely serve her well on Sunday. “I'm also in a much better place now than I was last year at this time.” She’s realizing some unexpected benefits and finds she’s been “surprising myself with what I can do,” she says. The most challenging part for her? “You know, it's pretty tiring,” she deadpans. Thankfully, Kimi’s been able to draw on the support of runners around the globe in her training. “Massive shout out to my fellow New York Harrier Susan Bayat,” she says. “I miss running with you!” And back in South Africa, her original MCM crew keeps her going.
In her spare time, Kimi loves to cook, take photographs and “read up on dinosaurs.” She’s a vertebrate palaeontologist and, cool fact, even named the Ngwevu intloko dinosaur.
While she’s still sorting out her actual pre-race routine, her dinner plans are set: “Pasta stuffed with pasta with a side of pasta.” And her mantra on race day is short, simple, and, for someone who just traveled halfway around the world to be here, an understatement of sorts: “You've made it this far.” On Sunday, she’ll be keeping her eyes peeled for all of her New York friends “who I miss dearly. Harriers cheerzone, I'm coming for you!”
And after she crosses the iconic finish line in her beloved Central Park (exiting right by the AMNH!) Kimi will already be eyeing her next big race. “I'm hoping to run the Two Oceans Ultra in the near future. If any lovely Harriers want to join…”
Tim Berger
For Tim Berger, the decision to join the Harriers this year was pretty straightforward. “I moved to a new neighborhood, the Upper East Side, and wanted another social outlet and chance to push my hobby,” he explains. “Engineers’ Gate was super convenient and this group sounded fun.” Now, 9 months later, as he’s staring down his first marathon, Tim is reaping the benefits. “The fact that 8-10 miles don't feel hard anymore – they almost feel easy,” he marvels. That’s a direct result of the miles he’s been putting in. “I love Canovas. I get the most out of workouts that feel hard and push me mentally.”
And marathon fitness isn’t the only thing he’s gained. “Luke and Amrita have been awesome resources as experienced marathoners and runners who have given me a lot of great advice,” he says. While a few minor injuries popped up in August, he’s been able to work through them “with lots of stretching, patience and just enough strength training. Each run has grown my confidence so I feel great,” he reports. “At least right this second,” he adds.
Tim plans to approach race weekend as methodically as he has the training. He’ll be enjoying some pasta, chicken and veggies for his pre-race meal, and on the morning of, he’ll be up at least 3 hours before the starting gun to eat some food and hydrate. Tim is also mentally breaking down the race so he can tackle each part separately: “I'm going to chunk the race into three parts: 10, 10, and 10,” he explains. “The first 10 miles will be easing into the race and slower than marathon pace. The second 10 miles will be at or near marathon pace… and the final 10K will be everything I have left.” His mantra aligns perfectly with this strategy: “Mind controls body.” And while he says “‘Nothing to Find’ by The War on Drugs is a song I could listen to every day for the rest of my life,” he only plans to listen to music until he hits Manhattan. And then look for the crowds to carry him to the finish.
Coming full circle, Tim will be looking for his mom and sister standing by his Upper East Side apartment on 1st Ave, where it all began. “I can’t wait,” he says.
This concludes the 2022 Meet the Marathoners series. Good luck to our racers! Thanks for reading and be sure to come out to our Harriers Marathon Cheer Zone at E. 103rd Street and 1st Ave in front of the White Castle (we will be on the runners’ left) to support ALL the marathoners who will be rocking the H on Sunday, Nov. 6. After, stop by Gebhard's on W. 72nd Street, starting at 2PM, for post-marathon beers and tots!