NYC Marathon 2025: The Comeback Run

NYC Marathon Expo- Bib pick up.

The dream of running the New York City Marathon wasn’t something I carried my whole life — it found me a few years ago, after years of running half marathons and vowing never to run a marathon. So after trying my luck in the lottery year after year and never getting in, I finally decided in 2023 to commit to the 9+1 program to earn my guaranteed entry for 2024. It felt like my time had come. This would be my sixth marathon since I started running marathons in 2020. But life, as it often does, had other plans. Well, for me, I thought that God was trying to help me sit down for a bit. At the age of 17 years old, God gave me running as a tool to use in my battle with depression and anxiety, so it was hard to believe he would take it away.

On August 13, 2024, I got a call that stopped me in my tracks. After months of physical therapy and an MRI for a nagging pain in my right knee — pain that showed up every time I squatted or bent — my sports performance doctor said the words no runner ever wants to hear:

“Joycelyn, I have bad news. You can’t run until you see an orthopedic surgeon, you would need surgery to remedy this pain”

I was speechless. Three months away from the NYC Marathon, one of my dream races — and suddenly, it felt like the ground had disappeared beneath me. I questioned my faith and what it meant for something to be gone in an instant. I questioned why God would give me running and then take it away. It was a mental battle for me.

What followed was a blur of CT scans, more physical therapy, and eventually, a scheduled surgery. I held on to hope as long as I could, waiting until the very last moment before finally deferring my 2024 entry. It broke my heart. On December 13th, the surgery day was finally here, and I was able to set my sights on my road to recovery. With the lingering thought that I may never run a marathon again, according to my good doctor.

But here I am, almost one year later — stronger, wiser, closer to God, and more determined than ever, as I am reminded of the scripture:

 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 1:6

NYC Marathon 2025 isn’t just another race for me; it’s redemption. It’s proof that setbacks don’t define us, comebacks do.

This year, when I cross that finish line in Central Park, it won’t just be about 26.2 miles. It’ll be about every step I couldn’t take last year, and every ounce of faith I had to hold onto, the grit to push through intense physical therapy, and the resilience that carried me here.

Coming back from an injury isn’t just a physical challenge — it’s a mental marathon long before the race begins. After my surgery and months of recovery, I had to rebuild everything: my strength, my confidence, my patience, and my belief that I’d run again. Especially when the orthopedic surgeon wasn’t hopeful that I could ever run a marathon again. I shudder to say that out loud because there were days when I questioned if I’d ever lace up for another marathon or ultra marathon. Watching others race while I was stuck doing rehab exercises was humbling. But every stretch, every slow jog, every tear shed on that road back reminded me why I started — because the dream of crossing that NYC Marathon finish line, getting another world major under my belt, still burned inside me.

Training for 2025 felt different. It wasn’t about chasing a personal best or hitting a certain pace. It was about gratitude — for every pain-free stride, every sunrise run, and every mile that once seemed impossible. I learned to celebrate progress instead of perfection, and I learned to really lean on God.

As race day approaches, I’m filled with a mix of nerves, excitement, and deep appreciation. I’ve come to realize that this marathon isn’t just about the miles — it’s about the journey that healed me, what running means to me. It’s about perseverance, faith, and the unshakable spirit that refuses to quit.

So when I stand on that start line in Staten Island, looking out at the sea of runners, I’ll take a deep breath and smile. Because I know — no matter what happens over those 26.2 miles — I’ve already won.

This is my comeback.

This is my New York.

This is my moment.

This is for the island girl from the northern countryside, across the river, and up the mountain in lower Santa Cruz, Trinidad.

All glory to God!