Our very own Fordham University Rams showed up and showed out at the annual New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 2. From running every grueling mile of the 26.2-mile race to cheering loudly from the sidelines, the Rams came together to uplift one another and celebrate the dedication of everyone running the race.

With grit and determination, Natalie Hawthorn, GSB ’26, ran the marathon, representing both herself and the Fordham community on one of the world’s biggest stages. The 2025 marathon marked 25 years since Hawthorn’s mom ran it herself. She shared that her mom was her biggest inspiration for taking on the challenge and added that she hopes to “do it again one day.” When reflecting on her overall experience, she remarked that the biggest lesson that came from this experience is that with “discipline and dedication, you can do hard things.”

Along with Hawthorn, Maisie Moreland, GSB ’28, dazzled her Fordham fans by completing her first-ever marathon. Throughout high school, Moreland competed as a mid-distance runner, but it wasn’t until coming to college that she discovered her passion for long-distance running. “I went to watch the marathon last year. The energy was insane and so inspiring. I actually signed up on a whim for the 2025 marathon with a charity that same day,” she said. She closed by reflecting on reaching this milestone in her running journey. “It felt like everyone was connected in one shared moment of pride and humanity, which made me realize how special the NYC community really is and what a privilege it is for me to be a part of it,” she said.

On how the racers balanced training with classes, Moreland explained, “It was challenging at times, but I made it a priority. I tried to run at the same time every day, which helped keep me in a routine no matter how busy things got.” Likewise, Hawthorn felt that having a “structure and routine made it easy to balance training and schoolwork. Getting up early to run and then going about my day gave me that structure I needed to study, work, and have a social life.”

Her fellow sophomores Gia LaBella, GSB ’28, and Anna Foco, GSB ’28, brought unmatched energy and classic Fordham spirit to the sidelines in support of Moreland. The two honored her hard work and weeks of training by hand-making a poster that read, “You’re A(Maise)ing … You Got This.” The two recalled feeling “emotional” and “touched” as Moreland greeted them with excited hugs during the race, a moment from the day that beautifully captured their friendship.

Student-athletes across campus also showed their support through volunteer efforts with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Fordham athletes Logan Binder, FCRH ’28, Daniel DiTunno, GSB ’29, Kathleen Keefe, FCRH ’28, Daisy Mitchell, FCRH ’28, Lauren Raimy, GSB ’28 and Eric Schleif, GSB ’29, were stationed at mile 20, where they helped the effort by filling cups of water and Gatorade and offering them to racers.

“What stood out the most was seeing that most of the racers had smiles on their faces,” Binder began, “despite this being the part of the marathon where many runners claim they ‘hit the wall.’” Cheering on racers and helping them through the final challenging miles was exhilarating for Binder. She expressed that witnessing racers persevere through every challenge and do so with a smile was nothing short of extraordinary.

Keefe chimed in with a particularly moving interaction she had with a participant running with a prosthetic leg. She described the experience as “inspiring” and noted that it “showed her that there really is no limit to what humans are capable of.” DiTunno added that he was touched by seeing a woman wearing a shirt that read “85 Years Young.” “It showed me what the marathon is all about,” he said: “pushing one’s limits beyond what you once thought was possible.”

While pace may not always be consistent, the support and dedication of our Rams never wavered throughout the day. From competing to volunteering to cheering from the side, they embodied what it means to be true team players and leave a positive impact on the people around them.