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NYRR: Mental Health Awareness Month: New York Road Runners Promotes Mental Well-Being

May 2, 2025

Second-annual NYRR Mindful 5K to feature 4,500+ athletes and mindfulness activations with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City (NAMI-NYC)

Virtual run and walk challenges for adults and youth launch today

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New York, May 1, 2025 — To honor Mental Health Awareness Month, New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City, will host a variety of in-person activities, including the second-annual NYRR Mindful 5K, virtual challenges, and offering digital resources to encourage New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to run or walk and improve their mental well-being, as nearly one in four adult New Yorkers experience a mental health disorder according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

“Running isn’t just for physical health anymore,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “We have seen a huge increase in the number of people who say they’re running because of the impact it has on their mental well-being as well.  At New York Road Runners, we’re proud to bring people of all ages and abilities together through a shared love of movement 365 days a year.  This Mental Health Awareness Month we invite every New Yorker to find their community at one of our in-person events or virtual challenges.”

With one in three Americans experiencing loneliness, New York Road Runners’ 60 annual adult and youth races, community events, and free programming across the five boroughs are designed to foster social connections that reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running, which includes using its platform to educate, share resources, and increase awareness about the mental health benefits of running and walking. Exercise is a natural mood-enhancer and stress reliever, boosts endorphins and self-esteem, and can reduce the risk of major depression by up to 26 percent with just 15 minutes of running or walking a day.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, the New York City–based nonprofit will increase access to physical activity and community with the following initiatives:

IN-PERSON EVENTS

NYRR Mindful 5K

To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, the second-annual NYRR Mindful 5K, Saturday, May 3, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, will bring together more than 4,500 adult athletes and hundreds of youth for races and dashes in celebration of running and mental well-being. Runners can take a moment of reflection pre-race at the Zen Zone, a serene space for meditation and mindfulness offering live sessions and self-guided audio recordings sponsored by New York Road Runners’ mental health partner NAMI-NYC.

The two nonprofits have collaborated since 2024 and successfully launched the first Zen Zone at the TCS New York City Marathon in November. The space is now a staple at New York Road Runners’ three marquee races, which also include the United Airlines NYC Half and RBC Brooklyn Half.

The NYRR Mindful 5K will feature a new Inspiration Station where athletes can share what inspires them.

Among the NYRR Mindful 5K participants are several notable and inspiring athletes whose lives and mental health journeys have been transformed through running:

  • Phoebe Robinson of Park Slope, Brooklyn: An acclaimed comedian, producer, actress, publisher of Tiny Reparations Books, and co-host of the “2 Dope Queens” podcast and HBO series, Phoebe is now a three-time marathon runner after discovering the sport two years ago. A mental health advocate, she has openly shared the importance of self-care, community, and connection, and describes running as therapeutic.
  • Clara Ahn of Sunnyside, Queens: Clara is using the race as a celebration and graduation, signifying that her mental health struggles are behind her with the help of running. For 20 years, Clara has lived with depression and, despite only running for a year, has already felt the profound impact of running on her life. She feels most alive when running and describes races as “a celebration of life shared with people who’ve each fought their own fight to get there.”
  • Nelson Rolon of Ridgewood, Queens: As a teenager, Nelson battled depression and survived several suicide attempts. Now 50 years old, Nelson still navigates mental health challenges but has noticed a remarkable improvement since he started running in 2024, inspired by his late father who shared that his biggest regret was never running the TCS New York City Marathon. Nelson hopes to destigmatize men’s mental health, particularly in his Samoan and Puerto Rican communities.
  • Darleen Santiago of Forest Hills, Queens: A therapist and social worker, Darleen came face-to-face with her own mental health struggles after losing her mother to ovarian cancer nine days before giving birth to her first child three years ago. Running has since taken on a deeper meaning, giving her space to process her grief, while showing her three-year-old daughter that women can do anything. While Darleen runs the 5K, her daughter will participate in the free youth dashes.
  • Anette Szydlowski of Rockaway Beach, Queens: A native New Yorker, Anette never thought she would be the happy and strong person she is today after surviving a suicide attempt at age 12 and an abusive relationship in adulthood. She previously lived with an overwhelming fear of bridges, experiencing panic, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts every time she crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Last year, she ran across the bridge at the start of the TCS New York City Marathon and, thanks to the positive impact of running on her life, no longer felt that fear.

Community Events

For nearly 10 years, NYRR Open Run has brought free weekly runs and walks to 16 local New York City parks. In May, various parks will host Open Run for an Open Mind events dedicated to mental well-being. The final event will feature representatives from NAMI-NYC leading conversations about running and mental health.

Open Run for an Open Mind event series: 

  • NYRR Open Run at Marine Park in Brooklyn, Sunday, May 4, 9:00 a.m.
  • NYRR Open Run at Soundview Park in the Bronx, Saturday, May 10, 9:00 a.m.
  • NYRR Open Run at Cunningham Park in Queens, Sunday, May 18, 9:00 a.m.
  • NYRR Open Run with NAMI-NYC at Morningside Park in Manhattan, Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m.

The NYRR Striders walking, running, and fitness program helps nearly 900 older adults, who are most at risk of social isolation, stay active and build community through free in-person group training sessions. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month several Striders sites from the five boroughs will participate in a friendly walking challenge. Mental health resources from NAMI-NYC will also be available.

Mental Health Awareness Month Striders event series:

Educational Panel

New York Road Runners will host a panel discussion, Wednesday, May 28, about the physical, mental, social, and emotional benefits of movement. Panelists will share their personal stories and provide insight into how running has helped them manage their mental health.

VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES

NYRR’s Mental Health Awareness Month features several virtual races and challenges:

  • 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 out an official Rising New York Road Runners finisher certificate. Rising New York Road Runners is the nonprofit’s free running-based youth program 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 AND RESOURCES

  • New York Road Runners’ podcast NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton, which recently celebrated its 100th episode, released a Mental Health Awareness Month episode with Peloton instructor Kirra Michel, who discusses the importance of yoga and mindfulness for runners and leads listeners on a guided meditation.
  • Additional mental health-themed NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton episodes will launch in May:
    • May 8: A special Mother’s Day episode featuring the story of a mom who found solace and healing through running
    • May 22: Olympian and TCS New York City Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi’s personal advice on how to manage the post-marathon and half marathon blues
  • Throughout May, the New York Road Runners website will have a dedicated Mental Well-Being landing page with resources, information, and runner stories focused on running’s positive impact on mental health, including NYRR blog posts about meditation and grief, and tips for year-round mental wellness.

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

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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 nearly a 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.