January Runner of the Month: Aimee Ortiz-Tolley
Aimee Ortiz-Tolley joined NBR to help train for the 2018 NYC Half, but started regularly running with the group just after the 2019 NYC Half. A runner for years, Aimee was primarily using the treadmill and knew she would have to adapt her body to running outside again in order to successfully race. However, her fear that she wasn’t fast or strong enough initially held her back from meeting up with NBR.
“Looking back, I always kick myself for not coming sooner because I’ve found it to be such a wonderful, inclusive community, but I’m a big believer in things working out the way they’re supposed to, so maybe I needed that experience to truly appreciate what I have now.”
Aimee mainly joins morning runs – Hellkatz, Narwhals and Sunday Funday, occasionally dabbling in the Monday AM Easy Run, Tigerwolves and once, Doves – “but only on the holiday run where my dear friend and NBRer, Chris Potter, and I were too chatty and got lost making our way to the tree (more on that later).”
What she does when she’s not running: “Probably running my mouth since I’m quite chatty (as mentioned above) coupled with stuffing my face since I adore food, thus fulfilling every Asian gurl stereotype.”
How she initially got into running: “Although running is instrumental to my mental health and positive outlook, I haven’t always had a positive relationship with it. I started running in college since I naturally took to it and quickly lost weight. However, as I increased my mileage in my 20s, things became tougher at home and work as I battled eating disorders, including binge eating disorder and bulimia, brought on by stress. I used to run to temper the binge episodes when the laxatives weren’t enough and, when I was looking to qualify for the 2009 NYC Marathon, I ended up with a stress fracture in my right tibia, putting me off running for six months.
“During that time, I entered a deep depression and realized that running had emotional benefits as well physical ones. Afterwards, I slowly built up my fitness, but it wasn’t until I started racing again in 2018 that I fell deeply in love with it again as well. Joining NBR helped even more since I’m surrounded by likeminded, type-A people that want to PR as much as I do and are willing to put in the work to do so.”
Favorite race distance: “I’m afraid to say it lest I jinx myself (since I just ran my first one … yay, Philly!), but I really love the marathon for both its mental and physical challenges. I’m trying to get into a cycle where I run two a year, including one in the spring and another in the fall.”
Best running memory: “As mentioned earlier, Chris and I ran the Doves’ holiday run together, but as New Yorkers that have been here over a decade, we were confident that we didn’t need the run leader’s very helpful printed directions (thanks anyways Sydney Lim!), and that we’d be able to easily find our way to Rockefeller Center.
“We were wrong. We ended up taking the “scenic” route, getting detoured in both Queens and Manhattan. When we finally got to Rockefeller, we were weirded out that we needed to go through metal detectors, but dutifully followed rules only to find ourselves at The Today Show.
“Since we could see the tree nearby, we did what any self-respecting New Yorkers were supposed to do and jumped the barricades … only to be scolded twice by two police officers, telling us to “leave the gymnastics at home.
“Our greatest accomplishment would be if there’s an actual YouTube clip of two runners with NBR gear climbing the barricades. On a positive note, we had negative splits the way home and I still was on time to work.”
Favorite running route in NYC: “My favorite long run is the three bridges route that goes through Pulaski to Queensborough and back home via the Williamsburg bridge. I also love running to DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hunters Point Park for shorter runs.“
Running-related superstitions: “I don’t have any specific superstitions nor am I a religious person, but I do pray that God or whatever higher being there is keep my family and I are safe as soon as I step outside for a run. Does that count?“
What has running taught her: “It’s definitely taught me that I’m stronger than I think and more capable than I give myself credit for. My coach, Jerry Falkner, told me once to ignore my watch and not be so tied to a number since I was sandbagging myself. He was right: I could run faster.”
Favorite post-race food: “A single-serve bottle of chocolate milk individually purchased only after the run. Post shower: two eggs, half an avocado and roasted sweet potatoes.”
Favorite song to run to make you want to run: “Lately it’s been “Numb/Encore” by Jay Z and Linkin Park. Don’t judge me.”
Favorite running social media account: “My lovely friend/other fellow NBRer, Jordan Perry, just introduced me to the Insta account run4prs and I find it to be so inspiring with helpful information. Also, it’s not truly a social media account, but I adore my daily Runner’s World newsletter and look forward to devouring it each night.”
What do you think is the worst part about being a runner: “Not sure if this is really tied to being a runner or it’s just me, but I’m always looking for my next goal which makes it difficult to enjoy current victories. The positive side is that I’m always engaged and never stagnant, but it makes it hard to be truly satisfied with the current situation. Hmm. That must be fun for my husband.”
Best advice to running newbies: “Train to race, not race to train. Pre-NBR, I always thought you needed to run fast all the time. Including different types of runs each week plus cross-training has been a gamechanger.”
Current running goal: “I’d love to be able to go sub-4 at my next marathon, which is hopefully in Eugene, Oregon on April 26th. (That is only if I’m able to find a new job before then since we have to pay for that trip somehow!) I’d also love to run a half in 1:50 in the next year.”
Fun running facts: “Ideally, my runs need to end with either a “0” or “5” and I am not above running around the block to make that happen.”