June Runner of the Month: Laura McLaughlin
Congratulations to our June Runners of the Month! During this time, we are continuing to featuring two of our runners who are essential workers here in NYC.
Laura first joined NBR in January for 2017 after moving to NYC post college graduation the summer before. "I joined NBR because I felt there was so much more of NYC to explore than I was finding in my bubble. I wanted to see new neighborhoods (on foot of course) and meet new people." Prior to the COVID suspension of NBR group runs, Laura is one of our Wednesday Night Road Run leaders.
What is your job and where do you work?
I am a fourth year medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. I work primarily at Bellevue Hospital and Tisch Hospital in Manhattan. This year I’ll be applying into Internal Medicine residency programs, with the ultimate goal of being a hospitalist or intensive care doctor.
How is your daily life right now?
COVID has certainly shaken things up for everyone in medical school. The class above me (including my girlfriend) graduated early to work in the hospitals and augment the COVID-task force. My in-hospital rotations were put on pause for a few months. In the mean time, I’ve been helping gather and distribute personal protective equipment through an org called PPE2NYC (started by a whole bunch of NYC medical students). I also volunteered in the hospital screening patients and visitors and helped with PPE fitting. Since that has slowed down quite a bit, I’ve been doing some online rotations and waiting to start back up in the hospital starting next week!
Has running helped you cope during these scary times?
Running has certainly helped me stay sane these last few months. As the East River route was particularly crowded, I started running through the middle of Manhattan. Early on in quarantine especially, the streets were absolutely deserted. I could run up 5th Avenue or through Times Square without stopping for lights or seeing any cars. These adventures gave me something to look forward to and be excited about in a stressful, chaotic time. Exploring these new routes reminded me of when I first joined NBR and ran new routes through the city for the first time.
What's the one thing that keeps you going?
Running all these miles alone has reminded me of how much I rely on my NBR teammates to keep me motivated and excited about running. I can’t wait until we’re able to reconvene in whatever way is safe and responsible. I’m waiting for that day when I can see my WNRR co-leaders again!
