October Runner of the Month: Fernando Feria Garibay

Fernando Feria Garibay might be the closest thing North Brooklyn Runners has to a club historian.

He’s been here since 2009 - just a year after NBR was founded - and has been a fixture ever since. He’s led more runs than most of us have ever been to - and he’s probably downed more post-track beers at Turkeys Nest than any other speedster.

Most of you know him as the club’s resident NYC Marathon streaker - but he’s also one of our greatest repositories for club traditions, friendshps and race history. And that’s why he’s one of our runners of the month for October.

When did you join NBR and why?

I joined the Wednesday after the 2009 New York Marathon after a notable downturn in my marathon running.  I was in my second full year back in America and I sorely missed the camaraderie I had from my soccer training abroad and longed for another club environment.

In what ways have you been involved with NBR? 

Fernando with the founder of NBR. New Year’s Eve 2010. 

I led the Sunday Funday Runday long run from around late 2010 to late 2012 Back then NBR leadership was largely the run leaders and coordinators which were much the same group. We collectively did a lot of the steering. I was there for that; this is before team captains, before the board existed. 

In 2014 after over a year and half of convincing two different boards that NBR needed a Saturday morning long run and almost three years identifying that it was wanted I managed to push through the creation of Narwhals and I like to think nagged into existence the new run six month probation system to give birth to new runs henceforth. Narwhals is for sure my proudest NBR achievement but I did not come up with the name. That was Christophe Tedjasukmana. 

How did you initially get into running?

I grew up on North 9th street and grew up watching the Marathon on the corner of North 9th and Bedford. I had my first slice of pizza at Vinnie’s probably in the late 70’s. Two family members (one coming from Mexico) would race by year after year. I had a moment, I believe the first marathon back after the pandemic, where ahead of mile 25 they both came out on the course on either side of me. I couldn’t hold back the tears.

What is your favorite race distance?

I ran the 10k in college and do enjoy the 5K but for me it was always the Marathon. 

Best running memory?

That moment with my uncles I described above is unforgettable but I have two more: One was the Chicago marathon of 2011 when I first broke 3:30. I had only a few miles left and had barely passed the three hour mark. My thoughts went to a conversation I had with an American I met on the U-Bahn five years prior while on our way to the expo of the 2006 Berlin Marathon. He had asked me about my goal; (you know that uncommon pre marathon conversation) I don’t remember what I said but it was probably four hours and something. His was under 3:30 because he was “taking it easy”. I was wowed. He pushed back hard; “you can still get that good” he didn’t think it was a big deal. I responded with “I am not that kind of runner”. He scoffed as the doors opened, “yeah you are, we all are” and walked off.  I ran over four hours in that marathon. The 2009 New York Marathon that pushed me to join NBR was nearly six hours almost two hours more than what I had been able to do before. In 2010 NBR had gotten me back on track already with a PR in New York of 3:54;  I thought that was the runner I was. Breaking four had been the reasonable goal.  As I found myself skipping past mile 23 in Chicago at just over three hours I started to choke up so much that I got a neck cramp when I realized that American runner was right. I am that kind of runner.  NBR had gotten me a 26 minute PR in one year. Three weeks later I took off another 10 mins back in New York 2011. 

The second of the two memories I will make short and want to include because I have a good picture of the finish line shoot when it all came together. It was the points race when I moved up from a red bib to a blue bib. Those color distinctions predated the letter system where red would be today’s B bibs and Blue today’s A. There was a write up about that years ago when it happened on our old web page but it was for me a magical moment and wanted to also include it here. 

Favorite running route in NYC? 

I don’t know… I like anything where the people around me are happy and feeling strong. Running in a pack in tune with each other and less so their individual watches or their target milage and more so the rhythm of the packs foot strikes and the calm of the team’s breath. 

Any running-related superstitions?

No.

Favorite post-race food?

A cortado and a pain-au-chocolat. 

Favorite song to run to / that makes you want to run?

Headphones? No. (I beg you to keep this question and answer.)

Favorite running social media account?

What? No, I am fifty years old. I did like NYRR running magazine.

Best advice to running newbies?

This is important: You are that kind of runner, “we all are”

Current running goal?

I have been chasing the unicorn since 2011 but every time I age up to a new qualifying category they change that time downward! 

Any other fun running facts about you?

Last week was my 17th New York City Marathon and my 36th over all.