February Runner of the Month: Jay Tabaniag
From helping keep this very website running to organizing a Grandma’s Marathon crew, Jay Tabaniag is an NBR enthusiast.
Jay loves the way a marathon can transform a city and feels strongly that leaving it all on the course can be better than a PR. “If you want something to stick, you have to find joy in the process, not the outcome.”
When he’s not running, Jay is scrolling Instagram, indulging in board games, or daydreaming about the Roman Empire (seriously!).
Read more to discover Jay’s ultimate summer survival tip and a sweet fun fact (with a picture to prove it)!
When did you join NBR and why?
My first NBR run was MNER in August 2022, a few days after my first 10K race on Governors Island, a brutally hot affair that nearly made me swear off running forever. My girlfriend Kathleen, then already a seasoned marathon runner, had found the club first and encouraged me to go. The thought of going somewhere miles away in North Brooklyn to run was a little odd, but I figured suffering would be easier with company.
In what ways have you been involved with NBR?
I’m currently part of the web coordinator team, along with Kate Martin and Darren Price, and we’ve got some big things planned for 2024! I also organized this year’s Grandma’s Marathon crew after experiencing some FOMO seeing pictures from last year’s race. I dream of someday being a regular morning runner, but for now you’ll usually find me dropping in on night runs, with the exception of the unofficial and food-forward AND on Friday mornings.
What do you do when you’re not running?
Nearly all of my time is spent working at a fintech or scrolling on Instagram and Reddit, but in the crevices of free time between productive and potato, I enjoy board games (from easy to punishingly intricate), ticking off every ramen restaurant in NYC, skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, and watching YouTube videos about ancient history. And yes, I do think about the Roman Empire on a near-daily basis.
How did you initially get into running?
I’ve had many false starts since college where I would run for a month or two, then drop the ball, including in 2020 when being outside and away from other people was the cool new thing. Kathleen and I had just started dating then, and of course I tried to keep up with my new girlfriend, and of course I picked up an injury shortly after. Two years and a move to New York later, she somehow convinced me to try running one more time and sign up for the Bronx 10 Mile. Despite the summer heat (see above) and never having run more than 4 miles prior to that, I caught the bug.
What is your favorite race distance?
The marathon. I’ve only run it once so far and I certainly did not enjoy the last six miles. The half marathon is more enjoyable and the 5K is easier to execute, but the marathon’s allure is undeniable. The way it transforms a city or town for a day, the community of runners and revelers that come out, and the impression that it leaves on your psyche, before and after, all make it so much more than an individual effort over so many miles.
Best running memory?
It’s hard to pick one, but the 2023 RBC Brooklyn Half is the first race I felt really proud of. Kathleen had agreed to pace me for it, going so far as to carry my water and nutrition for me, and a few friends who were aiming for similar times decided to start with us. The weather was a little unfriendly that day and a veil of humidity slowly wrapped us in the mild heat of spring. By the halfway mark, we were all suffering. Kathleen kept me honest throughout, pushing me when all I wanted to do was to slow down or start walking. I didn’t hit my goal time, but it was the first time I felt like I left nothing on the course, which is all you can ask for.
Favorite running route in NYC?
Cliché but classic: the Central Park loop. Green, beautiful, enough elevation to make it interesting without crushing your hopes and dreams (Prospect Park), and filled with fellow runners.
What has running taught you or changed about you?
If you want something to stick, you have to find joy in the process, not the outcome. Too many things can go wrong on (or before) race day, from bad weather to illness, to expect it to be the sole source of emotional satisfaction. Achieving a goal time or goal any number is a fleeting high. Not every run has to be fun or enjoyable, but you’ve got to find something you look forward to about running most of the time, whether that’s friends, a good playlist, or dogs, that get you out the door.
Favorite post-race food?
The most delicious thing in the world is a shaken brown sugar cold brew from Blank Street in the McCarren Parkhouse after an especially hot long run. Post-race dinner of choice is Korean BBQ, preferably all you can eat.
Favorite song to run to?
“KILL DEM” by Jamie XX
Favorite running social media account?
I really enjoy ultrarunning content on YouTube, including Jeff Pelletier and Billy Yang, who both run eponymous channels.
What do you think is the worst part about being a runner?
Summer
Best advice to running newbies?
If you find yourself running in the depths of summer and start to mildly overheat, stop by the nearest bathroom and use the sink to splash cold water all over your head and face. You’ll feel much better.
Current running goal?
Get a marathon PR at Grandma’s and maybe drop by the Oreo and beer station at the 8th mile of the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile.
Any other fun running facts about you?
I’ve spotted Kofuzi twice in the wild: once at the end of the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in D.C. and the other during the Chicago Marathon weekend, where I plucked up the courage to ask for a picture.
