October Runner of the Month: Lily Zaballos

When did you join NBR and why?

I joined NBR in the fall of 2023. I had been running for a few years at that point on my own, but I was eager to join a community to meet people and take my running to the next level. It was definitely one of the best decisions I've made. NBR has become so much more than just a group of people to run with, it's become a community of friends, full of tough and dedicated people that inspire me endlessly.

In what ways have you been involved with NBR?

I'm a run leader for the monthly Brewery Run. I've been involved with Brewery Run since almost its inception and it's been such fun to watch it grow from a small, unofficial run to an official club run that attracts NBR long-timers and new runners alike. I also frequent Thursday Night Track and am a big fan of any and all club social gatherings.

What do you do when you're not running?

I work in urban planning and community development. My area of expertise is outreach and engagement for community planning projects with NYC city agency clients. Currently, I work at an organization that focuses on affordable housing advocacy and collaborates with local community-based organizations to build thriving, equitable communities across NYC. Running is the perfect complement to urban planning—through running, I get to explore and experience the neighborhoods I spend so much time thinking about professionally, from a first-hand, street-level view.

How did you initially get into running?

Like so many others, I picked up running during COVID as a way to get out of the house and get moving. When things opened up again, running stuck. Here I am five years later still loving it.

What is your favorite race distance?

The mile. Short and fast is my type of race.

Best running memory?
Some of my favorite running memories are competing in unsanctioned races this past year like the East River Ekiden and the OSR Downtown Bread Route. Unsanctioned races embrace a DIY and community-based side of running in NYC that is scrappy and beautiful. They also introduce elements of critical thinking and pure daredevil risk taking into racing that you don’t get with your typical road race. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alive than when I was running at top speed through empty Chinatown streets at 3am on a freezing April night during the Downtown Bread Route.

Favorite running route in NYC?

My go-to route is a five-mile loop that takes you from Southside Williamsburg, where I live, along the East River into Greenpoint, and back south through McCarren Park. But really, any NYC waterfront route does it for me.

What has running taught you or changed about you?

Running has shown me how strong and determined I can be. It has taught me that sometimes you have to sit with discomfort to improve. That just when you think you can't possibly keep going, in fact you can. Running has also taught me the importance of having hobbies and passions that you prioritize in your daily life. As adults, it can be easy to get sucked into giving everything to our jobs and not leaving any time to pursue outside interests. Running, in particular being part of a community like NBR, allows me to be a more well-rounded person who has goals that extend beyond the workplace and who actively participates in building a local community of people brought together by a shared interest.

Favorite post-race food?

Does beer count as a food? A pint of IPA and something carb-heavy, like a bagel or french fries, and I'm a happy gal.

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

Anything by Rosalía. A few of my favorites are "Pienso En Tu Mirá," "Aute Cuture," and "La Combi Versace."

What do you think is the worst part about being a runner?

Staying injury-free and finding a balance between training enough and not overtraining. This past spring I broke my hip while running the RBC Brooklyn Half, it was a stress fracture caused by overtraining from back-to-back races and intense cross-training. In a competitive club like NBR, there can be a pressure to be continuously racing and improving, and it can be hard to not get obsessed with constantly hitting new PRs. As I learned the hard way, rest and recovery are critical for staying healthy and being able to run long term. It shouldn't take a traumatic mid-race fracture to remind you to take care of yourself. As runners, I think we need to value how we rest and care for ourselves just as much as we do those shiny new PRs. 

Best advice to running newbies?

Improving at running takes time. Getting faster, runner farther, it all takes patience and practice. There will always be someone faster than you and always another PR to chase. Just putting on your running shoes and getting out the door is an accomplishment, so start slow. Find a route you like, maybe some people who run your current pace, and remember that running should be fun. The speed and distance will come in time.

Current running goal?

Coming back from an injury that resulted in six weeks on crutches and pulled me out of running for five months, my current goal is simply to find joy in running again. Next year, I’m hoping to get back into race shape and maybe hit the 5K and mile times I was hoping to run this summer before I got injured. For now, I just feel lucky every time I get to lace up my running shoes and hit the streets.

Any other fun running facts about you?

I was a ballet dancer growing up, so I never played any sports. My first race, the 2023 Brooklyn Mile, was the first time I ever participated in an athletic competition (at 27). The BK Mile remains one of my favorite races, as it reminds me that you're never too old to try something new.