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Running Side by Riverside

Running Side by Riverside team members support the Conservancy’s mission to restore, maintain, and improve Riverside Park’s nearly 400 acres. A dynamic crew of runners participate in endurance events while making Riverside Park a better, healthier, more verdant parkland. These dedicated individuals pledge to fundraise for the Conservancy while gaining access to popular city races.

Team Running Side by Riverside Member Benefits

  • GUARANTEED entry into premier NYC races
  • Official Team Running Side by Riverside performance tank
  • Riverside Park Conservancy swag
  • Fundraising recognition
  • Social media shout outs

Meet the Team for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon

Ross Fenton

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

I ran the NYC Marathon for the first time last year and it was one of the most epic days of my life. Everyone said it would be amazing, but it far exceeded my expectations. It was overwhelming and all-consuming, both physically and emotionally, to traverse the city with endless fans cheering along the way. My family traveled down from Boston for support and my husband met me multiple times along the route with fuel, essentially running his own marathon. Knowing I had family and friends waiting for me along the route filled me with so much joy and love. By the end, I was beaming. 

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

The only place in the city I’ve lived is Harlem and the first thing I did when I moved here in 2009 was join the tennis community at 119th Street. I play far less frequently than I used to, but those courts, and more broadly the park itself, have remained a central part of my life in Harlem. Almost every training run in preparation for the 2024 NYC Marathon began or ended in Riverside Park and I continue running there weekly. 

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

A few years before I ran the marathon I completed my first 10k with a dear friend Gabriella Davogustto, the co-owner of Clay restaurant in Harlem. I don’t remember the exact date but it was winter and as we cruised north toward the George Washington Bridge it began snowing. We returned  via 125th, south, to complete the route. It was so quiet and still and beautiful to run in the falling snow, leaving fresh tracks along the way. Truly one of the most special memories to have completed my longest distance to date.

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HyunKyu Kim

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

Last year, I was training to break the three hour mark before an injury hit me a month before the marathon.  I took my time, healed properly, and now I’m back with a vengeance. Running has always been my reset button, and it feels good to return to that rhythm. New job, new family—it’s been a whirlwind. But running? That’s my constant.

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

I wanted to support a group I felt genuinely connected to. Riverside Park has been part of my routine and my story for years as I lived in UWS since law school. It wasn’t just about picking a charity; it was about choosing home turf.

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

Last year on my 33rd, I ran 33.33km in the park. There’s something special about challenging yourself in a place you know so well. This time I’m hoping to hit 34.34km — just one more to celebrate progress and knock out the long run.

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Rebecca Novick

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

Marathon Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year – the crowds, the energy, the sense of community that comes from cheering on people from all walks of life pushing themselves toward a common goal. As a runner living in the city, it seems impossible to be a spectator year after year, seeing friends and strangers alike cross the finish line, and not feel an itch to join in on the fun. After completing two marathons, running with friends as they trained for previous NYC Marathons, and cheering on the sidelines for many years, I knew I wanted to run it myself. But it can take a lot of planning and strategizing to get a spot in the race, so I wasn’t expecting the opportunity to come so quickly! I am grateful to be able to run the NYC Marathon this year while supporting Riverside Park.

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

Riverside Park has been an essential part of my running journey. It was the first place I ran when I moved to NYC three years ago, and I’ve done hundreds of runs along the water and through the hills of the park since. Riverside is also the place I go to clear my mind, be in nature, and connect with friends. When I had the opportunity to run the NYC Marathon with Riverside Park Conservancy, it was a no-brainer – give back to the park that plays such a big role in my life and has supported my running goals. I am so excited to fundraise for this iconic park in the city while training for my first NYC Marathon!

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

I love sitting on the benches at the end of Pier I, watching the sun set over the Hudson. Whenever I have the chance, I bring a book and hang out there for a few hours to enjoy the view!

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Nina Sharma

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

I got the idea a while back to run the NY marathon ‘once a decade’. I ran it in my 20s with my best friend. I ran it again in my 30s alongside a friend who had recently beat cancer. And now I’m squarely in my 40s and not getting any younger 🙂 I also recently moved back to NYC after more than a decade away, and thought running the marathon would be a great way to reintroduce me to the city and feel connected to my neighborhood.

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

Riverside Park is my backyard – I spend at least an hour a day in the Park, walking my dog (Kevin), connecting with friends, and admiring the flowers and light filtering through the trees at all hours of the day. When I decided to run the marathon this year, I knew I wanted to run for a charity that mattered to me. Riverside Park has become my home away from home, and it’s my favorite part about living in this neighborhood.

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

My favorite spot is the Crabapple grove near 92nd street. When I first moved to the area, I would take my dog for a walk every morning and we’d stop near the Crabapple trees to play off leash (only before 9am!). Through that, I met many other dog and people friends who have become my community and have made Riverside feel like home. Now, we meet up to walk north to Ellington’s for coffee in the morning, and we stroll south along the promenade in the afternoon.

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Meghan Weber

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

I turned 40 in April, and I thought running my first marathon would be a great way to celebrate a new decade!

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

As an Upper West Sider, Riverside Park has been my backyard and gym for well over a decade. Our family spends a ton of time in the park playing, scooting, bike riding and picnicking. I’m excited to run with the conservancy that keeps the park beautiful!

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

My favorite spot in the park is the 90th St gardens, over looking the river, and the hill of hydrangeas on the back side of Mt Tom.

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Travis West

What inspired you to run the marathon this year?

It has been a bucket list race since I started running marathons a few years ago and learned about the majors. This year was particularly important because my wife got into the marathon through the lottery and we wanted to run together.

Why did you choose to run with Riverside Park Conservancy?

My wife (and junior high sweetheart) went to college at Columbia University (Barnard College) and Riverside Park was her favorite place to run (and the culmination of her 40 yr+ marathon career). When I would visit her in school, she would always take me to the park to show me how beautiful it was during all the seasons (the flowers in Spring were definitely her favorite). When we got older (and were living back in Texas), I took her back to NYC and proposed to her in Riverside Park. When she did her externship at Animal Medical Center, I got to bring my first two Labradors to the park and watch them take in all the wonderful smells and sights. Riverside Park continues to be a special place to us today and whenever we visit the city, we always make a point to go see it.

Do you have a favorite spot or memory in Riverside Park?

I would later learn it was called the 91st Street Community Garden. I proposed to my wife near there, but it was winter, so the gardens were a bit dormant.

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