Vogue Editor's Running Journey: From Lottery Joke to Two Half Marathons

A Vogue editor recounts her unexpected journey into competitive running, which began as a petty joke to annoy a friend and culminated in completing two half marathons in different countries. In November 2024, she entered the lottery for the 2026 NYC United Half Marathon, expecting not to get in, but was charged $160 and received a congratulatory email three weeks later. She was the only one among her serious runner friends to be selected. Despite initial struggles with early mornings and cold weather, she found the routine transformative, even receiving a job offer at Vogue during a run. She later accepted an invitation to Lululemon's 2026 Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver. After nearly a year of training, she completed both races and replaced her sneakers, which had hit 400 miles. The piece reflects on the mental and physical benefits of running, the joy of accomplishment, and the challenge of post-race routine loss.