Running Toward Fear: Nina Ramirez’s Victory Beyond the Finish Line

By Amanda Moses

“My training was the marathon, and the marathon was my victory lap,” Nina Ramirez recalled.

Sweat poured down Ramirez’s back as she pushed through the final stretch of the grueling 26.2-mile race. From her hips to her toes, every muscle burned, but the roar of the crowd carried her forward, step by step and mile by mile.

Her focus to keep moving forward was shattered as her name echoed over the loudspeaker. That was when realization hit that she had crossed the finish line at the TCS marathon. Overcome with emotion, she whispered to herself that she had done it.

Facing the Fear

What often lives as the Nike slogan, “Just do it” became something far more personal for this Spring Creek Towers resident. It became a guiding philosophy. For Ramirez, that mindset began not with running but with fear.

As a child, she nearly drowned, leaving her terrified of the water for years. The turning point came when her teenage son, a swimmer with Freedom Aquatics, encouraged her to face it in 2024. Working as the Events Director at the Brooklyn Sports Club provided access to a pool and the opportunity to try.

With the help of a lifeguard, she began cautiously leaving the shallow end, focusing on steady breaths and small movements. Over time, she progressed from tentative paddling to swimming on her own.

The breakthrough was as emotional as it was physical.

“I cried,” Ramirez said. “It felt like the trauma was leaving my body.”

That moment marked a shift. If she could conquer that fear, she began to wonder what else might be possible.

First Steps

Each year, Ramirez has set a personal goal: do one thing that scares you.

On the cusp of 2025, that challenge became the marathon. She went from running a mile or two to committing to 26.2. The journey was anything but easy. Over the course of a year, she trained in all conditions: rain, cold, and intense heat. Even while on vacation in Florida, she ran in 100-degree temperatures to meet her milestones.

“It’s good for the mind and body,” she said. “It made me feel good.”

The physical transformation followed. So did something unexpected: people began noticing.

TCS Marathon Training

Ramirez joined more than 50,000 runners taking on one of the world’s most iconic races, starting at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and winding through all five boroughs before finishing in Central Park.

But much of her preparation happened alone.

She trained through the streets of Starrett City, where familiar faces, like Department of Public Safety security guards, would wave as she passed. Early morning runs brought their own challenges, particularly as a woman fearful of her safety, but often her husband and son joined her, turning training into family bonding.

Over time, the marathon became more than a race. It was a personal commitment.

Balancing life as a mother, wife, and full-time professional in New York City often leaves little room for self-reflection. But running provided Ramirez with space, not just to grow stronger physically, but also mentally.

What she didn’t expect was the ripple effect.

“You never know who’s watching,” she said. “People started telling me I inspired them to run. That meant everything.”

Her message to others is simple: it does not have to be running. Whatever the fear may be, face it.

Starting Line

Getting to the starting line was no small feat. Ramirez secured her entry by fundraising for charity, setting a goal between $2,500 and $5,000. Along the way, she learned about the technical side of the sport, from proper footwear to the physical toll of high-mileage training.

By race day, she felt prepared.

Standing among thousands on the Verrazzano Bridge, she felt the energy shift as waves of runners surged forward. In the fourth wave, she found her rhythm.

Unlike many runners, she chose not to run with music. Instead, she let the sounds of New York City carry her, the cheers, the music, the voices.

“I could hear people reading my name on my banner saying, ‘You got this, Nina,’” Ramierz said, closing her eyes at the memory.

Advice from a colleague stayed with her: don’t just run the race, experience it.

She embraced that approach, pausing at times to dance, laugh, and connect with spectators. At one point, she even documented her progress on social media, sharing updates in real time.

When the miles grew harder, she turned to something deeper: the voices of her support system. Using an app called RALLY, friends and family recorded messages tied to specific miles. As she hit each marker, their encouragement played in her ear.

“Some made me laugh. Some made me cry,” she said. “But it kept me going.”

Crossing the Finish Line

Miles 18 through 20 proved to be the most difficult. Her hips burned, and each step sent pain through her feet. Her toenails began to rip off.

Still, she pushed forward.

“I told myself, you have to finish,” she said. “No negative thoughts—because if I let that in, I knew I’d lose.”

Instead, she repeated affirmations: stay strong, keep going, you’ve got this.

Then, she crossed the finish line.

The moment was overwhelming. “I’m so proud of you,” she remembers thinking, speaking not just to herself, but to the younger version of her who never had such opportunities.

“This was for me,” she said. “And for my son. To show him that no matter your age, if you want something, you go for it.”

For Ramirez, running has become more than a routine. It offers clarity. She describes her mind as a crumpled piece of paper, smoothed out with every run.

Since completing the marathon, she has continued to set new goals. She recently finished the Maybelline Women’s Half Marathon on April 26 and is already preparing for her next race.

Because for Nina Ramirez, the finish line was not an end, but a beginning.

Photos courtesy of Nina Ramirez