Héroes que corren: Nicole Pieszchata

Starting this week with the Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, NYRR is highlighting frontline and essential workers in our Heroes on the Run series. Running is a source of solace and strength, especially over these last several months, and we are grateful for the everyday heroes who keep our community safe and keep us running—sometimes while running themselves. These runners inspire us with their bravery, dedication, and selflessness and it is our privilege to recognize them.

This week, we honor Nicole Pieszchata from Harlem, a full-time physical therapist at Columbia Presbyterian (pictured above, right, with her colleagues) an NYRR Open Run volunteer at Morningside Park, where she's pictured below, center. This spring she was reassigned to work 12-hour shifts on the prone team in the ICU. Her responsibility was to care for sedated COVID-19 patients who were on ventilators by helping them turn properly onto their stomachs so they could breathe better. 

"Working on the front lines during the pandemic has been emotional," said Nicole. "Not only did working long shifts drain [me] physically, but to see how sick these patents were and the sheer volume really takes a toll. Not to mention the stress of making sure you are doing what you need to do to protect yourself, especially after seeing other co-workers get sick." 

A three-time New York City Marathon finisher, Nicole is easing back into running after an injury last year and plans to run several virtual races, starting with the Virtual New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. "Running has helped me escape all the craziness that has been going on," she said. "When I go out for a run, I always have to have music with me. But once I’m a few miles in, it doesn’t really matter what I am listening to. Running helps clear my head. Nothing makes me feel better than getting some miles in. 

"Central Park is my happy place," she continued. "It reminds me how much I love New Yorkers. Living alone during the pandemic was really tough and lonely at times, not getting to be with family and friends. Getting out for a run or walk helped me connect to other New Yorkers."

Follow #HeroesOnTheRun to join us in celebrating Nicole and all of our everyday heroes. NYRR will feature a runner who is serving or served on the front lines of the pandemic as our Hero on the Run for each of our remaining virtual races in 2020.