¿Qué fue una “luz” en su vida en 2020?

This week, our three-part series around the theme of "light" continues as we approach the end of the year 2020. In many ways, these past 12 months have made for a dark year, but we're closing the year with the NYRR Virtual Season of Light 5K, as we look to bring some positivity and—you guessed it—"light" to runners. As we close out the final days of 2020, let's look back on some of the things that helped us get through it all.

Last week, we shared stories about who was a "light" in our lives this year—who helped us get through each hour, day, week, and month, even as the concept of time seemed to lose relevance.

This week, we're looking back at what was a "light" in our lives, and this time around the topic is a little more open-ended.

What moments were the "high-lights" of your year? What gave you something to look forward to, and then something to carry you through the days and weeks that followed?

What practices did you incorporate into your "new normal" that gave you a sense of control over some part of your life?

Or, even though material items are not the "reason for the season," sometimes relief can come in the form of retail therapy—what was an item that made your life that little bit better this year (or "lightened the load for you," if you will)?

Like last week, I'll get us started, and then we'll open the floor to you, the runners and readers in our community.

I think the most steady routine I developed during our collective stay-at-home time was my habit of watching professional wrestling. I hadn't watched with any regularity since the days of WCW (so, 2001 at the latest), but as nearly every live sporting competition came to a halt this spring, I found my fix every Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

For those two hours, I was still aware of what was going on in the world—there was a reason why matches took place with no crowds in attendance, and why wrestlers would occasionally have to miss a match due to COVID-19 protocols—but for the most part, I could take my mind off of the real world and just enjoy whatever would unfold on that week's episode of AEW Dynamite.

It became an event for me to look forward to each week, and it established that if I made it through the work day on Wednesday, I could watch Dynamite that night, and then it would mean that I'd made it more than halfway through that week. I cannot properly verbalize how much comfort, or how much of a sense of normal-ness, I got from picking up a pizza, turning on the TV just before 8:00, and watching wrestlers like Orange Cassidy, a man who competes surprisingly effectively while keeping his hands in his pockets for most of the match. (Don't question how he wins like that; just enjoy the show.)

I'd also like to say that I would have not made it through 2020 if not for:

• My Bike. In a time when I've been hesitant to use public transportation or ride-share services, I can still get around on my bike. And even in a time of limited travel opportunity, it's taken me from Clinton Hill to Coney Island and more than a few places in between.
• Noise-Cancelling Headphones. We all needed something to get us through New York City Fireworks Month...and all those days that it felt like your upstairs neighbor was intentionally stomping back and forth and dragging chairs across their floor.
• One Very Nice Weekend Afternoon at the New York Botanical Garden. I had only been through the Conservatory buildings and the area where they hold the Holiday Train Show, but there is so much more to see! Exploring all of that space is a lovely way to spend a crisp autumn afternoon, and I'm hoping I'll get back there to see it all again in the spring.
• Note: I would live in this small house if I could.

And at this point, I'll pass it over to to you, the runners and readers in our community. What gave you that boost to make it through 2020? Fill out the form below or tag us on social media with #SeasonofLight5K to share your story, and we may add your response to this post! Read on to see what others have said so far.

"High-Lights" from Our Community

"I would be lying to think that 2020 was a dark and chaotic year in itself. But, I was fortunate to have positive things that took place during the last nine months of this chaotic year. First, I was able to spend significant time with my family. Traveling with my parents to help pick up essentials for the house kept me busy and moving. There were times where I feared I was going to get tackled over toilet paper but thankfully customers were friendly and all wearing a mask.

Second. I am a sports fan, whether it is WWE, MLB, NBA, NFL, especially running which I will discuss. It was horrible to be without any sports on television for a little while. Even though I wasn't able to go to my favorite venues such as the Barclays Center, or Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium. It never changed my desire to sit down and watch or listen to a game.

Then of course we have good-ole social media. I was able to get an instagram account for the first time since I usually use Facebook. But to connect with people and getting positive and encouraging messages from all of my friends from running and outside of running made me feel that I was not alone at all. I've gotten to take part in Zoom calls with one of my TFK coaches and took up certificate courses on Coursera to broaden my knowledge of the society that we live in.

With all of these positive events that happened, my greatest highlight of 2020 were the virtual races. Having a year with no in person races due to the pandemic was disappointing. I was supposed to run in my first NYC Half last March until it got cancelled and then the 50th anniversary of the NYC Marathon. The races that NYRR and every other organization were offering helped keep me active and healthy physically and mentally. I used these Strava races to train for the 2020 Virtual TCS New York City Marathon which I did complete in 9:39:34 as well as the final 5 virtual races and the 2K race in Central Park. Special gratitude goes out to the NYRR for giving me the motivation to complete all of these races and for allowing myself to run for those that cannot in this horrific period of our lives."
–David Nurse, Cambria Heights, Queens, NY

Share Your Story

And if you'd like to prepare for our third and final chapter of this series, next week we'll be talking about "where" the lights in your life are—how are you decorating your space and bringing light to your neighborhood, your apartment, or even just to yourself? Or where are the places that you go to "brighten" up your day?