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

Well, team, we've made it to December. In many ways, 2020 was a dark year, but we're closing the year with the NYRR Virtual Season of Light 5K, as we're looking to bring some positivity and—you guessed it—"light" to runners. As the end of the year nears, let's look back on some of the things that helped us get through it all.

This week kicks off a three-part series around the theme of "light," where we'll take a look at the people and the practices that lifted us up this year, as well as the places where we can find light during the holiday season.

This week, we want to hear about who was a "light" in your life this year.

Who made your days a little more manageable as our "normal" ways of life changed virtually overnight? Who got you through the tougher periods? Whose presence gave you just enough calm and peace of mind to keep going?

Was it one of your training partners, whether you were able to run together in person (at a safe social distance) or stay connected through video calls?

Was it your neighbor, who you got to know better as you both figured out how to live through this? (...And who may have bailed you out that time you ran out of toilet paper.)

Or was it someone who, in an ever-more-online world, you didn't know in real life, but they still provided some moments of levity in your day-to-day?

While you reflect on that, I'll get us started.

Early in the pandemic, I would say the people who were collectively a "light" in my life were my family and my close friends. Almost weekly, we would have "game nights" where we would meet over a video call and play something like Quiplash or Tee K.O.

I live by myself, and I may not have had an actual in-person conversation with anyone from the middle of March to the middle of May, but having my friends and family accessible through a video call from time to time made everything feel just a little more manageable—that we were all basically experiencing the same things, albeit in separate cities, and that we could take an hour or two every once in a while to commiserate or to just take our minds off of everything.

Those virtual meetups kept up for a few months before tapering off a bit—life changed, adapted, and then the new "regular life" started to get in the way of them—so if I'm looking back at who has brightened my day throughout the entire pandemic so far, that honor may have to go to whoever runs the account for @mondomascots, a Twitter account that features a different mascot from across Japan nearly every single day—and many days, multiple mascots!

Do I know why the mascot for Kitakyushu City is a cat with a lemon on its head? No, but I enjoy seeing photos of that.

Does a produce delivery company necessarily need a mascot that's a tomato on wheels? Also no, but again, I enjoy seeing photos of that.

And when I read about a vampire bat who promotes paying taxes through direct deposit—for, you see, he's nocturnal, and he cannot get to the bank during normal business hours—well, that's just a good 10 seconds of my day.

So, to whoever runs that account: Thank you, you're doing great, and please keep up the good work! My hope of qualifying for and running the Tokyo Marathon might have taken a detour this year, but I'm still hopeful that someday I'll be able to run it, and that I'll be able to see some of those mascots while I'm there.

Those are a few of the people that have gotten me through 2020, and now I'd like to pass the microphone over to the runners in our community.

If you'd like to share who was a light in your life this year, fill out the form below or tag us on social media with #SeasonofLight5K, and your response could be added to this post! Read on to see what other runners have said so far.

"High-Lights" from Our Community

Here are a few selections from what we heard back from runners:

"My fiancé, Aryeh, has been my light through this year. He dealt with my working long hours during the pandemic (I work in healthcare), he kept me calm during my own pandemic-xiety, and he held my hand as I buried both my parents, less than 6 months apart."
–Jessy Warner-Cohen, Long Island, NY

"My light is Marco, my husband. He is a nurse and with his example he taught me not to give up."
–Milena, Italy

"My mom and my sister with their help and understanding in all facets of this difficult life process."
–Aminta Vazquez Rodriguez, Puerto Rico

"I am a speech therapist working directly with patients and residents in a skilled nursing facility who have been affected by or lost their lives to COVID-19. The light in my life is my husband, Christian, who has helped me process the emotional turmoil I face throughout my work day so that I can continue to serve my residents with the best care and compassion.

Whether it is cooking dinner, doing extra chores, being a listening ear, giving me an extra long hug, or joining me on night runs, he has been my biggest supporter and life aid. I couldn’t have gotten through this year without Christian. And our dog, Mochi."
–Tammy Allard, North Haven, CT

"Every act of kindness that I watched on TV, read online, or saw in person reminded me that I am thankful for the the kindness in people!"
–Krista, New York City

"My family always inspires me to run. They are my 'light.' Really!

Especially this hard year through my mom's words on the doorstep before my jogging: 'Don't run at all because even in the wood you can catch Covid-19 and bring it home for all of us.' My family helps me to run even though my child's words: 'Mom please stay at home and play with me.'

My family is always with me even though my husband's words: 'Today is so hot/cold.' But he always run with me when I am going away or dark outside. And I follow him, because he is faster than me and he started running first and motivated me to run. Because despite of everything they really support me very much, when I back from jogging they help to cook or kiss my cheeks or make massage for my back and they smile when see my happy face after running.

It would be too easy to run without someone's protest every time. Because the main reason they do it because of their love for me and care! I love my family and run!"
–Svitlana Bondar, Ukraine

"My little dog Rocky lightened me up every single day to get through specially in this difficult pandemic time, I got sick he stayed with me and I got better with him🐶❤️"
–Cristy Bifalco, Brooklyn, NY

"My light was and has always been my mom. She's been through a lot, loss of her son, heart attacks, abusive hubby... And she's always there for me. I fought and got over depression and anorexia for her, and thanks to her."
–Jessica Sarlabous, Paris, France

"Hello, my light this year was family, my pets "Negrito" and "Reta" and the virtual races that you organized that helped me feel better in a difficult year for the whole planet. Thank you very much NYRR."
–Pablo Medeot, Sampacho, Argentina

"See York Run York chat group . A running race organisation who’s chat group kept us connected in Yorkshire England . People checked on each other and we kept active with challenges which could be done by everyone whilst we could not leave home. There were even marathons ran in our gardens or yards . A light 💡 at the end of a dark 🇬🇧 tunnel."
–Keith Allan, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England

And we'll close with a few runners who gave quick shout-outs to the respective "lights" in their lives:

"Sapir, my wife."
–Guy, New York City

"Barbara Matagrano Vargas."
–Daniel Broce Bueno, Mexico

"My wife."
Maria Lina, Argentina

And if you want to get a head start on thinking about next week's topic, we'll be looking back on what was a light in your life this year. What moments, what habits, or even what things helped you get through 2020? More to come on that!