# @nyrr on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C4_LCxwsWj0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/12974340-nyrr-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/ea2a07e600.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-03-26T18:12:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** New York Road Runners (@nyrr) — https://gondola.cc/nyrr

## Caption

“I met my husband of 34 years while handing out T-shirts as a volunteer. We decided to get married at the Boathouse in Central Park because that is where our love of running and each other grew.”
 
Meet NYRR member Karen Bdera👋 who started running in 1984 after seeing an ad on an NYC bus for the L’Eggs Mini-Marathon women’s 10K race that took place in Central Park. She said the tagline for the race was “Who says women can’t run the world?” so she had to run it.
 
“It seemed like a fun thing to do, so I signed up. Little did I know exactly how much my life would change.”
 
Karen became an NYRR member when she was “fresh out of college and new to the workplace.” She said becoming a member saved her money. Plus, she had already started making new running friends and enjoyed the community.🫶
 
“NYRR had given me a huge extended family – people who mean the world to me! It is a place where all the labels disappear – career, college degrees, pace – all don’t matter.”
 
Of all the NYRR races she’s run, Karen said that the 2001 New York City Marathon after the 9/11 attacks made the most impact on her.
 
“It was scary, but restorative. The city was able to show its resilience, its strength, and its love.”
 
To date, she’s completed 669 NYRR races and approximately 40 Open Runs.
 
Let’s show some 💙 to Karen in the comments for her dedication to the sport and the running community and learn more about how you can become a member at the link in bio.✍️
 
Photos📸: marathonfoto
 
#MemberMoment

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Image description: (1) A photo of Karen Bdera at the 2023 RBC Brooklyn Half smiling with her medal. (2) A quote graphic said by Karen reading: "NYRR had given me a huge extended family - people who mean the world to me! It is a place where all labels disappear - career, college degrees, pace - all don't matter." (3) A photo of Karen running at the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon. (4) A quote graphic said by Karen reading: "I met my husband of 34 years while handing out T-shirts as a volunteer. We decided to get married at the Boathouse in Central Park because that is where our love of running and each other grew."

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