“I was once that girl who was running these events, and now I’m the one planning them. I’m very thankful that through running, I’ve been given these opportunities and taken full advantage of them to increase my personal and professional growth. Running helped me and shaped me into the woman I am today.” ⁣ ⁣ As we look back on 20 years of free youth running programs, read how #TeamNYRR's Ivette Benitez, herself an NYRR youth program alumnus, went on to became an NYRR youth events coordinator with us last spring, sharing her love for running with future generations (link in bio). On TCS New York City Marathon race day this year, Ivette will help manage the Rising New York Road Runners Youth Invitational where a 1,000 youth from across the tri-state area will run the final stretch of the course and cross the Central Park finish hours before anyone else. (link in bio)⁣ #nyrryouth20