GAME CHANGERS My Journey to the Marathon Finish Line STORY BY // Erick Arbé, PGA IMPACT STORY
It turns out that this journey was more than “simply running” - it was a collective 6 months of memories that culminated in an experience I’ll never forget.
My marathon journey started seven months ago after reading an email inviting PGA of American Golf Professionals to participate in the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, with the goal of raising funds for the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. After reading that email, I thought to myself, “running is so much easier than golf! All you do is just run! No big deal. And the fundraising should be
of difference! My PT showed me what cadence is and how my stride was too long - which could lead to knee and hip complications. I had one more session with my PT after that which he showed me a few more exercises to help with hip flexor strength. A fun side effect - my golf swing has improved through more flexible and stronger hips. At this point, a friend said to me, “wow, you’re really taking this marathon training seriously!” And yes, I was. I even collaborated with a nutritionist in September and October to find out what foods would best help my gastrointestinal issues. Because to be honest, that’s been my biggest concern all along - how I’d deal with having to use the bathroom multiple times during a race! Finally, race day was here. Just my wife and I flew to New York a couple days in advance of the race. Now, I’ve played in tons of golf tournaments and I know how to prepare for those both mentally and physically. This was a bit different. I didn’t know exactly what to expect the morning of the race - all I knew was that 51,000 people would be there as well. The atmosphere at the starting villages was electric—crowds were everywhere. Despite the sheer volume of people, the event was very well organized. As the cannon signaled the start and Sinatra’s “New York, New York” filled the air, the moment was profoundly moving. Navigating through the sea of runners was challenging, but around Brooklyn, I found my rhythm. The encouragement from spectators was overwhelming, with shouts of “Go Erick!” at every turn. Their motivation, combined with an appearance from my wife at miles 18 and 24, gave me the willpower to keep going. However, at this point, fatigue was setting in - I was DONE. I slowly strided towards the finish line and all I could think about was how nice my hotel bed was going to feel. The mental challenge of such a physically demanding race like this is hard to compare to golf. The sheer willpower to resist the urge to walk was immense. Remember when I said, “all you have to do is run! Piece of cake!”? Well, it turns out that this journey was more than “simply running” - it was a collective 6 months of memories that culminated in an experience I’ll never forget.
a piece of cake!” Oh, how the clarity of hindsight would soon correct my misconceptions. I knew that running the entire marathon distance (26.2 miles) would be a feat, and that I had to start training right away. Seeking expert advice, I consulted coaches at my local gym and reached out to a few marathoner friends. Then, I paid for the New York Road Runners app that coaches you along the way to help improve your running fitness. My first training session was to run just one mile. After that run, I was exhausted. From there, I slowly built up the amount of miles I was running each week. I would run 2-3 times during the week at shorter intervals, then long runs on Saturday mornings. Even during my summer vacations, I made time to run. If there’s anything this journey has given me, it’s the gift of discovering new places while on my runs. I was fortunate to have traveled this summer to Long Island,
Bermuda, and the Outer Banks. At each of those destinations I was able to see some beautiful spots that I ordinarily would have never seen if not for running. Fast forward to August and to my first visit with a physical therapist. A good friend told me to visit a PT before any issues arise in order to check my body for imbalances. Common issues don’t often come about until you’re deep into a run when your body starts to fatigue. That PT visit made a world
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