Ama Almonte: Life Lessons Learned from Running

When Ama first started running in 2014, her motivation was more for her emotional health than anything else. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Ama was determined at a young age to create a new life in New York City after spending a semester studying abroad through an exchange program offered by her school. When she finally set out for her journey to NYC in 2013, the only English she knew was from Backstreet Boys songs. Confronted with language and cultural challenges like many other immigrants, running was her therapy.

Through running, she learned many life lessons about challenges and accomplishments. Interestingly enough, the progress in running over the years paralleled her journey of building a new life in the foreign city which she calls home today. Step by step, the pains and discomforts which she endured and the hardships which she overcame both in life and running helped develop her perseverance, self-discipline and mental strength.

Running has taught her that accomplishments in life require lots of preparation, hard work, grit and patience. When you feel like giving up, think about your goals and the larger picture. Sometimes the only thing holding you back from achievement is your mind, both in life and running.

“Running has taught me to be patient in many areas in my life.”

Where did you grow up, and when did you move to New York?

I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I came to New York in 2013 after an exchange program offered by my school back home. I really liked the experience and decided to move to the city.

What were some obstacles you experienced when you first moved to New York?

It was very tough when I first moved here. My English skills were limited to Backstreet Boys songs and McDonald’s orders. In addition to that, I had to find a job quickly in order to support myself and save enough money so I could enroll myself in an intense English learning program.

Besides the language barrier, figuring out the American way of doing things was extremely challenging. For example, I did not know you could get free English lessons in libraries until years later after I had already mastered the language. As for job searching, back home it was a much more transparent process. If you wanted to work somewhere, you would just go to places that are looking for applicants and then apply for those jobs. In America, there is a formal application process and your ability to network is a prerequisite. This was especially difficult when you did not speak the language, nor understood how the system works.

In addition, New York public transportation is not intuitive. I did not own a smartphone in the beginning, so getting places required detailed planning every time I left my house. There were so many times I would get on the train and couldn’t figure out where I was going. I would then have to take the train back home and restart. Because my family was not physically here to support me through this journey, I learned early on to lean on myself, which helped develop my independence and problem-solving skills.

“I attribute a lot of my personal growth to running.”

When and why did you start running?

I started running in 2014 after about a year living in New York. Because of all the struggles I was going through, I had to find a way to deal with my depression and emotional issues. Running was the cheapest therapy I could find. So, I started running as a form of therapy. Because I did not grow up a runner back, I would set goals for myself starting with quarter of a mile, then would slowly work towards longer distances.

I attribute a lot of my personal growth to running. It has helped me process and deal with my stresses. It was my therapy for coping with personal struggles early on.

Where and when was your first marathon?

My first marathon was the New York City Marathon in 2018.

What’s your most memorable race? And the most painful one?

My favorite one was a half marathon in Rome in 2017. It was a significant race for me not only because I was running in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but also because it was the culmination of years of hard work both on the physical endurance front as well as in the new life I was creating for myself in New York.

My most painful race was in the Bronx in 2019. I got injured during that race due to a combination of factors. The weather was bad, and I was running too hard and too fast. Because it was only a 10-mile race, I focused too much on the result. This experience taught me the importance of listening to your body and slowing down when necessary.

My most emotional race was my second New York City Marathon in 2021. In general, New York City has the most engaging and supportive community for runners. My 2021 NYC Marathon was especially memorable for a number of reasons. It was the first marathon I ran coming back from the injury in the Bronx and also the first marathon after COVID. On top of that, it was the 50th anniversary for the NYC Marathon. It was the first marathon where I did not feel tired and still had the energy afterwards to hang out with my friends. I finished very strong that day.

How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?

There are times when your body gets tired and is just not having it. When that happens, I always focus on the rewarding feelings that I get afterwards. Once I put on shoes, my body automatically knows it’s time to run. I think at the end of the day, it’s your mental state. But you can train your mind to overcome the mental resistance. For me, it’s the physical act of putting on shoes.

“Running is something that I will always do in my life, even when I can no longer run a marathon. What I try to accomplish through running is not just improving my physical health, but also my mental health.”

Is runner’s high real?

Yes. Running has many ups and downs, and the progress is not linear. It’s an endurance sport. So, it’s important not to overwork your muscles and body. When you run for enjoyment, at some point, you will find yourself enjoying it so much that your body naturally wants to run faster and longer. You will feel a state of euphoria accompanied by joy and delight.

How often do you get runner’s high?

Usually when I run a distance that’s more than six miles.

What do you hope to achieve from running?

Running is something that I will always do in my life, even when I can no longer run a marathon. What I try to accomplish through running is not just improving my physical health, but also my mental health. Every time I feel stressed, I turn to running. I take my time and block everything else out of my mind so I can just focus on one thing. With each step I take, I gain a bit more sanity during tough times. It’s an anchor in my life.

How many marathons would you like to accomplish in your lifetime?

I don’t have a specific target. So far, I have completed three marathons, and I would love to be able to run one marathon each year.

Where is your next marathon?

I have Berlin next year. After that, I want to apply for Chicago, Tokyo, and London. One day I hope to qualify for Boston.

What is your advice for people who are looking to get into running?  

Number one advice is patience. You are going to be on your feet for many hours. Understand your body’s limit and slowly work to expand that limitation. Make progress step by step, do not rush yourself. It’s important to not focus too much on speed. There will always be someone faster than you and slower than you. At the end of the day, you are running for yourself, not others. With patience and persistence, know that you will get there one day.

Also important is following a program. There are many sources that help prepare you. It’s critical you find one that adapts to your needs and works for you.

“There will always be someone faster than you and slower than you. At the end of the day, you are running for yourself, not others.”

What’s the single most important lesson that running has taught you?

Running has taught me to be patient in many areas in my life. I used to be anxious about getting things done fast. Now I understand things don’t just happen immediately. You need to go through the process to get there. With running, there will be good days and bad days. At the end, the reward is amazing. It’s the same way I think about my career. I must work hard and be willing to invest time and effort. And with time, I know I will get there.