Sergeant Katherine Guerrero and Police Officer Tim Miley are just two of the 50,000 NYC Marathon runners heading through the five boroughs Sunday. They are making the journey not only for themselves but also to compete against peers from the FDNY for the coveted Mayor’s Cup.
The trophy and bragging rights are awarded to the department whose marathon participants outlast their first-responder rivals.
Miley, who works out of the Midtown North Precinct in Manhattan, is no stranger to long-distance running or the New York City Marathon; he is ranked among the top ten runners within the NYPD. Miley said he was introduced to running while in the police academy and took part in his very first New York Marathon in 2021.
“The first time was just to see if I could do a marathon. Now, every marathon after that is setting a different goal and seeing if I can hit that — challenging myself, day in and day out, waking up every morning, and putting in the miles,” Miley said. “There’s nothing like coming through the finish line for the first time. The sense of accomplishment and the pit of adrenaline and joy you get is incomparable.”
While Miley initially says he took on the daunting task to prove something to himself, he now has a whole team that relies on his skill set, something he deems an honor and a privilege to represent the department.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent the police department and the city I work in,” Miley beamed. “The marathon means so much to our team, the police department running team, to be able to represent the department and finish in the top 10 and win the Mayor’s Cup — It’s a huge honor.”
Guerrero, meanwhile, is making her NYC Marathon debut. Having never participated in the big race before, she admitted being nervous. Yet she notes that running has become therapy for her — something to relieve stress. She is excited to turn that stress reliever into even more positive action.
“I’m nervous, I’m excited,” Guerrero said. “I feel like it’s a lot of pressure that I have so many family members and co-workers coming to support me, and now I’m running with an NYPD shirt. So yeah, it’s definitely a lot of pressure but also an honor.”
Despite being an accomplished runner in her personal life, she says she is also receiving advice from colleagues regarding how to sustain the energy needed to clear the course.
“Don’t start out crazy, take the time, slow it down and really just enjoy the moment. Everyone tells me, no matter how many marathons you do, there is nothing like your first one,” Guerrero said.
While both Miley and Guerrero will be making the trek, their guiding hand will be cheering them on from the sideline.
Thomas Biggers is president of the NYPD Running Club, an organization that consists of hundreds of cops and their family members who rally around each other worldwide and compete in races. According to Biggers, the club not only helps cops improve their physical fitness but also provides a sense of camaraderie.
Biggers says he has offered advice to both Miley and Guerrero and is thrilled to see them compete in what he describes as the running club’s biggest event of the year.
“This is our Super Bowl. It’s just a really special time of the year for us. A lot of our officers have put hundreds of hours into training. We do compete yearly in the New York City Mayor’s Cup trophy, and we’re very proud to say that we’re the current holders of the trophy, and it’s just a great way for us to highlight some great runners,” Biggers said. “There’s nothing better for us.”
