Not Selected — And Yes, It Stings a Little

There’s no sugar‑coating it: “Not selected” can be a hard pill to swallow.

Especially when you’ve been refreshing your inbox like it’s Black Friday and the NYRR email is the last TV on sale.

Today I got the official word:

“You were not selected for the 2026 Virtual TCS New York City Marathon but are encouraged to apply for the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon, with Team for Kids registration starting today at 3:00 p.m. ET.”

So no — I wasn’t chosen for the 2026 Virtual TCS NYC Marathon with guaranteed entry into the 2027 in‑person race.

And yes — it stung for a minute. Okay, maybe two.

But that’s okay: It’s not the end of the world, and it’s definitely not the end of my NYC Marathon journey.

What “Not Selected” Really Means

It doesn’t mean I’m out.
It doesn’t mean the dream is dead.
It simply means this wasn’t my door — and that’s okay.

NYRR’s process is a maze of lotteries, drawings, tiers, and timing. Sometimes your name gets pulled. Sometimes it doesn’t. But there’s always another path forward.

The Good News: There Are Options

NYRR offers multiple ways into the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon, including charity fundraising — an option I’m seriously considering and will be exploring this week.

So while today’s answer was a “no,” tomorrow is a new day of planning, plotting, and figuring out the smartest route to Staten Island.

What’s Next

I’ll keep training.
I’ll keep showing up.
I’ll keep moving forward — because that’s what runners do.

Not selected today.
Still unstoppable tomorrow.

No Matter How Your Journey Continues…

No matter how your journey continues, whether today brought a yes or a no, I’m rooting for you. We’re all moving forward in our own way.

Good luck to all.