Four endurance runners from Southeast Texas proudly completed the 54th running of the New York City Marathon on November 2, joining tens of thousands of athletes from around the world in one of the most celebrated road races on the planet.
The marathon covered 26.2 miles across all five boroughs, beginning in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. More than 200,000 runners had applied for entry into the 2025 event -- the highest number in the race's history -- though only about 55,000 ultimately secured a place on the starting line.
Port Arthur physician Dr. Thi Nguyen, a member of FRUC Health & Athletics and the Mid-County Run Club, earned his NYC Marathon entry through the lottery system. Nguyen brought an impressive background to the event as a three-time Ironman 140.6 finisher and a veteran of 13 marathons, with a personal best of 3:17:00 achieved in April 2025.
Nguyen has long used running as a tool for both mental and physical well-being.
"As a doctor at First Response Urgent Care, I taught my patients daily about the importance of exercise and health," he said before the race. "I wanted to show my patients that I was practicing what I preached."
He became an avid runner during the pandemic, using the sport to counter the stress of frontline medical work. Guided by osteopathic principles emphasizing preventative care, Nguyen believed in the mantra: "Movement is life."
Port Neches runner Jennie Thuy Le, a member of the Mid-County Run Club and the American Diabetes Association, also entered through the lottery. Le had been running actively for six years and completed 15 marathons prior to New York. Her personal best of 3:34:14, set in June 2025, qualified her for three World Marathon Majors: Chicago, Boston, and New York.
She had earned the Boston Marathon qualifying time three times and finally made the official cutoff for acceptance, achieving entry for April 2026.
Le credited her success to the community surrounding her.
"Running helped me manage my genetic diabetes and supported my mental well-being," she said. "The people I met along the way -- the friendships and support -- shaped my running journey in such a positive way."
Beaumont's Amy Harris, secretary of the SETX Pickleball Club, competed through a charity entry supporting Blood Cancer United. Harris was a two-time Ironman finisher and had completed 15 marathons, holding a personal best of 4:04 from the Einstein Marathon in Ulm, Germany.
"NYC was my 16th marathon," Harris said before the race. "My highest achievement was winning the Female Master's award at the Beaumont Turkey Trot in 2024."
She expressed deep gratitude to her supporters:
"Thank you to everyone who helped my fundraising campaign. I appreciated the support from our pickleball community, friends, and family."
Port Neches athlete Evan Falgout, a member of Southeast TX Pickleball, also competed through a charity entry, raising money for ALS United. The 2025 race marked his first-ever marathon.
"I was fortunate to be able to move my body and train, while so many cannot due to illness," Falgout said. He ran in honor of his grandmother, Jeanette Evans, dedicating the race to her memory and to all families affected by ALS.