They ran on campus together as track and field athletes. Now, Stephanie Hayes ’19, Noreen Byrne ’19, Stacie Nadel ’19, Grace Eckstein ’19, and Erin Racano ’20 are running through life together. The five best friends live in the same New York City neighborhood and have been by each other’s sides through every life milestone. Recently, four of them reached a new one together: running the New York City Marathon on November 1.
In many ways, Eckstein has paved the way for the group. She’s been running marathons since 2021 and completed the New York City Marathon the following year, her friends cheering her on throughout the race. Hearing about her experiences and preparation inspired her friends to take on the challenge themselves, even though an injury ultimately prevented Eckstein from competing. Hayes ran the marathon in 2022 after getting in through the lottery, but wasn’t sure if she would do it again until the group sparked the idea of doing it together. For the other three women, it was their first marathon.
“The New York City Marathon is always my favorite day of the year,” says Hayes. “It’s so inspiring to watch everyone run and cheer them on after months of hard work to get to that point. Training with my friends and doing this with them warms my heart. We’ve all ebbed and flowed with our interest in running, but doing this with them is so special.”
Throughout the summer, the women committed to doing long runs each week, wherever they happened to be. Sometimes that meant doing group runs in upstate New York; at other times, the women jogged down the shore or while traveling out of state. The goal challenged them physically while giving them a chance to catch up, chat, and laugh along the way. On race day, different starting villages meant they couldn’t run alongside one another. Still, knowing they were all out on the course, taking on the same challenge together, helped carry them through.
“I had expected to loathe the early morning wake-ups, exhausting workouts, off-day exercises, heavy lifts, and excessive fueling, but we’ve done nothing but laugh and smile our way through the pain and fatigue,” says Byrne. “This has been one of the most joyful seasons of my life. We’ve all seen our hardships throughout the training cycle, and our decade-long foundation of friendship has been critical to help each other through it all.”
For Hayes and Byrne, the marathon also offered an opportunity to support causes close to their hearts. Both ran wearing charity bibs, raising more than $15,000 for organizations that have played meaningful roles in their lives.
Hayes ran in support of Girls On the Run, a nonprofit that brings young girls together and helps them build confidence through running. A chapter of the organization in her hometown made a lasting impression on Hayes, and her experience with the group was formative.
Byrne ran in support of the Carol M. Baldwin (CMB) Breast Cancer Research Fund, an organization deeply connected to her family. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. After a period of remission, the cancer returned in 2026. Running in her mother’s honor, Byrne worked to raise funds and awareness and make her family proud. With every mile, she carried her mother’s strength and the ongoing fight she faces.
“My mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice, and her name is Carol M. Byrne,” says Byrne. “It seemed written in the stars for me to run for the CMB Research Fund. Mom is still undergoing treatment with chemo once every three weeks, but she came out to support me at the race. It was an honor to run for CMB and for my mom.”
After crossing the finish line, the women reunited and celebrated alongside more than 140 friends and family members. Amid the festivities, the five friends sat together, medals in hand, smiling, laughing, and reminiscing about the experience.
“My friends are my biggest supporters,” says Hayes. “I’m so lucky that Lehigh brought us together. We’re always there to support each other. Doing life together is the easiest choice we’ve ever made.”
“I am so fortunate for my time as a student-athlete at Lehigh,” Nadel adds. “The confidence in myself that I gained to run a marathon is rooted in my foundation at Lehigh, and I’m thankful for coach Deb Utesch, who not only helped me become a physically and mentally tougher student, athlete, and person, but also for connecting me with my best friends!”
