As the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon approaches, we’re thrilled to celebrate a few of our own from Au Pair in America who are gearing up to run the iconic annual race. Former au pairs Nathaly and Amina, along with host parent Connor and his family’s current au pair, Eliška, are excited to take on the marathon this year and represent Team Au Pair in America. Their dedication to the au pair program and their rigorous training for the marathon is truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they tackle 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of New York City!
We caught up with Nathaly, Amina, Eliška, and Connor to learn more about their connection to the NYC Marathon as current and former au pairs and host parents with Au Pair in America.
Will the 2025 NYC Marathon be your first marathon experience? Please tell us how you’re feeling!
Nathaly: Yes! I’m feeling proud. Whatever happens, it’s a win. I’m excited, grateful, and ready to see what I’m made of.
Amina: While the TCS New York City Marathon will be my second marathon, it’s the one that has lived in my heart the longest. I was an au pair in Connecticut from 2017 to 2018, and I still remember standing at Mile 7 in Brooklyn, handing out water to the runners at the NYC Marathon 2017. That was the moment I said to myself: One day, I want to be one of those runners.
My first full marathon will be in Cologne on October 5th, and then, just four weeks later, I’ll be living my dream in New York City. I feel incredibly honored and excited to run for Team Au Pair in America. It feels like coming full circle, and I can’t wait to represent the program that shaped such a meaningful chapter of my life.
Eliška: Yes, this is my first marathon, and I feel both excited and a little nervous! But I’m really looking forward to it — I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!
Connor: Feeling excited! Training is going well!
What is your training plan for the marathon?
Nathaly: I’ve got a training plan through the Runna App — loving how structured it feels. It makes solo training way more manageable.
Amina: Most of my training I do solo, but I’ll be running the Cologne Marathon together with a group of friends — which is already a great foundation for New York! Right now, I’m focused on preparing for a middle-distance triathlon in August, which includes a 20 km run. That means my base fitness will be strong by the time I officially start marathon training in August. I’m really looking forward to shifting my focus fully to the marathon after the triathlon. Even now, when I go for a run and think about the NYC Marathon, I get goosebumps all over and can’t help but smile the entire way. It’s such a powerful motivation!
Eliška: So far, I’ve been training solo, but I regularly share my progress with my host dad, Connor, who’s been giving me helpful tips to improve!
Connor: Training with the Peloton app, [it’s] been going well—fitting in runs whenever I can.
What about running in the NYC Marathon are you most looking forward to?
Nathaly: Crossing that finish line (also the bagel and banana). It’s been a dream for so long, and I can’t wait to feel that sense of accomplishment.
Amina: I’m most excited to run through the streets of a city that holds so many memories for me. During my time as an au pair in Connecticut, I lived just an hour away by train and spent almost every weekend in New York City. It’s a breathtaking place that became a second home, and I can’t wait to run past all the spots that meant so much to me back then. What makes it even more special is that a friend I met during my au pair year, who was also in Connecticut, will be traveling to New York to cheer me on. Knowing she’ll be there makes this experience even more meaningful and emotional for me.
Eliška: I’m excited to see NYC from a new and unique perspective, and to meet fellow runners who share the same goal as me!
Connor: Running through the different parts of the city that I’ve explored with my wife over our time living there. Reliving some of those memories as I go!
How has Au Pair in America as an organization supported you on this journey?
Nathaly: I could not have asked for a better Community Counselor to encourage me to participate and to motivate me! APIA is giving me the opportunity with a guaranteed spot, which otherwise might have taken me years to obtain.
Amina: Volunteering at the NYC Marathon through Au Pair in America was the moment I first dreamed of running it myself. Because the NYC Marathon is so hard to get into, especially when you no longer live in the U.S., I honestly thought my chances were very small. That’s why it means so much to me to now have this opportunity through the organization that supported me during my time as an au pair. Being able to represent Au Pair in America in this way makes me incredibly proud and grateful, and I want to show everyone that Au Pair in America not only supports new au pairs but also former ones.
Eliška: Au Pair in America has been a big support throughout this journey. They provided helpful resources, regular check-ins, and a great community of other au pairs who motivate and inspire me. It’s really encouraging to feel like I’m not alone in this experience.
Connor: So grateful for the opportunity. Super clear in their instructions, and just so excited about them sponsoring me to run.
Each year, au pairs in the Tri-State area gather to volunteer for the NYC Marathon. How does it feel knowing the Au Pair in America Team is cheering you on and rooting for your success?
Nathaly: I’m happy to have experienced the NYC Marathon from the other side — as an APIA volunteer in 2022 — and now I’m excited to be running in the race myself.
Amina: It honestly gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Knowing that Au Pair in America and so many current au pairs will be out there cheering means the world to me. I was once one of them, handing out water, clapping, and dreaming of one day being on the other side.
What makes it even more special is the unique bond au pairs share. You connect so quickly because we’re all in the same situation: spending a year far from home, stepping out of our comfort zones, and trying to make it the best time of our lives. That kind of shared experience creates an instant sense of community and support. To now be running with that energy behind me is incredibly emotional. I know I won’t be running alone — I’ll be carried by all those memories, friendships, and the cheers of people who truly understand what this journey means.
Eliška: I feel super lucky and incredibly grateful for this opportunity! It feels amazing to have such a great organization supporting me every step of the way.
Connor: Love it! Can’t wait for the energy from the organization and all my family and friends!
Any advice for future runners in the NYC Marathon?
Nathaly: I think it’s all in your mind! Fuel up, smile, and if your legs complain, remind them you’re stronger than NYC traffic. We have what we need to make it!
Amina: Enjoy every single second. This race is truly something special. When I think about race day, I know there might be moments when I feel like I can’t go on. But that’s when my body will carry me forward, because I’ve trained hard and I trust in that preparation. I believe the marathon will fly by. There’s so much to take in: The energy of the city, the cheering crowds, the music, the signs, the smiles. You won’t just be focused on running; you’ll be swept up in the atmosphere. The crowd lifts you, and suddenly you’re not just running a marathon, you’re living a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Also, trust your training. The hard work happens in the months before the race. On race day, it’s your celebration. And if you’re part of the au pair community, know that you’re not alone. We all share this incredible experience of stepping into the unknown, growing, and supporting each other. That spirit will be with you every step of the way.
Eliška: For future runners — and a reminder to myself — stay patient. It’s definitely a process. Don’t compare yourself to others; everyone’s journey is different, and that’s okay!
Au Pair in America is passionate about supporting our team so they can go the extra mile.
Whether you’re a host parent, an au pair, or one of our on-site Community Counselors, Au Pair in America is always there to support you and cheer you on — just as we do with our community at the NYC Marathon. If you’re a parent looking to host an au pair, we encourage you to do so with our trusted au pair program, Au Pair in America.
1 comment
I am I incredibly thankful and happy to get this opportunity!! I cannot believe I will be running the NYC Marathon – my dream is coming true 😍😍😍