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Erin Curtis

@erinmichelleisu

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✈️🌎💛❤️💪🏽🍦
IRONMAN
🏃🏻‍♀️Help me run NYC 2026! Donate to First Descents! support.firstdescents.org/ECrunsNYC

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2026 New York City Marathon. 50 Years Through 5 Burroughs. My first New York.

Anyone who knows me, knows how badly I’ve wanted to run this race. I lived in NYC 10 years ago for a nearly 6 month long clinical rotation in physical therapy school. I got to cheer my roommate on as she ran the race and before even getting off the train at my first cheer stop, I was obsessed with the energy and immediately knew I had to do this someday, despite having no previous interest in running a marathon. Fast forward to now - this is my FOURTH marathon and endurance sports have totally changed my life.

I LOVE New York. It makes me feel like I can do anything. This whole thing was very kismet - running a full decade after I saw the marathon for the first time, with a charity that has my heart forever (heyyy @first_descents), and when so many sweet friends also got to experience their first NYC Marathon.

I wanted to remember every single step of this course and every magical moment from this experience. Seeing the signage for the first time, getting my bib, the expo, and the energy of the city leading up to marathon Sunday. Then the race. The journey to Staten Island (shoutout @lacy_baum for our three hour long freak out). Seeing the Verrazano. Singing “New York, New York” after the start cannon went off. My first steps on the course and over first bridge. The insane party that was Brooklyn. The signs and vibes in Queens. The silence of the Queensboro. The roar of noise entering Manhattan. The people 6 deep screaming their faces off all along 1st Ave. The music in the Bronx. That final bridge into Manhattan. The run down 5th Ave. Seeing Doug six times throughout the day! And those last two incredible miles through Central Park to a finish I had dreamed about for 10 years. I LOVED this day. I smiled for literally the entire 26.2 miles. It truly will always be New York or nowhere. The greatest marathon on earth lived up to the hype and then some. I will never forget getting to see the city by running 26.2 miles through its magical, energetic, spectacular streets.

I ran the New York City Marathon. And I f***ing LOVED it.

#nycmarathon by @erinmichelleisu

9.8.24 - the day I became an IRONMAN.
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This has been a 4 year dream - working SO hard, training nearly every day, and learning to believe in myself to get to this moment. When the weekend finally came, I couldn’t have felt more ready or more excited! Nothing pumped me up more than cheering on my fellow iron - peeps @brenttraver and @hannahhock_ as they completed their first 70.3 distance triathlons!
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Race morning - the nerves (and tears) set in. But soon enough, I was in my start corral, heard the cannon boom, and all the sudden I was moving toward the starting line. It was finally my day, the day I was going to be an Ironman!
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The swim is always my best leg, and despite a lot of bodies and limbs in the water, I had a great swim, felt really strong, and my long day push to get to the finish had officially begun!
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112 miles on the bike is LONG. I remembered the sections Coach Taylor and I had made up a few days before and had 11/10 vibes for the first half of the ride. The second half got really tough with a headwind and the grind of so much climb. Finally, after nearly 8 hours, I was riding up iconic Monona helix and getting ready to start my final leg of the day!
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The run. Always the hardest part for me. Seeing my cheer crew so many times was an absolute lifesaver! I love you all SO much! Soon it was dark, I was still running, and I knew I’d never quit. I knew I would finish. I had to hear them call my name as an Ironman.
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The finish. When I turned the corner on State street just past mile 25, I immediately started SOBBING. I knew I had done it. The finishing chute was waiting for me. I ran to the first timers bell and rang it as hard as I could! And then FINALLY, I ran down that red carpet and heard the announcer say “Erin, you are an Ironman for the very first time!”. It was incredible. I really did it! I had become an Ironman! I will NEVER forget that moment.
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This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and also one of the greatest days of my life. All the support from near and far meant the WORLD. Special s/o to @dmgdg5 for constant support and to Coach @taylor.ames for the whole journey!
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I am now and forever will be - an IRONMAN.
❤️,
E by @erinmichelleisu

Yes, I created this ridiculous reel during my lunch break at work. $350 away from my fundraising goal for @first_descents, 10 days out from @nycmarathon !!!!!!

Link to donate in bio. by @erinmichelleisu

POV: You were born to (try really hard to) run…so naturally you ran all over Norway 🇳🇴😂

Next stop: 26.2 miles through NYC 🗽🏃🏻‍♀️ - running for something bigger, raising money for @first_descents and their work creating life-changing outdoor adventures and community for people impacted by health challenges.

Norway’s mountains were the warm up. NYC is the main event 👀

Support me at the link in bio or at the end of the video or here: support.firstdescents.org/ecrunsnyc

#firstdescents #outlivingit #muchbetteradventures #dowildthings #nycmarathon by @erinmichelleisu

Where to even begin? The Lofoten Islands in Norway was easily the most magical, majestic, and jaw dropping place I’ve ever been. Spending a week hiking (plus an overnight backpacking adventure) through the most incredible nature on Earth with a group of strangers turned friends was food for my soul. This trip was better than my wildest dreams and I left Norway with my cup overflowing. What a wonderful and wild privilege it is to adventure through this wonderful and wild world. Thank you @muchbetteradventures for the experience of a lifetime!
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Travel company: @muchbetteradventures
Local operator: @nelofoten
Guide: @germanbellene.mg
Companions: @boardmananna @swillisss @diane.craig144 @stephsmith_ss @laurikemper Sasha, Ruth
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#norway #lofotenislands #adventuretravel #hikingtrip #dowildthings by @erinmichelleisu

Today marks TWO MONTHS away from @nycmarathon! I still can't believe I get to run this race with Team First Descents. I moved to the city TEN years ago - it feels like a lifetime and also like just 10 minutes ago that I rode the 1-2-3 from 110th to Grand Central every day for work. I can't wait to soak up the one of a kind NYC energy on marathon day to propel my legs for another 26.2 miles.

I went back through finish line photos starting with my first Olympic distance tri in 2021 - for a girl who still doesn't see herself as athletic and still struggles with body image, looking through these was a sweet moment of reflection. I can't believe I ran ONE marathon - much less working towards my FOURTH!

I could talk forever about how falling into endurance sports changed my world and helped my brain. I'm never out there to win. My abilities aren't that great. I'm out there to show that you CAN do hard things, even if you are a back-of-the-pack athlete. And more than that, you can have fun and try really REALLY hard.

Now, I get to do all that AND raise money for a cause that is so special to me. First Descents harnesses the power of adventure for healing and I've seen firsthand the profound impact this organization makes on lives. I would so appreciate any support you can give: https://support.firstdescents.org/ecrunsnyc (link in bio as well)

@first_descents

#nycmarathon #newyorkornowhere by @erinmichelleisu

“Time for a bike ride, the world feels wide. With wind in my hair and friends by my side”
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My 5th RAGBRAI. Still my absolute favorite. I love everything about this week. I love RAGBRAI. I love my people. And I love being a @livewrongpirates! by @erinmichelleisu

I ❤️ Washington. 🫍🦭🏔️🍒🐋
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Anacortes. North Cascades National Park. Mt. Baker Wilderness. Museum of Flight. And the most amazing chai of my life in Bellingham.
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Yet again, I never regret a trip. by @erinmichelleisu

Grandma’s Marathon 2026 - another 26.2 in the books! Proud of the grit it took me to finish this one - a great first half followed by a total implosion. But I never stopped moving and pulled it together for a strong finish. It was extra special getting to do this with friends - @megan.burt and @jvanwert both crushed their races! Thankful for the world’s best cheer squad and all the love I felt over the weekend and celebrating my 38th trip around the sun.

Ready for some time on the pool, on the bike, and in the mountains before training starts for my next 26.2 in November - NYC Marathon! I’m going to keep chasing hard things as long as my body lets me.

#grandmasmarathon #runner #icandohardthings by @erinmichelleisu

IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING. THIS GIRL IS RUNNING THE 2026 NEW YORK CITY MARATHON! Even better - I get to do it as a charity runner for First Descents - a group I hold close to my heart.
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I saw the NYC Marathon in 2016 when I was living on the UWS during a clinical rotation and my roomie ran the race. I got to cheer her on all around the city and had the BEST day. I definitely didn't consider myself a runner or an athlete at the time and hadn't found my way into endurance sports quite yet, but the second I saw the electricity of NYC that day, I knew I had to run a marathon...I had to run THAT marathon. 10 years later, I finally get to run that race!
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I volunteered with First Descents on a rock climbing trip in Estes Park last August. I thought I was just going to be doing dishes and helping out where I could. I did NOT expect the immense power that came out of that weekend (and I also learned how to rock climb!). First Descents provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. They literally use adventure to heal - my most favorite thing ever. Movement, endurance sports, and trying hard things continue to change me and help me grow in the best possible ways - to find more confidence and love for myself and to consistently rewrite negative narratives I hold. First Descents gave me the privilege to witness and cheer on other people as they moved through their own journeys.
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This stuff is magical and I'm THRILLED to be on the FD NYC team this year. I'm trying to raise $5,000 to give others the gift of healing through adventure. You can donate here or through the link in my bio: support.firstdescents.org/ECrunsNYC
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LET'S DO THIS, NYC!!!!

First up tho - Grandma's Marathon in June. I literally never thought I would run one marathon in my lifetime - much less two in ONE YEAR. L.F.G. xoxo, EC. by @erinmichelleisu

Grt catching up w/ the First Descents Crew!

Always fun to bring the climbing party inside @movementgymscolorado 🤙

📸’s link in bio
http://tiny.cc/FD-Movement by @erinmichelleisu

When the Cyclones came to Colorado.
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The easiest way to make me happy is put these people + Iowa State athletics in the same place. The easiest way to make me euphoric is to put all of that in my home!!!! I couldn’t have been happier to show my crew my state! Would have loved the dub - but still happy to support the Clones for my version of a home game. Great times with great people. ❤️💛 by @erinmichelleisu