DEMOREST, Ga. - The life of an athletic trainers is many things. Fast-paced, grueling, unpredictable, rewarding, stressful and filled with challenges to constantly overcome. You could even say that the grind of making it through each long weekend, season, semester and academic year is a marathon and not a sprint.

For Piedmont Associate Head Athletic Trainer Dani Brinckman, the marathon aspect was taken literally this past fall, as she took on and completed the New York City Marathon.

Hear form Dani in her own words on the origins of taking on the challenge, the obstacles on the way and the satisfaction of completing the goal.

THE OBVOUS WHY? QUESTION

Running a marathon was not something I thought I was going to do when I was younger, but it became a dream for me in 2024 when I started running simply for enjoyment. It grew out of my love for being outside and staying active. Long runs became something I really enjoyed, and I set a goal for myself to run 26 miles at 26 years old!

The New York City Marathon felt like the perfect place to do it. I went to college about 30 minutes from the city and took frequent trips there, and growing up in the Northeast, it was always somewhere I visited with friends and family.

It also held special meaning because of the foundation I ran with, Tunnels to Towers. The organization honors Stephen Siller, who lost his life rescuing others on September 11, 2001, and now supports families of fallen or injured first responders. Being able to run in the city where it all began made the experience even more meaningful.

THE TRAINING

Training was definitely challenging and very time-consuming. As an athletic trainer, my schedule depends on the teams I’m working with, so finding time to train was a constant balancing act. What I didn’t expect was just how much training would take over my life. Between the time commitment, recovery, and planning, it became a major part of my daily routine.

 

RACE DAY IN NYC

The experience of running the marathon was surreal, like nothing I had ever experienced before. I was nervous at first, especially since getting to the start line is not easy. But once I got onto the Verrazzano Bridge with thousands of other runners, I was able to settle in and trust all the training I had done over the previous four months. At that point, I had no doubt that I could complete it.

Crossing the finish line felt amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling, at least until the pain in my legs started to kick in. What helped me get through it was a voice memo my friends, family, and boyfriend had made for me. Listening to their encouragement and laughter kept me going until I could finally meet them and celebrate. From the support of the New York crowd to seeing my family along the course, it was an experience I’ll always remember.