New Haven Road Runners take Rome!

Hear from Steven Urgiles who ran his debut marathon alongside fellow NHRR comrade Nick Schindler in Rome in an incredible 3:19:56!

What made you want to run a marathon, and why Rome?

When I first started running, a marathon was never part of my plans. Everything changed after my first half marathon at the New Haven Road Race. I remember crossing the finish line and thinking, okay, that was cool… maybe I could try something bigger. And just like that, the idea of running a marathon started to grow in my mind.

I started training without even having a race in mind. Then one day, I saw a video on TikTok of some girls running the Rome Marathon, passing through incredible places. And I don’t know… something just clicked. I started watching more videos, looking into dates, routes… and Rome started to feel more and more real. I had never been there before, so it also became the perfect excuse to travel.

For months, it was just an idea. I would tell everyone that I might run that marathon, and I kept training, but without fully committing. Finally in December, I said: okay, it’s time. I signed up… and from that moment on, there was no going back.

How was your training block experience?

What I didn’t realize when I chose a March marathon was that all my training would happen during winter.

Honestly, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Running long distances in that kind of cold was brutal. Snow, ice, constantly adjusting plans. The track was covered in snow for weeks, so I ended up doing speed workouts on the street in front of my house. Not ideal, but it worked. And the long runs…some days, I don’t even know how I found the motivation to go out. I just knew I had miles to complete, and there was no other option.

What was the highlight of your training?

The best part of the process was running with the club.

Running with NHRR made everything feel different. Time passed faster, the miles felt easier. Sometimes I had to start earlier or finish later to meet my distance, but sharing part of those runs made a huge difference.

And beyond running, it was the support.

At first, my goal was simply to finish. During my long runs, once I passed mile 18, everything felt really hard. My legs didn’t respond the same way. I had to stop, rest, run again… and repeat until I finished the distance. As my training progressed, I told myself a goal time of 3:50 sounded reasonable, but the club didn’t agree. They told me I could do better, that they had seen my training, my effort and discipline, that I should believe in myself more.

And little by little, I started to believe it too.

That’s when I raised my goal: 3:30.

I didn’t know if I could do it, but I wanted to try.

What was a lowlight of your training?

During my final long run, I felt a sharp pain in my foot. I had to stop. I couldn’t move it properly. For the next two days, I couldn’t even walk.

I was two weeks away from the marathon, and all I could think was: this can’t be happening right now. I spent that week resting, trying not to overthink, but the worry was there. The following week, I slowly tried running again. First three miles. I still felt discomfort. I wasn’t sure. I tried again a few days later… and little by little, the pain started to fade.

Tell us about arriving in Rome ahead of the race. How were you feeling?

I arrived excited, but still worried. Even walking around the city, there were moments when I felt discomfort. I tried not to think about it too much, but the question was still there: what if this doesn’t go well?

The day before the marathon, we went for a run with a local running club. I felt good. No pain. Light, happy. The energy was incredible: after the run, there was music, a DJ, food, people with amazing vibes. We met so many people, all sharing the same passion. It was one of those moments that reminds you why you love this.

Talk us through the day of the race itself!

I woke up excited. Nervous, yes, but with a very special kind of energy. I believe in God, so I stayed connected, asking for everything to go well, for my body to respond.

When I got to the starting line, I got emotional.

It wasn’t full-on crying, but I had tears in my eyes. It was everything at once: months of training, doubts, effort… and that moment was finally here.

The race started.

Nick and I decided to run together, following the 3:30 pacer. We felt good, really good. The first miles felt amazing. We were talking, enjoying it, full of energy. My body was responding, my mind was positive… everything was flowing.

Until about 10 miles before the finish, I felt that same pain in my foot.

I tried not to focus on it. I talked to God in my mind, asking for strength. And something inside me kept saying: you deserve to be here. Everything you did, everything you trained for… it can’t end like this.

I ran with that pain for about 20 minutes.

And then… it disappeared.

Just like that.

I don’t know if it was how I adjusted my stride, if it was mental, I don’t know… but it was gone. And in that moment, I decided to leave the fear behind.

How did you feel crossing the finish line?

The last miles were hard. The fatigue hit, time felt slow, and all I wanted was to see the finish line. But there was something that kept me going: the people.

The support on the streets was incredible. People cheering, clapping, shouting. That energy lifts you when you feel like you have nothing left.

When we saw the finish line, Nick and I gave it one last push. We sped up, as if our bodies understood this was the final moment. We crossed the line… and it was over.

Medal in hand.

A beautiful, big medal with the words Be Proud and a mirror in the center. You can see yourself in it.

And it makes perfect sense. Seeing yourself and feeling proud.

Because you are capable of much more than you think.