Teen Runner Makes NYC Marathon Debut on 18th Birthday

Lucy Weld, a senior at Manhattan's Nightingale-Bamford School, is poised to be among the youngest racers ever to complete the New York City Marathon when she runs on Sunday, November 1, her 18th birthday. This milestone coincides with the 50th running of the event, a timing Weld considers serendipitous given her long-held ambition to conquer the five-borough race.

"Running it on my birthday, I feel like I have to do it!" Weld told The Post. "I’m really excited! I’m a little bit nervous, but I feel like it’s really cool to have that under my belt."

Weld's pursuit of the marathon has been a years-long aspiration, further solidified by the event's age requirement of 18. The timing of the 26.2-mile race for 2026 aligns perfectly with her eligibility. Growing up, she often observed the flow of runners near the finish line and experienced the logistical challenges posed by race-day road closures, which impacted her commute to soccer games.

Her marathon debut follows a significant week for Weld, who also captained her soccer team to its first league championship in 13 years on Wednesday. "I really do enjoy running and — this sounds really cliché — but I enjoy challenging myself and I feel like this is the ultimate way to do that physically," the soccer winger stated.

This year, Weld is running to raise funds for her school, The Nightingale-Bamford School, which is supporting its partner institution, The Pine Ridge School in South Dakota. The Pine Ridge School is the sole all-girls school situated on a Native American reservation. Weld's participation marks a historic moment as she is the first current student to run in the marathon as part of the Nightingale Team, which typically consists of alumni and faculty.

With over 60,000 participants in this year's marathon, Weld's 18th birthday on race day makes her the youngest competitor. The New York Road Runners established the 18-year-old age minimum in 1988, positioning Weld among the youngest to ever compete in the race's history. However, the youngest marathoner on record remains Wesley Paul, who ran the inaugural New York City Marathon in 1977 at the age of 8.

Weld anticipates the stretch along Fifth Avenue as a highlight, not only for its proximity to the finish line but also for the expected crowd energy. "This is where I normally run, so it’ll be familiar to me. But I’ve also just heard that the crowds and energy there are incredible and so I’m really looking forward to that!" she said.

Following the race, Weld plans a quiet family dinner to mark both her birthday and marathon accomplishment. A larger celebration is scheduled for the following week, once she has had time to recover.