Back to my Baseline: Holly Cipriani's Road to New York City

Holly found Still I Run at a dark time in her life. She had recently given birth to her second son and was struggling with postpartum depression.

Little did she know that seeing one post on Instagram would change the trajectory of not only her running journey but also her career.

Back to My Baseline

Holly is no stranger to running. She's been running for most of her life, and even when she didn't consider herself a runner, she was using it as a means to feel better.

"I started running mostly for my mental health. I recognized that it made me feel better, and it's always helped me get back to my baseline."

She began endurance running in 2015 when she ran her first half-marathon, and she hasn't looked back since. Through the training program she used for that first race, she met some of her closest friends and began to truly understand what it means to be a part of the running community.

Life Happens

Holly worked in university administration for about twelve years before deciding to make a career change. She was going through a rough time in her personal life that led her to join therapy. After having an extremely positive experience, she saw the value in having a good, therapeutic relationship and wanted to pursue the career herself.

"I always knew that I wanted to help people, but I didn't feel like what I was doing was serving people in a way that felt meaningful to me, so I decided to pivot."

She entered a master's program and has been working as a therapist ever since. Holly says that there are two main things that she loves about her job. She is helping people in a meaningful way, and she can balance her life again because of the flexibility her new career offers. She now has space to be a mom, run, and take care of herself, all while having a meaningful job that she enjoys.

Finding Still I Run

Holly stumbled across Still I Run on Instagram shortly after having her second son. She had been struggling with postpartum depression and had recently begun running again, and was starting to feel more like herself.

When she found the Instagram account, our ambassador program was accepting applications. Because of how our mission aligns with her experience with running and mental health, she applied and has become increasingly involved since the end of 2024.

Holly was accepted as a 2025 ambassador, but her career with Still I Run doesn't stop there. Instagram again introduced her to an opportunity with Still I Run when a paid position became available for a Program Manager. She was hired (lucky for us!) and has been working hard to coordinate our Starting Line Scholarship, Mental Health Runner Program, and Run Chapter programs.

Around the same time she was hired, she was also accepted to Team Still I Run as part of the group running the New York City Marathon. This is a unique group of individuals because they are all mental health professionals running to raise awareness and break stigmas.

The Road to NYC

The New York City Marathon will be Holly's fifth full marathon, but the training process has looked very different this time around. With two toddler boys, many runs have been done with a double jogger stroller in stride. Between the boys' and the strollers' weight, Holly has pushed an extra 80 pounds for about 180 miles during her marathon training.

While this has been an extra challenge, it's also made running a family activity. Her training runs have often involved looking for colors to keep her boys entertained, or her husband has tagged along.

"Training while working is hard. Training with two toddlers is crazy. It feels insane, but you can't fudge your way through a marathon. You're either ready or you're not."

This training cycle has forced Holly to focus a lot on self-care. Not only is she trying to train and prepare to run 26.2 miles, but she's doing so while trying to juggle other big responsibilities. She's found new importance in fueling properly and using positive inner dialogue to make sure she is staying positive for herself, her family, and the clients for whom she cares so deeply.

She's found that this mental health-focused approach to training has made her more honest in her training cycle. For four months, she's been consistently running three or four days a week, whereas in the past she may have skipped a week of training.

A big part of that commitment and motivation is her boys.

A Mom's Motivation

Holly has found the most strength and inspiration in her life from being a mom. It's important to her that as her kids age, she's able to age gracefully alongside them and keep up with them. She has also found that running makes her a better mom. It's difficult to be a parent to two toddlers, and going on runs in the morning helps her better handle stress throughout the day and show up stronger for her family.

Holly is a perfect example of what Still I Run stands for. Not only is she a committed runner who consistently shows up for herself and those she loves, but she's also a true believer in our mission. From the beginning of her running journey, she has run for her mental health and to get herself through those unavoidable tough times in life.

"Going through the hardest part in your life is just the hardest thing until the next thing comes along. It shows you each time that you can keep doing it. We just keep enduring, we keep persevering, and we come out stronger on the other side."