The Value of Team Still I Run: Chris Vetter's NYC Marathon Story
- Layla Kattau
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
Chris Vetter discovered Still I Run without realizing how meaningful it would become just months later, when he and his wife experienced a miscarriage at 20 weeks during his training for the 2022 New York City Marathon.
The community that Still I Run provided gave Chris the strength to keep pushing through the darkest time of his life and accomplish something great.
Back to the Beginning
Chris is no stranger to mental health struggles. He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression growing up, and his twin sister faced even greater struggles with it than he did. Unfortunately, it has been a presence in his life for a long time.
Chris has been a runner most of his life and even competed in cross country during high school. But when gyms closed during COVID four years ago, running shifted from a hobby to his main sport.
Living in Manhattan, he watched the New York City Marathon for many years and had always wanted to run it, and in 2021, he decided it was time to start taking that dream seriously.
"The atmosphere was electric, and it was so motivating to me."
Because mental health has been such a significant challenge in his life, Chris wanted his running to support that cause. That search led him to Still I Run. After joining Team Still I Run, he began training for the 2022 marathon.
With mental health being such a prominent struggle in his life, he knew he wanted to run to support the cause and found Still I Run as a result. After being accepted to Team Still I Run, Chris started training to run the marathon in 2022.
Life's Changes
Chris and his wife had settled into a house on Long Island, marathon training was going well, and the couple was thrilled to be pregnant with their first child when their world turned on its axis.
At 20 weeks pregnant, about a month and a half before the marathon, Chris's wife miscarried. He had no interest in continuing his training and running the marathon, but with the support of his wife and his teammates, he pushed through and made it to the finish line.
"The marathon and the couple of months afterward were really some of the darkest days of my life."
Luckily, Chris's story has a happy ending. He got back into therapy after the marathon was over and has been going ever since. He's seen immense improvement in his mental health and well-being because of it. Even better news? Chris and his wife are parents to two very healthy boys.
It ends happily for Still I Run, too, because Chris has stayed heavily involved. He began his work by co-leading the Run Chapter program and is now serving on our board, focusing on acquiring monetary and physical donations for Still I Run.
"Still I Run has been a constant in my life. I ended up staying close and connected with Sasha [Executive Director], and I haven't looked back since. Unless she kicks me out, I don't really think I'll ever be able to let go of it."
The Value of Team Still I Run
As Chris reflected on running the New York City Marathon with Team Still I Run, his biggest takeaway was the impact of having a community. There is a common goal that everyone on the team is working towards simultaneously.
Throughout the training cycle, there are team meetings and group chats that are used to help teammates connect and support each other through the challenges of training.
"You feel the community aspect and people cheering you on that don't even know you, just from those online interactions. The emotional connections are so different on Team Still I Run because everyone is genuinely there for a reason."
For Chris, Team Still I Run became a safe space as he struggled to keep training after his wife miscarried. It kept him as motivated as he could be while also dealing with the mental struggles he was going through while grieving.
As he looks back on the experience, he not only values that he was able to accomplish such a huge feat, but he was also part of a strong team that raised $50,000 for a cause that's important to each of them for different reasons.
"Only about 1% of the population finishes a marathon, so there's such a sense of pride and accomplishment, plus what you're doing is helping a lot of people."
Join Team Still I Run
If Team Still I Run sounds like a community you're interested in joining, we have several opportunities to get involved in 2026 that are open for applications now.
See you at the start line in 2026!