Miles of Meaning:

Menlo Alumni Take on the New York City Marathon

From personal tributes to lifelong dreams realized, Menlo alumni ran with purpose through all five boroughs.

This fall, the streets of New York City were filled with determination, emotion, and a strong Menlo presence. At least six Menlo alumni, Clare Cho ’17, Emily Demmon ’17, Eliza Crowder Jacobs ’17, Isabella Scola ’19, Vionna Eshghi ’20, and Beti Essa ’24, took on the 2025 New York City Marathon. Each carried a personal reason for running, and three were moved to share what the experience meant to them.

In Loving Memory. 26.2 Miles of Tribute

For Eliza Crowder Jacobs ’17, the marathon was “a deeply meaningful and healing experience” for both her and her family. She ran in honor of her sister, Emily Crowder ’13, also a Menlo alum, who passed away just over a year ago.

“Emily actually qualified for the New York City Marathon in 2020 while living in Manhattan,” Eliza shared. “When the race was cancelled because of the pandemic, she chose to map her own route around the Bay Area and ran 26.2 miles on her 26th birthday.” Cheering for her on that day, Eliza recalls, will always be a special memory, and the accomplishment “remains a testament to Emily’s determination and strength.”

After her sister’s passing, Eliza knew she wanted to honor Emily in a meaningful way. “I was determined to find a unique way to honor her and feel close to her,” she said. “I thought that running the NYC Marathon would help me do just that.”

As she trained, Eliza also raised funds for AIM Youth Mental Health, an organization focused on advancing treatment options for adolescents. “Their mission resonates deeply with me,” she explained, noting how supported she felt by her family, friends, and the Menlo community throughout the process.

Race day itself lived up to everything she had hoped for. “The weather was perfect,” Eliza said. “I was able to see my family at four different points throughout the course, and I felt strong and prepared for the physical requirements of running a marathon.”

With Emily’s name on her back, Eliza ran through all five boroughs feeling her sister’s presence beside her. One of the most meaningful moments came early in the race. “I ran the first 20 miles with a very close friend from my Menlo class who just happens to share my sister’s name,” she said. “Hearing spectators shout ‘Go Eliza!’ and ‘Go Emily!’ as we ran was very special.”

Crossing the finish line, Eliza reflected, was about far more than the miles behind her. “It wasn’t just the culmination of months of training,” she said. “Rather, it was a tribute to and a celebration of my sister Emily, who I love and miss dearly.”

Eliza post race pictured with her parents, Alisyn and Dave Crowder

It wasn’t just the culmination of months of training,” she said. “Rather, it was a tribute to and a celebration of my sister Emily, who I love and miss dearly.”

Carried Forward by Love

For Vionna Eshghi ’20, the event was unforgettable from start to finish. “Running the NYC Marathon was the most rewarding, challenging, electric, inspiring, wholesome, and best day of my life,” she shared.

Vionna ran with Team Fox, honoring her grandfather, who bravely battled Parkinson’s disease. “The marathon is much more than a race,” she said. “It is the greatest lesson. Even the hardest stretches in life can be overcome with a strong mindset, relentless effort, and the love that carries you forward.”

She was especially struck by the energy of the city itself. “It was a beautiful experience to see the NYC community cheer on runners from all over the world,” Vionna said. “New York City was my first but certainly not my last.”

Even the hardest stretches in life can be overcome with a strong mindset, relentless effort, and the love that carries you forward.”

Years in the Making

For Beti Essa ’24, running the NYC Marathon was the realization of a dream years in the making and following in the footsteps of her mother, who also ran marathons. “My love for the NYC Marathon started in 2015, when my mom first took me to watch it,” she shared. “We went back almost every year after that, and each time I was inspired by the runners pushing themselves through all five boroughs.”

Even as a child, Beti remembers thinking, “One day, I’m going to do this.”

This year, she ran with Team CityMeals, a charity that delivers meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers. “Supporting such a meaningful cause made the experience even more special,” she said.

Running the course for herself gave Beti a new appreciation for the stories she grew up hearing. “Growing up, my mom always talked about the marathons she ran, and especially how magical New York felt and how each borough had its own energy,” Beti said. “Running the course myself this year, I finally understood exactly what she meant.”

With one marathon already under her belt in San Francisco, Beti is eager for what comes next. “Running my second marathon felt incredible and made me even more excited for what’s next,” she shared. “I hope to take on more major marathons in the coming years. And one day, maybe even beat my mom’s time of 2:48.”