Justine Huang, 26, completed the New York City Marathon under the influence and doesn’t regret it one bit.
“As a competitive person, I usually push myself to run as fast as possible,” she said. “But slowing down this time and spending time with spectators and friends made it a far more enjoyable experience than I anticipated.”
Huang had the rare opportunity to run both the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon within three weeks. While she qualified for the Chicago Marathon through its lottery, which had over 120,000 applicants for roughly 50,000 spots, she secured her New York City Marathon bib through a charity slot, avoiding its notoriously selective 4% lottery acceptance rate.
Her strategy was clear: race Chicago for speed and New York for the experience.
“I wanted to hit a time goal in Chicago, so I went all out,” she explained. “In New York, my focus was soaking in the energy, enjoying the crowd, and just having fun.”
The Abbott World Marathon Majors, which include Chicago and New York alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, and the newly added Sydney, are renowned for their massive spectator turnouts. Chicago attracts an estimated 1.7 million fans, while New York boasts over a million.
While Huang prioritized speed in Chicago, she felt she missed the chance to interact with supporters. In New York, she set out to change that, indulging in snacks and drinks offered by spectators.
“I planned to try everything I saw—food, drinks, whatever spectators handed out,” she said. “I didn’t expect there’d be so much, though!”
Her marathon snacks started with candy, followed by a shot of Hennessy, then beers, more liquor, and even prosecco. She documented her unconventional race in TikToks that amassed millions of views.
In total, Huang estimates she consumed “four or five shots of liquor and four or five half cups of beer” over the course of five to six hours, alongside frequent hydration stops.
Running coach Elizabeth Corkum cautions against such behavior, noting that alcohol is dehydrating and impedes carbohydrate absorption—both crucial for marathon performance.
“A marathon is already physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing,” Corkum said. “Adding alcohol or other substances can make it riskier.”
Huang, however, took precautions, stopping at every water station and consuming ample water and Gatorade, albeit at the cost of multiple bathroom breaks.
Despite this unconventional approach, Huang’s experience went smoothly, thanks in part to her training—she runs 30 to 55 miles weekly and had completed two marathons before. Her finishing time in New York was 5:36, compared to 4:14 in Chicago.
“I met amazing people along the course, many while waiting in bathroom lines,” she said. “Running the whole race with my best friend and seeing our friends cheer us on made it unforgettable. No regrets at all.”