Running can be a beautiful sport, especially when it’s shared with a community of people with similar goals and a friendly demeanor.
Emma Kertesz has found this joy through the power of community in the sport of running. The former University of Toledo standout and elite marathon runner currently trains in Boulder, Colorado with the The Track Club. The community aspect that she’s come to love has kept her in the sport, as she continues to reach her full potential not just with running, but in life as well.
“The community aspect is what kept me in the sport for so long,” she said. “I think without that, I would’ve been done 11 years ago at this level.”
Kertesz has been a steady force in the women’s marathon for a number of years. She’s qualified and competed in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. This past May at the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City Michigan, Kertesz took home the win in the women’s field and ran a new personal best time of 2:37:34.
The win was not just a testament to Kertsez’s abilities as a runner, but it celebrated the love that she found for the sport after it was once lost, especially through the power of community.
Kertesz dealt with hamstring injuries that lingered from 2021-2022 and caused her to receive PRP injections in both hamstrings. In 2023, she took a step back from running in order to re-evaluate what she wanted running to look like for her.
After talking with Evan Schwartz, head coach of The Track Club, she decided not to attempt to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and decided to take a more recreational approach to running instead of a professional approach to the sport. Then, the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon happened.
Inspired by the remarkable performances that took place, Kertesz texted Schwartz and went for a jog. This led to her finding her groove again with running, which eventually led to a 3 minute personal best at the Bayshore Marathon.
Running with TTC has kept running fun for Kertesz, especially since she enjoys the group that she trains with.
“For me, actually going to practice and just being with my friends and my teammates, that’s the highlight of my week – just being able to show up,” she said. “It’s always really nice to see people you know, when you go to a big major marathon or a big road race, it’s always super fun to find those people that you’ve known for years and been racing against for years. So I really enjoy the social aspect of it.”
Outside of running, Kertesz hopes to create a community of hope when it comes to those who deal with bipolar disorder. Kertesz was diagnosed with bipolar I when she was 23, and has found ways to successfully manage it. Running and finding consistency through running has been one of the methods that she’s relied upon.
“Certainly exercise helps, specifically running,” she said. “Just being able to have that routine. I feel like I have a really good established routine with my running. Having that routine and that consistency helps immensely.”
Kertesz hopes to bring a ray of light to those dealing with the disorder, so that they know that they’re not alone in their journey.
“I hope that sharing my story can at least help some people, or at least create some sort of community that can destigmatize bipolar I,” she said.
Kertesz has found, embraced and enhanced the community that she’s settled into on the running course and off the running course. For her, her running is about having fun and getting the best out of herself.
“I feel so lucky to be able to compete at the level that I compete at at 34 years old,” she said. “I just want to see how fast I can be at this stage in my life. For me it’s about having fun, testing my physical limits to where they are now and not comparing myself to 22-year old Emma.”
