Galo Vasquez: Rompiendo la cinta y rompiendo barreras

As part of our LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebration, we are highlighting local NYC runners who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Galo Vasquez is one such runner whose talent and dedication to the sport led them to two major wins in just two months, breaking the tape at the RBC Brooklyn Half with a time of 1:13:18 and at the United Airlines NYC Half in March with a time of 1:11:19, completing both races as the top nonbinary runner. 

A SUNY New Paltz alum, Galo competed on the Hawks men's cross country team during their four years at the school until graduating in 2017. During Galo's senior season at New Paltz they were named to both Third-Team All-SUNYAC and USTFCCCA All-Region.

Galo started running their freshman year in high school and found the track and field environment was more welcoming and diverse than when they played soccer.

“I could dedicate myself to something without as many judgments being made about my body, people putting each other down, or restrictions that the only way to have fun was to win. People in track were weird, we were weird,” Galo said.

One of Galo’s fondest running memories in high school was during a state cross country championship meet their senior year.

“It was so cool to just be there to focus and do one simple and difficult thing. My dad and coach drove 4-5 hours to see me race. It was the most competitive race I had run up to that point. I felt a positive sense of unity with the other runners from my section.”

Galo said even though they’d been competing against each other all season, at the state meet, they were all in it together as one team.

“I clearly remember coming down the last 800 of my race. I was doing well, working hard, not losing ground on anyone around me, maybe in the top 50? I'm coming down the last hill and I see my dad cheering me on and he starts dashing down the hill cheering. For about 10 seconds we were both in the race. I'll never forget that.”

Competing as a nonbinary runner at NYRR races, Galo wishes there were more opportunities to meet fellow nonbinary runners “besides the finish line when we're all tired.” And they do feel encouragement on the course from the spectators when they participate in NYRR races. 

“Sometimes I can hear people reporting on how I'm doing in the race.”

When asked what pronouns Galo prefers, they said, “I use any and all pronouns. I usually tell people anything that shows respect. Gender is about expression and interaction with others, so ideally, my relationship with the other person builds the way they see me and what pronouns they want to use in a way that shows mutual respect.”

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