For Danny Barcia, the Physical and Mental Benefits of Running Go Hand in Hand
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we're sharing stories that highlight the mental health benefits of running and other forms of exercise. Find other stories, mental health resources for New Yorkers, and events taking place this month, here.
Danny Barcia has always been active. A lifelong New Yorker – he was born and raised in Queens and has lived in Brooklyn for the past 14 years – he grew up playing lots of pickup soccer with his cousins. During college, he ran regularly in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. The workouts did as much for his mind as for his body. “I enjoyed having the space to clear my head,” said Danny, 45.
Running Becomes His Thing
Danny started running NYRR races in 2005, and he did the 2006 New York City Marathon. “It was the most amazing experience of my life,” he said. He ran the marathon again in 2008 and 2010, and completed dozens of other races at shorter distances.
“Running was my thing,” he said. “If I wanted to mentally reset or get away, I’d go for a run.”
In 2018, a coworker told Danny about NYRR Open Run, free community runs in parks across NYC. Danny came out to an Open Run session in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
“It was the most inviting and welcoming group of runners ever,” he said. “I started going to Flushing Meadows and Astoria Park too.”
Finding a "Running Family"
Astoria Park eventually became Danny’s Open Run “home,” he said, and he embraced the feeling of community. “I loved sharing stories and making friends. The Astoria Park Open Runners became my weekend running family.”
The support has been vital over the past few years. Danny was laid off early in the pandemic, then developed a severe case of diverticulitis that landed him in the hospital, where he was placed in isolation. After antibiotic treatment failed, he had a colostomy, followed by three more weeks in the hospital.
“I had ‘How could this happen to me?’ moments,” he said. “I lost weight and got depressed.” He was cleared to resume exercise after three months, but with Open Run and in-person racing on pandemic pause, he struggled to bounce back mentally.
The Power of Community
Things got better after a colostomy reversal in February 2021 and the return of Open Run that summer. Danny also found work as a terminal duty manager at Newark Liberty International Airport.
"It was great to be back out at Open Run," he said. Encouraged by his Open Run community, Danny's state of mind improved and he set his sights on running the TCS New York City Marathon.
Danny's Open Run community continued to uplift him. “It was tough because I hadn’t been running as much as before I got sick,” he said, but he persevered, grateful to be back doing what he loved with a supportive community.
Danny said he "felt millions of emotions” as he crossed the marathon finish line alongside fellow Astoria Park Open Runners. He'll run the RBC Brooklyn Half later this month.
Since 2015, NYRR Open Run has brought free, weekly community-led runs to neighborhood parks across the greater New York City area. The program is free and open to runners and walkers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels. Learn more and find a park near you.