If Anthony Ramos takes on a new venture, chances are he will be successful. He has already flourished in acting, as evidenced by his efforts as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the iconic play Hamilton, for which he also took home a Grammy. He has been too prominently on the big screen in A Star is Born, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Twisters.
Now he is going to do something completely different: perform the New York Marathon 2025. Ramos has played baseball and is usually active, but has never been an avid runner. However, he woke up on his last birthday and made a quick decision.
“I was just ready to make some changes in my life and live a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to go into lockdown in a different way.”
Not one to do anything on a small scale, the NYC Marathon seemed like a perfect opportunity to do just that. He may not have experience running long distances, but he has adapted since he started.
“I wasn’t a runner, but I grew to love it,” Ramos said. “I understand why people do it.”
Preparation is key
The journey has not been easy for Ramos. He is still very active traveling, working and helping his family set up a new bar in his hometown of Brooklyn. Between filming, flying and setting up Milly’s, named after his mother, Ramos has been working with Olympic coach Des Linden to get the runs in and prepare to run the streets of the City that Never Sleeps.
“She’s very encouraging. She sends me workouts every week and reminds me to work quickly or focus on this.”
Given Ramos’ busy schedule and the fact that he is a newcomer to running, he hasn’t become a seasoned runner overnight, but thanks to learning from Linden and being as consistent as possible, he has become better and more comfortable at longer distances.
“At first, even three or four miles was difficult. But because I persevered and stayed locked in, now even a half marathon is light work.”
The key to that progress is making the most of opportunities to run whenever and wherever he can.
“I’ve had to run in Venice without even knowing where to run. I’ve had to run ten miles in Toronto after a film festival. Go ahead.”
Ramos has also discovered that there is more to running than just the basic runner’s high. He finds it a time for meditation and mental clarity, which is one reason he won’t stop running after he runs on Sunday, November 2, the weekend of his 34th birthday.
“Some of my best ideas come out during these runs too. It’s crazy.”
Ramos also made sure he had the best gear to run in, including Brooks shoes. Ramos plans to run in their Glycerin Max shoes, but they have several options for runners of all levels. Ramos also suggests snack gels and makes sure you follow a good nutrition plan if you take up running in the future.
“You need electrolytes, lots of water and carbohydrates. I will take carbohydrates the last few days before the marathon to be ready.”
If you have an app like Strava that helps you track your runs, you can measure your progress. Ramos only advised not to get overwhelmed by comparing your times to those of others.
“I’ll see Des’ times there for about six or seven minutes, and I said, ‘I shouldn’t watch this anymore,’” he joked.
Last, but certainly not least, there is recovery. Staying up when he can is crucial, and a good night’s sleep is non-negotiable. He has also used all the options available to him.
“I also recently had a Thai massage. That’s not necessary, but it doesn’t hurt either.”
Running for more than themselves
Running can be an individual endeavor, but having people working with you or running with you can certainly make you accountable and take you further than you could do on your own. Ramos has more people in his corner than Linden. He will have his brother as well as a former teacher alongside him and others. They will also raise money for his scholarship, making this a passion that others can benefit from.
“I received a scholarship through an organization called Scholarship Plus. It has opened up a lot of great opportunities.”
Ramos also has his sights set on future events, such as a half marathon in Puerto Rico, which he plans to participate in after the NYC Marathon. He will also be professionally promoting his next film, A House of Dynamite. As for the immediate future, he only has two items on his to-do list when he crosses the finish line next Sunday.
“I’m going to hug my mom to thank her for giving me legs to run with, and then take a nap.” You can follow Ramos on Instagram.
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