Local Runner Races to Give Back to Her Home Turf
People say if you do it long enough, there is such a thing as a runner’s high — a deep, relaxing state of pure enjoyment. Marie Letterii, a native of Highland, New York, has developed a love for running thanks to the Walkway Over the Hudson and has to come back to her roots as an ambassador for the nonprofit organization.
From a young age, Letterii had a regular relationship with the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. Biking along the water, taking in the fresh breeze and the beautiful views of the area she was fortunate enough to grow up in. After the railroad bridge caught fire in 1974, the bridge was rebuilt as the Walkway it’s today in October 2009 while Letterii was in college at Syracuse University.
This was the time her love for running began. On breaks from college, she would wake up early in the morning to take advantage of the Walkway with less foot traffic and it quickly became her favorite place to run.
“Every time I came to visit or brought a friend or someone up with me, I always took them just to see the Walkway just because it was something I enjoyed so much,” said Letterii.
After undergrad in sports management, Letterii went onto Hofstra University for her master’s in education. After participating in community service for honor society in high school and as a member of Pi Beta Phi in college, Letterii was used to giving back to the community around her. However, that was a requirement. Now, rather, it’s out of enjoyment and the desire to give back.
“I had a professor who always talked about giving back to the community and the importance of, even if you’re doing an event at a game, trying to give back to the community… I think at that point is when it really stuck with me,” she said.
Letterii was in Long Island for about six years and then came back to the Hudson Valley three years ago, immediately looking for a class of ambassadors to bring to the Walkway.
Ambassadors of the Walkway are entirely volunteers, being “the friendly face out there, smiling and answering questions,” as Letterii described. Clothed in red vests, the ambassadors also run the pavilions on either side of the bridge, selling merchandise that brings in a great deal of revenue for the Walkway. This money and donations allow the organization to act on improvement projects that have been done over the past decade.
“I just love being able to share the Walkway with so many people. Getting to talk to people that are coming just for the day and visiting the Walkway for the first time and hearing about their experiences. Not only the Walkway, but sharing the Hudson Valley,” she said.
Volunteering is no stranger to those around Letterii either, as she enjoys volunteering at the Walkway with her great aunt and her father’s friend. “I really love when I can work shifts with the two of them because there are people that I get to have this kind of extra relationship with, which is great.”
The Walkway typically brings in new classes of ambassadors each fall and spring. Letterii started in September 2019 and was the last class to be brought in before COVID, but she was thankfully able to keep volunteering as the Walkway opened in the summer again.
For the future of the Walkway, Letterii hopes to continue being an ambassador and helping out in its improvements and future events. The newest improvement on the Walkway has been the East Gate Plaza, which people have been happy to see.
“We get people sometimes that haven’t been there since it was just a walkway and porta-potties and they’re like, ‘Oh my goodness! You have beautiful bathrooms. This is great,’” Letterii said.
They’re also in the process of establishing lighting to have more outdoor night events. Letterii mentioned that two of the Walkway’s best events are the Walktober and Mayfest events, featuring vendors from all over the Hudson Valley.
“I love to see that. More exposure to businesses and organizations in the Hudson Valley for those people that are coming near and far to check it out,” she said.
Today, Letterii cannot always get up early to run on the Walkway as she used to, as she now lives in Marlboro working as the associate director of admission at SUNY Orange. Over time, she has run in about five or six half marathons and about 10 obstacle courses, with her favorite race being the Dutchess Classic, as it goes along the Walkway and the Rail Trail.
It goes right along with her roots — where she continually comes back to, giving back to her community and getting the volunteers high.
