Erica Hernandez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’12, and Julia McKinnis, FCLC ’14, are two of FCLC’s most physically active students—a reputation that does not go unnoticed on a small, predominantly arts-oriented campus. Every day, the two women can either be found running on a treadmill in the McMahon Hall gym or on the six-mile loop around Central Park. Either way, any observer will not miss them; they are there for hours, training for the possibility of participating in the New York City Marathon this upcoming November.

The New York City Marathon, arguably the most prestigious marathon in the world, is understandably the most selective. According to the Marathon’s website, over 125,500 applicants vie for a spot in the race while only about 35,000 people are chosen. To prepare, the women run an average of eight miles a day, although McKinnis has run a personal record of 18 and Hernandez has run the length of the 26.2-mile-race itself.

“Being selected would mean a lot. It’s the opportunity to run and ‘officially’ prove to yourself that you can do something that’s supposed to be so challenging, and you get to do it with all these people who are just as energetic about it,” Hernandez said.

While Hernandez is currently basing her decision to register on whether or not she is accepted to a study-abroad program in Ireland next fall, McKinnis is hoping to run for a cause that moved her to register: leukemia.

McKinnis’ main source of inspiration was her friend Johnny, who passed away from cancer when he was only 17, just a few months after his father had died from the same disease.

“To see the family suffering so much from losing a father and a son in the same year was what inspired me,” McKinnis said. “Hopefully the funds that I raise will contribute to some sort of research and some sort of breakthrough that will help find a cure.”

If Hernandez decides not to enter through the lottery but for a charity, she would likely choose Smiletrain or a global humanity group. Yet if one chooses that option, as McKinnis has, that individual would need to raise a minimum of $4,000, a number that intimidates Hernandez. As of now, her plan is to enter through lottery and run the marathon she has registered for enough times that it has become an elusive dream to her.

“It’s time to clear my head and have ‘me’ time, and it also caters to my love of Central Park and being out with other people, so it’s a pretty big part of my life,” Hernandez said.

Although McKinnis prefers running the path by the Hudson River, she shares the same sentiment about the sport.

“Running is extremely personal. My roommates sometimes call me Sporty Spice. It’s just part of me now. It didn’t use to be a main part of my life, but it is now. It’s such a stress reliever and it’s made me such a relaxed person,” McKinnis said.

But their passion for running is not their only similarity. Both students are from a suburb of Dallas, Texas, they both have a love for acting and singing, and they share an interest in soccer. In fact, their only difference may be Hernandez’s self-professed excellence in body-building and dance. Despite their proximity, both have never met.

If all goes according to their plan, the two might finally meet at the race this November.