Personal brand entrepreneurs are backsliding after her post Sunday’s NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon drew immediate criticism on social media for crossing the finish line without signing up for the race.
Alexa Curtis, 26, “I never expected it to offend so many people.” I wrote it on Monday’s X.. “This post was meant to be inspirational and I had no intention of taking anything from anyone or the race. I was running for myself, for my mental health. , I will definitely look into the rules if I decide to run again.”
Banditing (running a race without registering) is highly controversial in the running world. That’s because admission fees will be used to pay for security along the route, medical personnel, course support such as water and Gatorade, and medals at the finish line. A portion of the registration fee is usually donated to charity.
The Brooklyn Half, which passes through bridges in Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn, ending in Prospect Park, counts NYU Langone Health as a “signature philanthropic partner” in support of the fight to end cancer disparities in Brooklyn. .
The sold-out event is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, with registration fees starting at $125. More than 21,700 runners ran the 13.1-mile race Sunday. According to the race results.
“A record number of runners participated in Sunday’s NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon, with the official finisher count exceeding 21,000,” NYCRUNS said in a statement to the Post on Monday.
“Our top priority is the safety and health of all of our runners, and the bib worn by all runners is a lifeline in the event of a medical issue on the course,” the statement continued. “Running a race without a bib is dangerous and unfair to the thousands of runners who wear bibs.”
A spokesperson for Curtis said in a statement to the Post on Monday that she “made a last-minute decision to join Brooklyn Half.”
“It was not intentional that she did not register, but rather that she wanted to use her platform to spread the word and share some information about the importance of physical activity, working out, and the mind-body connection. “We thought this would be a great way to help.’ It’s a great recognition for the Brooklyn Half,” the statement continued, noting that Curtis is visiting from overseas.
“While her participation was intended as a positive gesture, it is extremely unfortunate that she is now receiving such negative backlash for something that was supposed to be uplifting for her followers. ” the statement continued. “She did not receive any medals nor did she take any of the amenities provided to her. She independently stood by the group and was willing to spread the good news with her positive spirit. ”
In Sunday’s X post, which has been viewed more than 3.4 million times, Curtis said he ran the race without training.
“I ran the 13.1 miles of the Brooklyn Half Marathon at a 7.43 minute pace. I didn’t walk at all. I cried a lot along the way. I went to bed at 10 p.m.,” she wrote.
“I didn’t register for this race. I asked the security guard where it started and ended and jumped in,” she added.
Founded by Mr. Curtis from Connecticut Be Fearless Co., Ltd.is a “reinvented career brand” dedicated to “helping people be fearless and take charge of their own lives.”
She has 13,100 followers on X. 23,300 followers on InstagramAnd she answered some of her critics.
“It’s a bit unfair to everyone else who paid for police support, road closures and first aid…” one X user wrote.
“Life isn’t fair :(,” Curtis replied.
“You are a bandit and you stole from this tribe and this community. These things are expensive and meant for charity. Shameful,” another person tweeted.
Curtis said last week: “I was an idiot and didn’t sign a contract. [the client] “She thought, “I’m not satisfied and I really want my money back,” but the last thing I wanted was to open a dispute with American Express and deal with it.” will have an impact on
“I worked for free for two weeks while running my second business (be fearless), where I am always losing money, but I am not afraid to help the young women who depend on me. We are here to inspire you to action,” she added.
“So back to me about stealing. Google the definition of that because that’s what happened to me on business when I didn’t run a half marathon this month. Fubu? Wins and losses I’d like to mention on Twitter Do you have?”
In his first X post, Curtis recalled experiencing “the worst heartbreak in my business and personal life” over the past year.
Her post reads, “When you ask me what it means to be fearless, it’s like asking a security guard where a race starts and ends.” “Everything along the way, every bull***, pain, trauma, whatever you’re going to go through in life, it doesn’t matter because you started running, and just because you crossed the finish line. I’m not going to stop.”
