On Sunday, a social media influencer received huge backlash after posting a photo of herself crossing the finish line of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon despite not signing up for the race.
Alexa Curtis, 26, posted an apology to X, saying the post was “intended to be an inspiration.”
“I never expected it to offend so many people,” she wrote. “…I wasn’t going to take anything from anyone or the race. I was running for myself for my mental health. If I decide to run again in the future, I’ll definitely look into the rules.”
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Participants in the New York City Half Marathon are photographed along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn on Sunday, March 17, 2024. 0801. (Theodore Parisienne for the New York Daily News, via Getty Images)
Curtis was known for banditry, or running races without registering. This is a highly controversial move, considering that free race admission is used to pay for things like security, medical personnel, drinking water and Gatorade during races.
A portion of registration fees over $125 will also be donated to charity. NYU Langone Healthy is the “signature charity partner” of the Brooklyn Half Marathon.
In a lengthy post, Curtis admitted that he had not signed up for the race.
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“I just ran 13.1 miles of the Brooklyn Half Marathon at a pace of 7.43 minutes,” Curtis wrote in the post. “I couldn’t walk at all. I cried a lot while I was walking. I went to bed at 10pm.
“I just asked the security guard where it starts and ends, and I jumped in,” she said, describing recent challenges in her life. “No one saw me cross the finish line this year.
“When people ask me what fearlessness is, it’s like asking a security guard where the race begins and ends. Everything in the middle, all the bulls, the pain, the trauma, you It’s nothing that you’re going to experience in your life, because just because you start running, you’re not going to stop just because you cross the finish line. I may not have it all figured out, but I know that because I am all I have in life. ”
People who don’t appreciate Curtis jumping into the race flooded her with comments, with one “Shame on you.”
Mr. Curtis responded to this comment.
Participants in the New York City Half Marathon are photographed along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn on Sunday, March 17, 2024. 0801. (Theodore Parisienne for the New York Daily News, via Getty Images)
“You know I don’t have the energy to answer this, but I’ll do it because last week I refunded my client $17,000 because I was an idiot and didn’t sign a contract and she said she was I said, “I want my money back,” but the last thing I wanted was a dispute with American Express, and an existing customer. In either case, your invoice will no longer be processed.
“I worked for free for two weeks while running my second business (be fearless), where I am constantly losing money, but I am trying to be fearless to the young women who rely on me. I am here to encourage you to do more.
“So back to me about stealing. Google the definition of that. Because that’s what happened to me when I didn’t run a half marathon for business this month. Hmm? Wins and losses I’d like to mention on Twitter. Do you have?”
A spokesperson for Curtis told the New York Post: “He made the decision at the last minute to participate in the 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 great recognition for the Brooklyn Half,” the statement read, noting that Curtis is visiting from overseas.
“While her participation was meant to be 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. ”
NYCRUNS also released a statement to the Post saying a record was set by participants in the race.
The 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon will be held in New York City. The course begins in Brooklyn and ends in Manhattan’s Central Park. (Roy Rochlin/New York Road Runners via Getty Images)
“A record number of runners participated in Sunday’s NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon, with more than 21,000 official finishers.
“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.”
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Curtis, a Connecticut native, founded Be Fearless Inc., a “reinvented career brand” aimed at “helping people be fearless and take charge of their lives.” Curtis has his 13,100 followers on his X and on Instagram he has 23,300 followers.
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