Member Spotlight: Katie Dadarria
PPTC Member Katie Dadarria / Photo: Noah Devereaux
March’s second member spotlight is on Katie Dadarria. Even though Katie has lived in Brooklyn since 2015 (and New York City since 2013), she’s from — and admits she never shuts up about — Massachusetts. Or as she likes to put it: “I am the best running personality to come from Wayland, Massachusetts since Alberto Salazar disgraced himself (a joke, a joke!)”
She joined PPTC in Summer 2016, took on the monumental responsibility of redesigning PPTC’s logo, and also secured a partnership with Tracksmith for the club’s uber-stylish new gear. Read on to learn more about Katie, her role on the clothing committee, and the story behind both of those tasks.
What do you do besides run?
To answer this question in the most New York City way possible (i.e., “your job is your first personality trait”), I’m a design strategist for JPMorgan Chase. In my not-work and not-running time, I’m pretty much out and about at all hours enjoying (sometimes over-enjoying) everything NYC has to offer. Concerts, restaurants, bars — I’m generally enjoying one of these things at any given time.
Shenanigans are the name of the game for me, and if it sounds ridiculous, I am probably going to do it. I have a camera permanently strapped to me and am trying to do more photography at races (and everywhere else)! I also have a perpetual list of stuff I need to do more of, which includes drumming, drawing, painting, and writing. I have been told I need to write a book and/or a one-woman show, so we’ll see about that. (Editor’s note: Now that we’re all quarantined, Katie says she’s “spending a lot of time talking to my plants, as well as downloading Zoom backgrounds.”)
How did you find PPTC and why did you choose this club?
I had just broken up with someone and moved to Ditmas Park in one fell swoop, so I felt insanely isolated and needed to shake things up. I’ve run in some capacity for over a decade, but was feeling very stagnant in my abilities. I knew that meeting new people and joining a group with some structure would be game-changing.
What is your favorite PPTC event?
I’m partial to the food relays and cheer zones, because I enjoy eating and blowing out my vocal cords…though it’s probably not a good idea to do those things simultaneously.
What do you like most about PPTC?
As someone who is often insecure about my own abilities, I sincerely appreciate the inclusivity. I’ve also met some of my closest friends through the club: Doing anything-but-running things with them is a nice bonus of club membership.
What aspect of the club are you most active in?
Since I’ve fully succumbed to life as a Hipster Designer in Williamsburg, I don’t make it to nearly as many events, which is a huge bummer. I still try to come to group runs at least sometimes, and I also started a lot of memorable silly Facebook threads (such as the Bad Race Photo Thread of 2019), and would count myself amongst the top clowns in the club.
However, I’m still active on the Clothing Committee doing design and partnerships. Is this where I talk about Tracksmith and the logo? WELL, OKAY!
I redesigned our club’s logo in 2018, working to create a more streamlined and versatile image for our gear, collateral, and web presence. Over the course of the first half of that year, I worked with the board and iterated over many rounds to come up with something that would be a signifier for the club, our home park, and align us — from a design perspective — with other teams in NYC and beyond. Let me tell you, finding a singular part of the park that can be easily distilled into a logo is… not easy, to say the absolute least! Designing something for such a diverse group was a pretty daunting undertaking, but I’m grateful to have had the opportunity. It’s a perpetual work in progress as we apply the imagery and typography to more and more materials. One of these days I’ll have time to do a brand guide, I swear!
I also got us a partnership with Tracksmith, as only the second team they do custom work for. I met Lou Serafini years ago when he was working for a run shop in Newton, Massachusetts, and we chatted about being Boston College alums - go Eagles! Given the immense popularity of Tracksmith gear, I connected with him once he started working there, and worked with their in-house design team to create new gear for the club — everything, down to the exact red, is custom. It’s been a ride thus far: The first email was in May 2018, and we got our stuff in February 2019. The second round was much faster (as we’ve worked out the kinks on both sides to get everything produced), but the response has been overwhelming (and I am super, super grateful for it).
How did you start running?
I started running in earnest while I was a sophomore in college. Growing up watching the Boston Marathon every year is inspiring enough, but essentially, I was hammered on Marathon Monday in 2007 and decided I needed to start running. Drunken declarations to your friends are basically the word of law, right?
Why do you keep doing it?
To be honest, I don’t know if you could really say I “like” running. For me, it is a perpetual love/hate relationship, and I’m working towards the day when I can finally say it feels like I’m good at it. (Will this day ever come? Stay tuned!) I run BECAUSE it’s hard; I want to prove to myself that I can do hard things. It’s become integral to my mental health, for better or worse. And also because I’m a complete masochist and spandex enthusiast.
What do you think about or listen to when you run?
I’m either daydreaming about being in an AC/DC cover band, or listening to music. As of late, it’s been a combo of Garbage (Shirley Manson is a Queen!), and late 80s/early 90s Nine Inch Nails.
What is your best running memory?
Finishing the 2017 NYC Marathon on my 31st birthday after being sidelined with plantar fasciitis for most of the year, after getting laid off four days prior. It was a pretty wet day from both the rain and the tears (note to self: wear waterproof mascara during races!) Finishing within 10 seconds of my Queen Maggie Carr, whom I started running with a decade ago while we were in college, is still one of my favorite and most perfect running moments of all time.
What is your favorite recovery tool?
I love the Hypervolt — partially because it works, and partially because it looks ridiculous and I love making inappropriate jokes about it.
Are you currently training for anything or working towards a running goal? If yes, would you mind telling us about your current training cycle?
I’m slowly coming back from injury after the NYC Marathon in 2019. Peroneal tendonitis FTW! At this point, I’m just trying to get back into the habit of running regularly, which has been super “fun” with our currently reality of living through a pandemic. My main goal for this year is to do shorter races faster, once we’re racing again: I’ll likely forego the marathon for the foreseeable future after the immense, inevitable emotional hangover that was November 3rd. I’m still shooting for a 1:50 half marathon, as well as a 24:00 5k. Learning how to negative split would also be nice. Baby steps. But for now, just running at all is a joy!
What is your favorite race distance?
I love the half. It’s a substantial distance, but training for it doesn’t wreck your whole life.
What is your pre-race ritual, if any, the night before a race and during the morning of?
Eat lots of olives and something with grains and protein for dinner. Try to sleep; fail at sleeping enough. In the morning: Peanut butter and banana and toast (with a light existential crisis on the side).
What is your favorite race ever?
The NYC Half and the Harpoon Brewery 5-Miler.
What is your current and/or all-time running goal?
Get Faster, Stop Complaining, or Die Trying.
What is your favorite food to eat after a long run or hard race?
Shower beer(s).
Any advice to share with other runners, new runners (or your younger running self?)
Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Stop it! The running community is so overwhelmingly wonderful, but it’s really easy to fall into a pit of comparison. I don’t know how to get out of it, but I know it’s a hole not worth staying in.
Anything else you would like your teammates to know about you?
I dunno, man. I think I’m pretty fun.
Text by: Katie Dadarria
Edited by: Alison Kotch
Produced by: Alison Kotch