Finding Joy in the Journey: Judy Emeodi’s Team Opportunity Experience

When Judy Emeodi signed up to run the New York City marathon with Team Opportunity, she knew she was stepping outside her comfort zone. A former college sprinter, Judy knew how to train for speed, but endurance was a whole new challenge. “People said to me, ‘Oh, you already run,’” she explained. “But I’m like, ‘No, no, no. I sprint. They’re very different things!’” 

For the last several months, Judy has embraced learning a new skill and connecting with a team of other women preparing for the same race as her. As she trained and tackled mile after mile, her journey to the starting line became a source of joy, reflection, and deep personal growth. 

Accepting the Invitation

Inspired by her friends Jacquelyn Lane, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Opportunity International, and Leah Bickers, who ran the NYC marathon last year, Judy accepted the invitation to join Team Opportunity for this year’s race around New York City—the place Judy now calls home.  

“I was scared to say yes,” Judy said, “because I knew that it would be a commitment. I consulted everyone in my life who had run a marathon to find out the highs and lows, because I knew that once I said yes, I would be all in.” 

And ever since she received her first donation to her fundraiser to support women in Malawi, she’s thought, “Okay. We’re in this.”  

Training for Race Day 

Over the past few months, Judy’s training has been “better than I thought…and so hard.”  

“I’ve learned the appeal of just running, over and over,” she explained. “So much of it is slow and routine. And a lot of life has happened for me since I said yes, so I’ve used my runs to process. I’ve run in silence. I’ve called friends. I’ve listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks.” 

“I've talked, prayed, cried…all the things that you can do in a run. And I don't know if I thought that would happen. The routine has been really sweet, and I don't know if I would have anticipated that.” 

As Judy has jogged miles around Central Park, her fellow Team Opportunity members have been completing their own training, too.  

“We all follow each other on Strava and cheer each other on,” Judy shared. “And almost all of us are first-time marathon runners, which has been fun. Knowing there’s someone else out there running 18 miles on the same day you are—it makes you feel less crazy.”  

The Mission Behind it All  

Each of the Team Opportunity runners is tackling this race for a purpose: to empower women in Malawi living in extreme poverty.  

To better understand Opportunity’s work and mission prior to starting her fundraising, Judy turned to her friends who had completed Team Opportunity challenges in the past. “We got to talk about the personal stories of these women,” Judy explained. “It’s not this broad, general mission to me anymore. I’ve seen pictures, I’ve heard stories. My friend has met these women. And one thing I’ve kind of realized more recently is that when you empower moms, they can be the ones to help their families.” 

Finishing Strong 

As race day approaches, Judy is filled with excitement. The marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a celebration. Friends and family from different parts of her life will gather in New York City, her new home, to cheer her on. “I can’t wait to hug and high-five everyone,” she said. “I live here. I walk these streets often. So it’s really special to get to run this race here and have my friends from around the country come cheer me on.” 

And with the marathon right around the corner, Judy has spent time reflecting on the journey that has brought her here.  

“If you had told me before that I’d go on silent runs and actually enjoy them? Or if you would have told me that anything under 10 miles would feel easy? Insane! But it turns out that consistency over time really works. Your body and mind can adapt, and it can be enjoyable. It’s crazy to me!”  

Update: Please join us in celebrating Judy Emeodi and all of Team Opportunity for successfully completing the New York City Marathon! Judy raised more than $4,000 and had an incredible day running through her city—soaking in the energy of the five boroughs, the cheers and hugs of family and friends throughout the race, and the powerful sense of community that makes the NYC Marathon so special. You can celebrate her by making a gift in her honor at opportunity.org/judy.