Tatiana Rojas was a former gym teacher and long-time social worker in New York when she decided to tackle her first marathon at nearly 50 years old. What started as a decades-long dream watched on television blossomed into a mission-driven journey across the World Marathon Majors.
A Dream Deferred
Growing up watching the New York City Marathon, Tatiana always vowed that one day she would cross that finish line herself. After immigrating to the United States and waiting 20 years—unaware that entry required a lottery draw—a casual conversation with a coworker finally set her journey in motion. She applied, won a spot, and finished her debut marathon in 7 hours, 37 minutes, and 11 seconds.
That first race was a complete trial by fire. Naive about training, course logistics, and post-race recovery, she spent a full week recovering in bed and declared she would never run another.
Running for Purpose and Community
The pull of the distance proved too strong to walk away from. Tatiana returned to the marathon with structured coaching and a deeper purpose, dedicating her miles to raising funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. From there, she committed to the NYRR 9+1 program, kept her momentum through virtual events during the pandemic, and systematically began checking off world majors.
Throughout her journey, raising funds for causes bigger than herself became a central pillar. She has raised over $10,000 across various campaigns supporting children and families with disabilities, Catholic Charities, heart disease research, and animal welfare organizations.
Earning the Six Star Medal
Just four years after stepping up her structured training, Tatiana completed the Boston Marathon—running alongside her friend Maria Fernanda—to officially earn her Six Star Finisher Medal. Her major marathon achievements include:
- New York City Marathon: Her foundational race, run multiple times including her debut and post-pandemic returns.
- Chicago Marathon: Site of her official marathon personal record of 5:48.
- Berlin & London Marathons: Completed as part of her international major series push.
- Tokyo Marathon: Completed while raising funds for animal rescue organizations.
- Boston Marathon: The final piece to lock in her Six Star Finisher Medal.
- Paris Marathon: Completed during the Olympic year, running the mass participation night marathon.
Her “Why” and Looking Ahead
Now turning 66, Tatiana views every mile as an investment in her health, longevity, and vitality. Rejecting the idea that age should dictate limits, she credits running with keeping her prescription-free and deeply connected to a global running community. Her race-day mental strategy relies on positive self-talk—literally speaking to her legs between miles 18 and 23 to overcome fatigue and finish strong.
With upcoming plans to run the Sydney Marathon and target the new World Marathon Majors expansion stars, Tatiana continues to prove that passion and persistence have no expiration date.
