What do running a marathon and playing at Carnegie Hall have in common? This year I’ll do both within eight weeks of each other. On November 2, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon – my first marathon. And on December 28, my 40th birthday, I’ll perform at Carnegie Hall, in my seventh appearance there as soloist.
I was born in Bulgaria and started playing the violin at age 6. “You are going to be a concert violinist,” my mother told me then, and started me with twice-weekly lessons. I would’ve rather played the piano. (Or played outside with other kids, for that matter.) I moved to the US at age 13 to continue my violin studies, and have been performing full-time worldwide for the last 15 years. Running entered my life much later – only about two years ago – but it’s quickly become a core part of my identity.
As a solo violinist, running has become a powerful tool for mental resilience. Since I began running, time seems to slow down on stage, and I’m able to observe what’s unfolding around me with a new sense of clarity.
Running has taught me to better handle discomfort, adapt, and move forward when things don’t go as planned. I’ll never forget a run in the pouring rain when I thought: If I can get through this, playing at Carnegie Hall will be a piece of cake – an exaggeration, of course, but not entirely untrue. A few months later I clipped a nail too short right before a concerto performance and then watched as blood pooled beneath the nail – during the performance! Instead of spiraling into a cascade of what-ifs, I stayed calm, focused, and present – tuning into the same internal feedback I rely on mile after mile. Distance running in particular has sharpened my ability to think clearly under stress – whether I’m approaching a difficult passage in a concerto or running up the Queensboro Bridge at mile 16, the same steady voice appears in my head: You’ve got this.
I started running in December 2023, when my sister-in-law, Sarah – who has completed nearly 100 New York Road Runners races – suggested we go for a run. I hadn’t really run before so my first thought was: Well, I need good shoes! A pair of Brooks Ghost 15s later, we set out in Central Park, and to my surprise, I made it through a 5K without stopping. That was it – I was hooked! Now, many races later, including three half marathons, I am exhilarated about running through the streets of New York and getting to explore my city in a completely different way – as one of 55,000+ athletes, running the same iconic course over the five boroughs.
The NYC Half Marathon was my first major New York race, and the energy on the streets was unforgettable – I teared up more than once (while reminding myself I couldn’t spare the hydration). Just as the course turned off the FDR onto 42nd Street, an all-girls drumming band was playing and their sound and energy gave me goosebumps. And running through Times Square and past Carnegie Hall on that misty morning made me fall in love with the city all over again. After that race I knew I had to run the marathon this year.
So when I received the invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall this December, I initially thought I couldn’t possibly run the marathon the month before such an important concert. But shortly after, another thought came: I can – and I will – do both. And one will empower the other.
As I look toward these two milestones, I know that each will be a feat of strength and endurance – and most importantly, a celebration. Running has given me a new kind of resilience, and on November 2, and again on December 28, I plan to use every ounce of it.
