From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Amy navigates international trading markets for a prestigious firm in New York City. It’s an interesting time to be working in a historically male-dominated industry, one that Amy finds invigorating.

“I feel like the Fearless Girl statue that stands on Wall Street,” Amy says. “We stand out, but at the same time, it’s empowering. We all need to encourage each other and come together.” In a way, that’s what running a marathon is about: a grand expression of people coming together and supporting each other to get across the finish line — which is how Amy got into running.

In 2007, Amy had a ski accident. She had torn her ACL and was in a rut. On a friend’s advice, she started running. Soon after, she signed up for her first race. “I was hooked,” she says. “I got the runner’s high, and from that moment I knew I would be running the rest of my life.”

An integral part of Amy’s training, and the antithesis to her demanding career, is driving to Connecticut, where her family lives. “What’s great about the Evoque is there’s enough space for me to pop my bike in the back and just get out and go for a good run and ride,” she says. “It’s amazing what 20 miles can do to clear your head from the stresses of the day-to-day.”

Amy jokes that her Evoque is “compact and adventurous, like me,” and we appreciate the comparison. Since that first marathon in 2007, she has competed in a number of races, including Tusk, a marathon through Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, alongside some of the world’s biggest, and most terrifying, wildlife. She’s also suffered concussions, sprained ankles, blisters and ripped toenails. Marathon running can be brutal. So, what does she do it all for?

Amy’s mother always told her, “It’s not how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away.” For Amy, crossing the finish line is one of those moments — but it’s not just for the glory of athletic achievement. “Every step you take is a step toward the end goal: celebrating with my friends,” she says. “That cold beer and that juicy burger afterward? It’s definitely all worth it.”