When Pedro Soto walked into his doctor’s office with a sore throat, he didn’t expect to walk out with a life-changing diagnosis. The Manhattan teacher was told he had type 2 diabetes — a moment that pushed him toward a new routine rather than medication.
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Six months later, his blood work came back “normal,” and running had become his new anchor. His journey eventually led him to the TCS NYC Marathon, even as he faced illness and grief along the way.
The Manhattan school teacher learned in April 2024 that he “was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.” The news hit hard, but instead of reaching for medication first, Soto made a decision that would reshape the next year of his life. “After receiving the news, I chose not to start medication right away,” he says. “Instead, I committed to exercising, running twice a week and improving my diet.”
What began as a reluctant lifestyle shift quickly turned into the habit that transformed him. Running didn’t just help him physically, it became his path to emotional clarity, resilience, and eventually, the starting line of the TCS NYC Marathon.
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Soto was inspired when a colleague mentioned that her husband had run a marathon. That conversation led him to apply for the TCS NYC Marathon through an application for teachers that required a personal essay. His diagnosis became part of his story, and he was selected for the team.
As he slowly built a running routine, he checked his bloodwork every few months to measure progress. “I check my blood test every three months, and [it] made a big difference,” he says. “Like three months later, I was even normal. My blood sugar level was normal, near prediabetic, but normal.”
While type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, it can be reversed through significant lifestyle changes, and Soto was proving exactly that through consistency and movement.
Training didn’t come easily. The marathon was scheduled for Nov. 2, 2025, but Soto couldn’t begin consistently preparing until August. In June, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and during the same period, he lost his father. Running became more than a routine — it became his outlet.
“I was mourning, and the way I mourn [is] through running and having quality time to think about it,” he shares. “It was running to face my feelings and thoughts and make peace with myself and with my father.”
As race day approached, he prepared in every way he could — watching YouTube videos, reading, and trying to understand what the experience might feel like. When the moment came, the atmosphere surprised him. “For me, it was amazing. It is like a block party, but the block party is the whole city,” he says.
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During the long course, the physical strain was real. “During the race, you're gonna feel some pain. You are pounding for hours, the same ligament, the same joints, the same bones and muscles.” But what kept him steady was the city’s energy. “Something's gonna start feeling pain, but the noise of the people out there, the music, the cheers, everything is louder than your pain.”
Soto works with a “very special population” of students in a transfer program. Their struggles reminded him of the endurance they show each day. “Every one of them is here for a reason, and not just one reason, multiple reasons,” he says.
Their resilience became his strength. “I always think I'm feeling pain, I'm feeling tired. The fatigue is hitting me right now, but they can do it. They do it every day. I can do it for another hour or two hours.”
For Soto, his health isn’t just personal, it affects his classroom. “If I'm in a better shape, that is gonna affect my students in a good way,” he says. Balancing his life, he adds, has become essential. “Sometimes you need to advocate for yourself or put yourself first.”
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor regarding any medical concerns.
He began running twice a week, changed his diet, and committed to regular blood tests.
What motivated him to run the NYC Marathon?
His diagnosis, his students, and a special teacher application process inspired him to join the marathon.
ALSO READ: Protein in your urine? Top doctor reveals 5 hidden causes you can’t afford to ignore
Six months later, his blood work came back “normal,” and running had become his new anchor. His journey eventually led him to the TCS NYC Marathon, even as he faced illness and grief along the way.
The Manhattan school teacher learned in April 2024 that he “was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.” The news hit hard, but instead of reaching for medication first, Soto made a decision that would reshape the next year of his life. “After receiving the news, I chose not to start medication right away,” he says. “Instead, I committed to exercising, running twice a week and improving my diet.”
What began as a reluctant lifestyle shift quickly turned into the habit that transformed him. Running didn’t just help him physically, it became his path to emotional clarity, resilience, and eventually, the starting line of the TCS NYC Marathon.
ALSO READ: These 3 evening habits can reduce inflammation for better sleep and health
How did running change his health so quickly?
Soto was inspired when a colleague mentioned that her husband had run a marathon. That conversation led him to apply for the TCS NYC Marathon through an application for teachers that required a personal essay. His diagnosis became part of his story, and he was selected for the team.
As he slowly built a running routine, he checked his bloodwork every few months to measure progress. “I check my blood test every three months, and [it] made a big difference,” he says. “Like three months later, I was even normal. My blood sugar level was normal, near prediabetic, but normal.”
While type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, it can be reversed through significant lifestyle changes, and Soto was proving exactly that through consistency and movement.
What challenges did he face while training?
Training didn’t come easily. The marathon was scheduled for Nov. 2, 2025, but Soto couldn’t begin consistently preparing until August. In June, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and during the same period, he lost his father. Running became more than a routine — it became his outlet.
“I was mourning, and the way I mourn [is] through running and having quality time to think about it,” he shares. “It was running to face my feelings and thoughts and make peace with myself and with my father.”
As race day approached, he prepared in every way he could — watching YouTube videos, reading, and trying to understand what the experience might feel like. When the moment came, the atmosphere surprised him. “For me, it was amazing. It is like a block party, but the block party is the whole city,” he says.
ALSO READ: Get to witness "The Rightside Up" in theaters! Stranger Things 5 Finale screening tickets go on sale tomorrow
During the long course, the physical strain was real. “During the race, you're gonna feel some pain. You are pounding for hours, the same ligament, the same joints, the same bones and muscles.” But what kept him steady was the city’s energy. “Something's gonna start feeling pain, but the noise of the people out there, the music, the cheers, everything is louder than your pain.”
Why were his students such a big motivation?
As the final miles approached, his mind started to resist. “The last six miles is when your mind starts to sabotage you: Why are you doing this? You can stop anytime," he recalls. "I was thinking about my students.”Soto works with a “very special population” of students in a transfer program. Their struggles reminded him of the endurance they show each day. “Every one of them is here for a reason, and not just one reason, multiple reasons,” he says.
Their resilience became his strength. “I always think I'm feeling pain, I'm feeling tired. The fatigue is hitting me right now, but they can do it. They do it every day. I can do it for another hour or two hours.”
For Soto, his health isn’t just personal, it affects his classroom. “If I'm in a better shape, that is gonna affect my students in a good way,” he says. Balancing his life, he adds, has become essential. “Sometimes you need to advocate for yourself or put yourself first.”
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor regarding any medical concerns.
FAQs
How did Pedro Soto improve his diabetes after diagnosis?He began running twice a week, changed his diet, and committed to regular blood tests.
What motivated him to run the NYC Marathon?
His diagnosis, his students, and a special teacher application process inspired him to join the marathon.
