A Bond Between Runners

As a Citizens Branch Manager in Queens, New York, Charlie enjoys connecting with his customers during the day. He believes a big part of his role is about getting to know people. Creating friendships and being part of a community outside the bank have become more important than anything else. But Charlie never expected to make the profound connection he has with Citizens customer Pankaj, a seasoned marathon runner who became his mentor and guide. Together, they’ve bonded over their shared passion for running, and recently finished the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.

Meet Charlie

Once an active gym goer, Charlie stopped working out regularly when his son was diagnosed with asthma, eczema, and food allergies. Charlie’s father was experiencing heart problems during the same period of time, which made matters even more stressful. So he centered his time around caring for his father and son. Eventually, things became more manageable, but Charlie realized he was neglecting his own health. “I woke up one day and said, you know what? I can’t continue this path how I am, it’s a very unhealthy lifestyle, I have to change.”

That’s when Charlie discovered running. He began with small steps, starting with a 10-block walk, then 15 blocks, and then a run. He ran three miles, then five. He recollects, “I took my kids and family to go running too; we just got motivated, but I never thought about running a marathon.”

Later, Charlie heard that Citizens was sponsoring the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon and signed up just for fun, without expecting to be selected. However, he was asked to run with Team Citizens as part of a colleague contest. Now that he was in, the pressure was on. Immediately, his thoughts turned to training. Before long, and seemingly by fate, he met Pankaj, a veteran international runner.

Get to know Pankaj

Pankaj’s own running journey began when his two daughters joined high school track and cross country. He drove them to meets where their coach encouraged him to run with them. The rest is history, as he continues to run with a running career spanning decades and countless races. Pankaj ran multiple international marathons and became an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star finisher — an incredibly prestigious achievement among runners.

With 30 years of experience as a civil engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation, Pankaj ensures that marathon routes are clean and safe for runners. And as a runner himself, he appreciates that Citizens cares just as much about the New York running community as he does.

A friendship begins

When the two men met at a Citizens branch through the referral of a mutual friend and customer, Pankaj felt instant camaraderie and empathy toward Charlie. “Any beginner always has a little anxiety, and I also was a newbie once,” Pankaj reflects.

Pankaj sensed Charlie’s nervousness about upcoming races and wanted to help him find encouraging moments to keep him moving forward. Pankaj says, “At any international marathon, I’m a little stressed out, so when someone gives me a tip or offers motivation, it helps a lot. My motto? Pain is temporary, but pride is forever.”

The bond between these two runners grows with each exchange and the learning they’ve shared. Charlie is brutally honest with Pankaj, “Running is boring!” he exclaims. “You’re just running a straight line, a point of no return, there’s nothing there!”

They both laugh and Pankaj gently responds, “Running is boring. To get out of the house is the most difficult thing. But once you go and you come back, you feel different.”

Going the distance

Charlie continues to heed Pankaj’s advice, but still hits moments where the looming distance of an upcoming race feels incredibly challenging. But Pankaj does not quit on Charlie. He tells him, “Just take it one day at a time. You don’t have to worry about it. Listen to your body and worst case — just walk. It’s okay, the key is to finish the race and the most important thing here is to have fun; you have to have fun.”

The two men’s dedication to one another has led them to significant achievements. Together, they completed the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon and recently ran the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. For Charlie, it’s an ecstatic experience. “I’m speechless when I cross the finish line. Seeing the support from all my friends and family and Pankaj makes me think, ‘gosh I can’t believe I finished this.’”

As for Pankaj, he is thankful to have a bank that meets his needs, supports his running community, and has given him a friend who is willing to go the distance.

At Citizens, we are committed to helping New York’s residents, small businesses, and neighborhoods thrive. In addition to offering advice tailored to each person’s unique journey, we also support local initiatives and partnerships to make a positive impact. As the Official Bank of New York Road Runners (NYRR), a community running organization that's more than 550K members strong, and title sponsor of the newly named Citizens Queens 10K, we look forward to seeing you on the course as we celebrate athletes, fans, and volunteers throughout 2024 and beyond.