What started as recovery from a back injury turned into a lifelong passion for one Brooklyn runner.

Clifford Tsao has completed more than 30 marathons since first taking up the sport in 2009, and now he's preparing to once again run through his home borough in the RBC Brooklyn Half.

Tsao's running journey began in 2009 after a back injury prompted his doctor to encourage him to focus on fitness and strength.

One year later, he completed his first New York City Marathon - the start of a running career that has now included more than 30 marathons, including races in his home country of China.

Tsao says running changed his life so profoundly that he wanted to share the experience with others.

He began volunteering with NYRR Open Run in Brooklyn's Marine Park, where he now serves as a Volunteer Captain and has helped the weekly program grow significantly over the years.

A longtime Brooklyn resident, Tsao has run the RBC Brooklyn Half nearly every year since 2009 and is excited to once again race through his home borough.

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For one runner in this weekend's RBC Brooklyn Half, the race is about community, representation,and healing.

Harjinder Singh, a member of the NYC Department of Transportation, runs in a turban to inspire young Sikh and Punjabi athletes and is dedicating this year's race to his late mother.

He is channeling the spirit of his loved ones to fuel him during his race.

"From my local Sikh temple, I get a lot of love and support. And from my family they love to see me running with a turban," said Singh said.

Singh admits that any head covering is hot, but it's important. He likes to represent. He has run 10 full marathons and 11 half marathons.

He is an engineer who "loves to run" on the same streets he designs. For him, running started as a kind of therapy to remember his grandfather who passed in 2014.

"My grandfather was a runner in the Army, and I wanted to run in his honor and carry on his memory," Singh said.

This year, he's running to remember his late mother. Singh said he loves a particular picture he says was snapped in a moment but is now part of his forever memories.

"I lost my mom in February this year," Singh said. "I run in her honor. I feel spiritual when I run. Your loved ones are with you."

A lot of people feel that way, and it's another reason he tries to connect and encourage young runners.

Singh also raised $8,000 running for Team 4 Kids.

This weekend's RBC Brooklyn Half will be especially meaningful for one runner who has overcome extraordinary obstacles to get back on the course.

Jessica Aguilar lost part of her leg after being struck by a drunk driver, but she says running - inspired by her daughter - has helped her reclaim confidence, purpose, and joy.

Aguilar began running as a sophomore in high school. It's the reason why she went to college.

But, in December 2022, Aguilar faced a life-changing obstacle. After a night out with friends, she was struck by a truck that dragged her 40 feet. She lost 7% of her right leg.

"I had three emergency surgeries. I had reconstruction surgery. I had skin graft and I had to learn how to walk again," Aguilar said.

Due to the injuries, Aguilar was told she wasn't going to run again. She said the impact of concrete was "too much for her leg to sustain."

"I gave up on it for years," Aguilar said. "And it's just a life I accepted for myself at the time."

But that changed with her runner daughter. After her daughter saw pictures of Aguilar running in college, she had an idea to sign Aguilar up for a half marathon that would raise money for her school.

"She's like, 'Mom, you can do this,'" Aguilar said. "She didn't really understand the concept that I couldn't, so I didn't want to show her no, I didn't want to back down on something that she wanted me to do."

With that, Aguilar's perspective on running changed. She realized running is a privilege and began signing up for the New York Road Runners races.

"They have created a space for me to race in a way that I get to tell my story," Aguilar said.

This weekend, Aguilar is running the RBC Brooklyn Half with the "ultimate goal" of finishing and getting to see her daughter run, she said.

"I'm a better mom to my daughter because of it, and now she has this mother who has shown her what resilience looks like and like not to give up, especially if something we love to do," Aguilar said.

The RBC Brooklyn Half is set for this weekend and you can see reports from the race course Saturday morning on Eyewitness News.

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