Dani Reilly Finishes NYC Marathon for Billie's Besties
Reilly ran the New York City Marathon in 5 hours, 43 minutes, six months after giving birth, raising money in memory of her daughter.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Running
Dani Reilly finished the New York City Marathon in 5 hours, 43 minutes, 42.2 kilometres, while just over six months postpartum. She ran to raise money for Billie's Besties, a charity she and husband Dan Reilly founded in memory of their daughter Billie.
Why it matters
The race marked a personal milestone for Reilly, who had planned to run the marathon in 2024 before postponing when she became pregnant with Billie. Her finish highlights how the charity channels the family's grief into fundraising for others.
Reilly finished in 5 hours, 43 minutes, well off her original sub-4:30 goal after an ITB injury caused her knee to give way. She trained for about three months and was roughly 6.5 months postpartum on race day, and the total amount raised for the charity has not been reported.
The players
Dani Reilly
Dani Reilly is a runner who completed the New York City Marathon while six months postpartum to raise money for a charity honoring her late daughter.
Billie's Besties
Billie's Besties is a charity founded by Dani and Dan Reilly in memory of their daughter Billie, which the marathon fundraising supports.
The details
Reilly ran with husband Dan Reilly, son Fletcher, and family cheering from the streets. By 24 kilometres she was walking, as her knee repeatedly gave way, though she finished the 42.2-kilometre course.
Timeline
2024: Reilly originally planned to run the marathon but postponed after becoming pregnant with Billie.
April: Fletcher was born a little more than one year after Billie's death.
September: The couple discussed parenthood and Billie's memory on NBC's Today.
November 1: Reilly completed the New York City Marathon.
Season Trajectory
Reilly's run in the New York City Marathon continues a long pattern of runners using the race to raise money for causes, and it adds a postpartum, bereavement-driven angle to that tradition. Her finish sits within the broader cycle of fall marathon season, where charity runners often set goals that are reshaped by injury or life events.
Reilly's result shows that charity fundraising runs can continue even after a major injury forces a change of pace. For runners planning a marathon around training gaps or postpartum recovery, her experience shows how a race goal can shift from a finishing time to completing the course for a cause.
The takeaway
Reilly's finish shows that a race can keep its purpose even when the original goal slips away. Her run turns grief and an injury into a fundraising effort that keeps Billie's memory active in the community.
Further reading
For more on endurance racing and event coverage, see Running coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nine.
