Marathon Tales 2015

Though some claim that you can do it if you really want to, most of us wouldn't dare to attempt to run 26 miles. After all, that's the distance from Scarsdale to midtown Manhattan, which on a good day is 45-minute ride in the car. But some ambitious and fit local residents challenged themselves to run in the NYC Marathon on Sunday November 1st. The marathon date coincided with Halloween weekend and the night that the clocks were turned back – causing even more anxiety for runners who battled crowds and the time change. Here are their stories – each more exhilarating than the next.

Dara Rosenberg ran her eighth marathon but the first since having ACL surgery and a fourth child. She trained locally by running many miles over the past few months - all over Scarsdale, Eastchester - even ran to Larchmont a few times where she met her family for brunch. They drove and she went on foot. She also cross-trained with yoga and spin.

About last Sunday, Rosenberg says, "The day was truly amazing. Loved every minute. The energy and encouragement from the crowds was unbelievable. I loved running through the different neighborhoods and listening to the crowds of people cheering everyone on. Every few blocks there were bands playing, music blasting - the positive energy was literally felt every step of the way. Best part was feeling the love - everyone is really rooting for all the runners to feel good and finish strong. Great camaraderie!

The true highlight of the day was seeing my family and friends (who surprised me) on First Avenue and 84th street at mile 171/2. I was so excited - coming off the 59th Street Bridge and turning up First Avenue- I was counting down the blocks - knowing I would see my husband and four kids cheering for me. It was the most incredible feeling to see them and then so many of my friends and family who surprised me and came in to show their support. I was overwhelmed with happiness which gave me the energy to continue on strong.

I feel great today. My legs are a little sore but I was up at 6am walking the dog and making breakfast and lunches for 4. No rest for a mom - I think running for 4 hours and 24 minutes was my down time.

Andrea Seiden of Greenacres completed her fifth marathon. Her husband Mark said, "Not too shabby at 55! This one was probably most grueling for her but she came out unscathed and hopped on a plane to London that night." Chatting from London the following day, Andrea said, "The marathon was good although I did not finish as well as I had hoped. Anyway I should be glad I finished it at all because my legs really cramped up the second half."

Evan Halpern ran his fourth New York City marathon. He trains consistently by running 3-4 days a week and lifting weights two days a week. He trained for the marathon for a solid eight months although he says, "when running a marathon past effort is cumulative. I always try to stay in shape." Discussing Sunday he said, "26.2 miles is hard no matter how you slice it, I expected hard and the streets of New York didn't let me down. It was definitely warm out there on race day. At mile 2, I realized it and made some adjustments to my nutrition plan for the race. I made sure to eat and hydrate more than the original planned. I was happy with my time but much happier with the consistent pace per mile I was able to hang on to. I'm always amazed by the people of New York. For such a tough, diverse group of people, 50,000 runners and over two million spectators are all on the same playing field, working together to create a positive environment that just feels surreal!" How was he the day after the race? "Sore but totally worth it!!!!"

This picture was taken by my Father at mile 26.1 (just before the finish line) when I saw my 8 & 5 year old boys

Eric Scheffler ran his 26th marathon on Sunday, and his seventh New York City Marathon in just 3 hours and 39 minutes. He lives in Quaker Ridge with his wife and three girls and he trained by running from home to work in midtown Manhattan every Friday.

A Boulder Ridge mom of two said, "I ran the NYC marathon in 2000. I was 22. It was so awesome. I had run Marine Corps in 1998 and Detroit in 1999. NYC was by far the best marathon. The crowd carries you through the whole thing!! Amazing people cheering. I liken it to running through different countries. You hear cheering for you in different accents throughout all of NYC. After 2000, I met my husband, got a full-time, high stress job and put marathons on the back burner. I always wondered if I would run another. Every time marathon Sunday came up, I was jealous of everyone running over the Verrazano. I would get on the treadmill and watch them. I would run 10-13 miles on the treadmill just watching the marathon. I would picture being there. I needed to do it again.

I signed up with Team for Kids to do it again in 2012. I trained. I trained A LOT!!! I felt like I spent so much time away from my little kids, then 5 and 2--and it was a lot on my husband too. I would be away so much of the time committed to my long training runs.

The Thursday before the marathon I went to the expo. The energy was alive and real! I was so excited. Then Bloomberg announced that the marathon was cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy. I was devastated on so many levels. I felt horrible for every single family affected by the hurricane. I couldn't imagine the pain and suffering they were enduring. Personally, I felt like I climbed Mount Everest, and then was blindfolded--unable to enjoy the view. Unable to experience everything that I trained for. My husband helped put together another marathon the same day. We raised $2,500 for Hurricane Sandy Victims in 48 hours and got a group together and ran 26.2 anyway on the South County trail. It was a wonderful day. My best marathon ever at 3:44:18. Even though it wasn't official, it felt good to run it.

We had the option to train and run again with guaranteed entry into 2013, 2014 or 2015--but I didn't feel it was fair to my family to commit to training all over again. I remember watching in 2013, from my treadmill, wishing I was there. Then again in 2014. Then October 2015 came around... and about a week before the marathon I knew I needed to run it. I had a friend who was injured who asked me to run in her place. I knew it was frowned upon, and I hadn't really trained for it .... but I took it as a sign. I wasn't going to run it to get my best time. I was going to run it for the experience again.

I had never been more scared than I was at Fort Wadsworth that morning. I felt stupid for being at that starting line. I couldn't believe what I was about to do to my body and so scared I wouldn't make it. I found myself next to a good friend, who brought his good friend with him. His name was Jake Brown--he had just run 3100 miles barefoot across the US and called the marathon his "taper". He was awesome. Then the cannons went off, and before I even knew it, I was one of the 50, 000 trekking over the Verrazano.again. It was a long awaited dream come true. The marathon is such a metaphor for life. It is such a testament to anything being possible. No matter your shape, your size, your race, your ethnicity--even if you have a disability.... you can do this if you REALLY want to. I remember each borough of Sunday's race. Passing people who overcame cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, passing a man going backwards in a wheelchair, blind runners, engaged couples and couples who would get engaged at the finish line. I remember the signs--motivating and funny, the music that gets the blood pumping. How amazing and indescribable it felt to see my husband and my kids, my best friends and the finish line. It hurt. It hurt a lot. It still hurts (and its almost Wednesday!), but the pride is really forever. I will always visit this day in my heart, when doubting myself. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity.

Scarsdale school board member Arthur Rublin fit the marathon into a very demanding schedule of work and board meetings. Here is what he said. "My undertraining earned me early calf cramps that shifted me to walking for a while at 10k in Brooklyn and again at Mile 16 on First Avenue. But I enjoyed my third New York City Marathon immensely. I loved taking in the sights and sounds of an event that I find brings out the best in people. So many people are so giving. I was very happy to get back to running from the South Bronx to the Central Park finish line. Still sore, but it's a satisfying soreness.

Matt Aks, a 2007 graduate of Scarsdale High School was at the marathon on Sunday too. He wasn't running, but instead waiting at the finish line for his girlfriend to get to the end so that he could ask her a very important question. He had put months of planning into the weekend in New York and thought through every detail of how he would make his proposal. So when Christie Stephenson got to the end of the course she was at first relieved and proud and then very surprised. Matt pulled out a ring, photos were taken and the happy couple spent the night celebrating with both of their families over dinner.