{"id":383529,"date":"2026-10-27T03:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/383529\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T03:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:14:18","slug":"nyc-marathon-tips-from-an-83-year-old-running-his-50th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/383529\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Marathon Tips From an 83-Year-Old Running His 50th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dave Obelkevich\u2019s first experience with the New York City Marathon<\/a> was in 1973, when it had fewer than 400 entrants and took place entirely in Central Park. He was on the west side of Manhattan near 100th Street when a pack of runners in bibs flew by. He asked a few onlookers what was going on. \u201cIt\u2019s the marathon,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

A recreational runner himself, he was both impressed and intimidated by the lead runners\u2019 speed. He knew he couldn\u2019t keep up with them for 26.2 miles, but he figured he could probably finish one of the four loops of the park at a respectable pace. So, on their final lap, he jumped in and finished in 43 minutes. After that, he immediately signed up for the following year.<\/p>\n

Obelkevich admits that it took a couple of years for his training to gel. In the months leading up to the 1974 race, he did just one six-mile training run a week. \u201cI took six days off,\u201d he says, laughing. He still managed to finish in 4:20:27, but the experience itself was \u201ctough,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The now 83-year-old registered again in 1975, but didn\u2019t finish the race. He\u2019d started strong but suffered a series of dizzy spells. With five miles to go, he\u2019d stopped to take a break when the late Fred Lebow, race director and cofounder of the New York City Marathon, drove by. Discouraged by the time he\u2019d lost, Obelkevich asked Lebow for a ride to the finish line. \u201cHe should have said, \u2018Hell no, you finish by walking!\u2019 But instead, he said, \u2018Yeah, get in the back.\u2019 So it\u2019s his fault I didn\u2019t finish,\u201d Obelkevich says, jokingly.<\/p>\n

In 1976, the marathon course changed to include all five boroughs of New York City. \u201cIt ran through much of the city I\u2019d never seen,\u201d Obelkevich says. He grew up in a suburb of Binghamton, New York, and moved to Manhattan in 1961 to attend Columbia University, but he\u2019d always lived on the Upper West Side. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019d ever been to Staten Island. It was an eye-opener,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

By the time he reached the start line of that first five-borough marathon, Obelkevich was, thankfully, running more than six miles a week. He\u2019d joined the Millrose Athletic Association, where he\u2019d picked up some solid training habits<\/a> and gained a whole new social circle.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d discovered that, in a group of runners who shared similar goals and challenges, he was more extroverted than usual. \u201cI opened my mouth and spoke to a complete stranger. It\u2019s not that hard to do. It\u2019s just a matter of getting started. So that changed my whole personality,\u201d he says. That year, he finished the marathon in 3:22:44.<\/p>\n

From that point on, Obelkevich has never missed a New York City Marathon, making him the runner with the longest streak on record: 49 races. This November, he\u2019ll share a 50th anniversary with the course as it\u2019s known today.<\/p>\n

Over the past five decades, both Obelkevich and the marathon have evolved. The race, which included just over 2,000 participants in 1976, now hosts nearly 60,000 runners from all over the world. \u201cWhen I was running the first few years, you look around, and everyone is from the Northeast. Now a quarter of the people are from another country,\u201d he says. The whole experience feels more inclusive and interesting, he adds.<\/p>\n

Obelkevich\u2019s approach to the marathon has changed, too. Several years ago, he dealt with a life-threatening aneurysm in his left leg. He has since recovered, but he\u2019s never felt quite the same; he gets winded after a couple of minutes of running. So now he walks the course with Athletes with Disabilities (AWD)<\/a>, and his daughter, whom he\u2019s raced with before, will be his guide.<\/p>\n

He trains by doing physical therapy exercises<\/a> and walking<\/a> almost every day, with his longest walk this training cycle totaling 15 miles. \u201cPeople say you should do several 20s, but I didn\u2019t have time for them. If you\u2019re going three miles an hour, it takes a long time,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He also gives himself permission to skip a day when the weather is bad or something hurts. \u201cOne of my techniques of avoiding injury<\/a> is, if I have a pain somewhere, I\u2019ll try for five minutes. If it hurts, I walk home. If it hurts the next day, I\u2019ll stay home,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In the late 1970s, Obelkevich\u2019s goal was to break three hours<\/a>, which he did in 1979 with a time of 2:50:18. This year, his goal is twofold: to finish the race\u2014he estimates it will take him a little over eight hours\u2014and have fun. \u201cThat\u2019s more important than anything else for me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

What Dave Obelkevich Has Learned About the New York City Marathon Over the Last 50 Years <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re running the marathon this year, look for Obelkevich in Staten Island. He\u2019ll be repping New York Road Runners as part of the 2026 Team Inspire<\/a>, starting at 8:22 a.m. Until the gun goes off, he makes a point to chat with other runners. In fact, it\u2019s one of his tips for passing the time and growing your network.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be shy about introducing yourself. Everyone has different stories,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way to meet people and pass the time. Have some business cards with you. So, if you want to keep in touch with someone, you can say, \u2018Here\u2019s my card.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are a few more of Obelkevich\u2019s tips, insights, and observations, based on 50 years of running the New York City Marathon.<\/p>\n

Be Careful on Shakeout Runs<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of organized prerace shakeout runs<\/a> in the city, and you can always loosen up with a couple of easy miles<\/a> on your own. But be careful running on the city\u2019s streets and sidewalks, which can be uneven and full of unexpected obstacles, Obelkevich says.<\/p>\n

He recounts one year when, the day before the race, he tripped over a misplaced barricade near the finish line and fell. Luckily, he was fine, but it could have been catastrophic.<\/p>\n

Enjoy the Ferry to the Start Line<\/p>\n

The early morning ferry ride to Staten Island is one of those experiences that\u2019s unique to the New York City Marathon. (How many other races start with a boat ride?) So, if that\u2019s your assigned mode of transportation, take it all in, from the views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty to the energy of your fellow passengers.<\/p>\n

Before Dave began running with AWD, which provides a bus to the start, he\u2019d typically take the ferry and use the opportunity to chat up runners from all over the world. \u201cThat was always a lot of fun,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Pack Some Disposable Reading Material<\/p>\n

Rather than draining your phone\u2019s battery with nervous scrolling, take along some reading material you can toss once it\u2019s time to line up. \u201cIt helps to bring, say, The New York Times. It\u2019s something you can read, and then you can leave it there,\u201d Obelkevich says. (One time he had the idea to write a letter while he waited, but he couldn\u2019t find a mailbox. So, maybe skip the postcards.)<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Bring Only Disposable Layers<\/p>\n

Lots of runners stay warm with a \u201cthrowaway layer,\u201d sweatpants, sweatshirts, ponchos, hats, and gloves they plan to discard right before their wave. (Volunteers then collect the pieces to donate or recycle.) But be careful about tossing all your extra clothes, Obelkevich says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suggest that people, if they\u2019re going to have a jacket or something, once they warm up, don\u2019t throw it away because it\u2019s going to take a while after you finish to get to your clothes. You have to walk a distance,\u201d he says. There\u2019s about a mile-long walk from the finish line to the street, and it\u2019s even longer if you need to walk to the subway or your hotel. If you\u2019re sweaty, depleted, and cold, that walk can be especially miserable.<\/p>\n

If you tend to get chilly after a race, consider keeping something lightweight that you can ball up and shove in a fanny pack or tie around your waist or shoulders.<\/p>\n

Lean Into the Crowds<\/p>\n

On a difficulty scale of one to 10, Obelkevich, who has run marathons and ultramarathons all over the world, rates the New York City Marathon at six, but with a caveat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crowd is so supportive in New York. Often you can hear two bands playing at once\u2014one ahead and one behind you. So, all that makes the pain go away faster,\u201d he says. If it weren\u2019t for the two million or so cheering spectators, he\u2019d rank the difficulty level a lot higher.<\/p>\n

Use the Talk Test to Keep Your Speed in Check<\/p>\n

The only downside to all that positive energy is that it\u2019s easy to get carried away and start out too fast<\/a>. Obelkevich has always used the \u201ctalk test<\/a>\u201d to keep his effort in check. \u201cIf you can\u2019t talk, you\u2019re going too fast,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Stay Focused on the Queensboro Bridge<\/p>\n

Out of the five bridges you\u2019ll cross, the Queensboro Bridge is the most grueling, according to Obelkevich. It begins around mile 15, when some runners may start feeling fatigued. The bridge itself is 3,725 feet long, but because it\u2019s eerily quiet (there are no spectators on the bridge) it can feel like it lasts for miles. If you get energy from the crowd, he says, this part of the course can be really tough.<\/p>\n

But rest assured: On the Manhattan side of the bridge, there are thousands of cheering spectators<\/a> lining First Avenue. That section of the race is often referred to as \u201cthe wall of sound,\u201d and once you come off the bridge, you\u2019ll know why.<\/p>\n

Prepare for the Potential Wall at Around Mile 20<\/p>\n

Obelkevich has noticed that a lot of runners tend to struggle around mile 20<\/a> in the Bronx. That said, he\u2019s never had an experience with hitting the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s partly because I\u2019m planning to finish with some gas in the tank,\u201d he says. He recently read an article about a celebrity runner who was planning to finish the marathon with \u201cno gas in the tank,\u201d a goal he finds questionable.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you finish, you still have to walk a bit. You can\u2019t be exhausted at the finish line and fall down,\u201d he says. Knowing that he has to preserve a little energy to get himself out of the park and home keeps him from pushing too hard during the race.<\/p>\n

Embrace the Best Part of the Course: Mile 24<\/p>\n

No matter how much pain you\u2019re in, turning into Central Park at 90th Street, at mile 24, feels like a homecoming. The park is a recognizable landmark, the crowds are electric, and you know you\u2019re going to finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cCentral Park is something that I\u2019ve been in almost every day, and people know it backward and forward and upside down, so it\u2019s very reassuring to come into Central Park,\u201d Obelkevich says. \u201cI would say that, except for the finish line, which is most impressive, that\u2019s what boosts my spirits the most\u2014coming into Central Park.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take the Subway Stairs Backward<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve crossed the finish line, collected your medal, and found your way out of the park, your journey home or back to your hotel begins. Even a technically walkable distance may feel insurmountable, so plan to take public transportation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t expect to find a cab,\u201d Obelkevich warns. Even if you can get an Uber, road closures make traffic impossible to navigate. \u201cOne nice thing about mass transit is that you have to either walk up or down stairs, and that\u2019s great for recovery<\/a>,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd trust me on this: If you\u2019re going downstairs, turn around, hold on to the railing, and go down backward. It\u2019s 50 percent less painful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sure, it feels a little awkward, but New York City straphangers have seen far weirder things.<\/p>\n

Go for a Walk the Next Day<\/p>\n

After the race, \u201cI would suggest people forget about running for maybe a week,\u201d Obelkevich says. Instead, he recommends going for a walk, which can help with circulation and recovery, without adding more stress.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t forget to celebrate your accomplishment. After a hot shower, Obelkevich plans to have dinner with his wife, Lyn, and their family at home. There\u2019s no particular ceremony or menu, but there is one non-negotiable: \u201cBeer is very important,\u201d he says, noting that his go-to brew is Miller Lite. \u201cJust one. But one beer is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dave Obelkevich\u2019s first experience with the New York City Marathon was in 1973, when it had fewer than…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":383530,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[140191,28691,9,56,63,65,64],"class_list":["post-383529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-fitr","tag-loveservice","tag-new-york","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=383529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/383530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=383529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=383529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=383529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}