NYC Marathon brings out the best in runners, spectators – Daily Record
Jane Havsy, Morristown Daily Record Published 5:35 a.m. ET Oct. 31, 2019 | Updated 1:31 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2019
Roberta Groner, 41, is a mother of three, full-time nurse and an elite runner. On November 3, she will be running the New York City Marathon. 10/2019 Kevin R. Wexler, NorthJersey
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About 10 days before the TCS New York City Marathon, Roberta Groner had an hour free, so she got a pedicure.
Though Groner is an elite masters runner, she sees herself as “a normal person who gets to do something I passionately love.” She’s also a divorced mom of three boys, a nurse who manages an office, and squeezes up to 100 miles a week between a full-time job, dinner and other housework, and the occasional night out.
On Sunday morning, the 41-year-old Ledgewood resident will be part of the elite field that leads off the race.
It will be Groner’s second marathon in five weeks. She finished sixth at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, the first American across the finish line in a race which began at midnight to try to avoid excessive heat.
“I like to be a role model for my kids. They see hard work and consistency does pay off,” said Groner, who hadn’t competed at longer than 5,000 meters during school, and returned to running after a 10-year hiatus.
“It doesn’t have to follow a linear line. I didn’t have a passion or love for running at 21, 22, so I stopped. Now, I’m doing it, and I’m experiencing all these great moments because I worked hard.”
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Approximately 52,000 people from around the world are expected to finish the marathon Sunday, cheered on by more than a million more lining the streets of the five boroughs.
Almost 118,000 potential runners entered an annual lottery for places, but less than nine percent – 10,510 – were accepted. The rest are elite athletes or raising money for approved nonprofits. NYC marathon participants raised $40 million last year, and about $310 million has been donated since the NYRR adopted official charity partners.
Kyle Severson of Morris Plains is one of 30 runners on Team Type 1, trying to raise $200,000 for diabetes treatment. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years out of college, Severson has become accustomed to the “balancing act” of food, exercise, and insulin.
He estimated he’ll need to consume goo packets about every 45 minutes during the race, checking his blood sugar in real time.
“When I used to run 10 years ago, it was a guessing game,” said Severson, 45, who heads up the service group for Atlantic Zeiser. “You’d eat a snack beforehand, run a little bit, and check your sugar afterward and hope it was OK. … It’s challenging, but that’s what makes it worthwhile, too.”
In their neon yellow Achilles International T-shirts, Brandon Ehrlich and Matthew Monaco will stand out as they tread the New York City streets.
A sprinter when he was at Waldwick High School, Monaco was the first athlete in the Achilles New Jersey chapter two years ago, after reading a newspaper article about the fledgling club, which pairs athletes with disabilities with volunteer guides to gain confidence strength. Ehrlich, who has autism, signed up on May 24, 2018, and did his first half-marathon less than a year later. The 19-year-old from Norwood has completed five half marathons this year, and finished third in his age group in an 18-mile training session in New York City in mid-September.
“I love Achilles, and I love running,” said Monaco, who has autism. “I’m excited to run the New York City marathon. They’re going to cheer for me, and I’m going to cheer all the people.”
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Monaco might be yelling “Go Achilles” back at the spectators in New York City. Groner gives thumbs up signs to people who call out her first name, since they’re likely to know her.
This is the third time Groner will run New York, her 13th marathon since returning to running in 2010. One of just three American women to break 2:30 after turning 40, she plans on “enjoying the moment” rather than setting a time goal because of the quick turnaround after Worlds. Severson wants to finish in less than four hours, and adjusted his training plan to 3:45 – quicker than when he failed to meet the mark at the New Jersey Marathon in April.
“I’m a competitor, but relaxed enough to know not every race has to be a goal race,” said Groner, whose sons, Bryan, 16, Aiden, 13, and Dylan, 12, will be watching from New Jersey on Sunday.
“I hope, if I’m feeling great that morning, I can go for it. I don’t think I’ll know until halfway. I’ll play it on the conservative side, and go for it if I’m feeling great.”
Jane Havsy is a sports reporter for DailyRecord.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.
Email: JHavsy@gannettnj.com Twitter: @dailyrecordspts
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