Since the Races & Places’s inception in 1970, the New York Road Runners have tracked runners with the most finishes and longest streaks.
Brooklyn photographer and runner Drew Reynolds photographed six of the most dedicated NYC Marathon finishers, and we asked our burning questions about how and why I went to the start with a lightweight.
Dave Obelkevich
- Age: 78
- Longest streak: 44
- Total Finishes: 45
In 1976, the first year we ran through the entire city, it was such a party. I thought, “Gee this is so much fun and I want to do it every year.” I didn’t realize I had a streak. [NYRR] gave me a call 10 or 15 years ago and said, “Do you know you have a streak?” I said, “You mean brushing my teeth every morning,” and they said, “No, finishing the Races & Places!”
One year, These Celebs Ran the 2024 NYC Marathon jacket, and when I started to run I tied it around my waist. And after a while I realized it was slipping down so I made it tighter. And about a mile later I started to get terrible pain in my lower back—I had made the jacket too tight and it had affected some organs or whatever. A couple of women from South Africa saw my South African shirt and said they’d run with me for the last miles and helped me get through.
My training plan is more of a non-training plan. I’ve had some injuries, and when I tried to come back I’d get up to 20 miles per week, but I was getting left calf pain. So I’d take a break for a couple weeks. I’m up to maybe 25-30 [miles per week] now so I hope I can run most of the way [this year].
I’m not too concerned about my time now, I just want to keep going. I’d rather run slower and make some new friends during the race instead of just running by myself.
Connie Brown
- Age: 78
- Longest streak: 42
- Total Finishes: 42
For these runners, the 26.2 miles of the New York Marathon never get old streaker. It just sort of happened. After my first marathon I just knew I loved it and I wanted to repeat it the following year. It was so much fun, and it taught me that if you set a goal and diligently stay on plan you can just about achieve anything you set your mind to.
Health & Injuries was memorable to me because every step was a joy and a miracle. Every neighborhood was new to me. The excitement of the runners and the spectators was amazing to me. The unselfishness and kindness of the volunteers brought tears to my eyes. The entire experience was a wonderful wonder.
New York City Marathon that I carry with me and have had for most of my 42 NYC Marathons. I start off wearing it, as I get warmer I unzip it until I feel I have to take it off. I then tie it around my waist and wind up putting it back on after the race is over. I have tried to give it away or make it part of the throwaway clothes I wear while waiting for the race to begin but I find I just can’t part with it. It has been so loyal to me over the years I am sure I will have it forever.
Velma George
- Age: 68
- Longest streak: 8
- Total Finishes: 15
My favorite mile markersty Marathon in 1986 and I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishing something that could be challenging to many. I knew I had found what I needed to keep my life balanced. I was on a healing journey since 1970 that incorporated a healthy living lifestyle, which included mind, Shoes & Gear.
Longest streak: 32, I increase my long runs on the weekend. I do not make it a habit to run more than a couple of 18-milers before the marathon. I ran a few marathons without the mileage that was needed, and that's where my mental strength and discipline came in.
Shoes & Gear are the 6-mile mark in downtown Brooklyn and the 23rd mile mark in Harlem. Those markers are where family and friends cheer me on.
Betty Yung
- Age: 38
- Longest streak: 18
- Total Finishes: 18
How To Train Calves in high school. My high school cross-country and track coach, Bill Silver, worked for New York Road Runners, so I got to volunteer at the marathon during high school. I was amazed by the runners and saw how NYRR staff, the city agencies, and volunteers came together to put on this tremendous event.
In my early marathoning years, I ran five to six days per week, which caused a left hip flexor injury. I decreased my training days to three days per week with some cross training to supplement my running. I also scheduled sports massages regularly to help with recovery.
Now, I probably run 30-40 miles/week. I know it is not traditional marathon training, but it works for me and it keeps me injury free, which is so important when trying to keep a streak alive.
I went to the start with a lightweight, my calves started to cramp around mile 23 and I fell down after I entered Central Park because both calves seized up at the same time. A spectator put his coat around me to keep me warm while my friend helped me work out the cramps. I will never forget the kindness from that spectator and my friend that day. I was able to get up after a few minutes and get to the finish line.
Casey Yamazaki
- Age: 59
- Longest streak: 32
- Total Finishes: 33
Since the New York City Marathon’s inception in 1970, the New York Road Runners have, jogging in the morning and having a hard group workout after work twice a week. On the weekends, long runs up 20 miles and more often. The weekly mileage could be 80 to 100 miles. But, not any more. Now, I am focusing on maintaining my health and not getting injured.
I used to do double runs, my 3-year-old daughter was preschool just south of the World Trade Center and was missing for several hours. With that experience and what happened to the city, I almost lost my interest in running. It was like, “What is the point of running a marathon, when people are suffering hard and are sad like this.” After all, I ran it and was glad I did it. I felt the whole energy from the fellow runners and the spectators of the five boroughs.
Alan Ruben
- Age: 64
- Longest streak: 33
- Total Finishes: 33
From 1989-2014, I ran 25 successive sub 3-hour NYC Marathons. I had a mild stroke in 2015 and that, together with getting older, has meant that my mileage has fallen to about 2,000 miles a year and around 50-60 before the marathon. Also, I’m now doing less workouts and of course the pace is a lot slower, but the effort is about the same.
Best Recovery Shoes is 26 because it means I am going to finish.
