School Trustee Completes NYC Marathon
The Huntington School Board has embraced the district’s wellness campaign, supporting healthy classroom and cafeteria food choices and comprehensive physical education and health instructional programs. Many trustees can be seen burning the pavement as they jog around town, darting to workouts at area gyms or just enjoying the community’s well-known outdoor life.
Veteran trustee Richard McGrath is one of the fitness fanatics. Last Sunday he completed the New York City marathon. It marked the sixth time he crossed the finish line in Central Park. While it was his slowest marathon yet, he “managed to break four hours, which as an old guy at 52 was my goal.
Mr. McGrath ran the 26 mile 385 yard course that brought runners into all five New York City boroughs, in a time of 3:57.11. “I haven't run a marathon since 2001 and there were many more people this time,” he said. “There used to be 30,000 and now there are 42,000, almost half coming from different countries, which is great and adds to a super experience.”
While his job prevented him from “real serious training,” Mr. McGrath did go on a couple of 16-mile runs and two 18-mile excursions out to Target Rock and back, calling the longer one “a great run.” His best time in the NYC marathon came in 1997 when he ran a 3:20.15.
Last Sunday at 85th and First Avenue, 18 miles into the race, Mr. McGrath stopped for a photo op with his wife, Laura Jean. “It is as much a social event with runners interacting with the crowds, taking photos, etc., as it is a race,” he said. “As every runner will tell you, it's the crowds that make the New York City marathon special. It really does help you get through those tough miles with the bands playing and the crowds screaming encouragement. No matter how much you train though, miles 20 to 26 are torture. But it's funny, when you finish it doesn't seem so bad.”
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