Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. We'll go into the weekend now, New York City Marathon weekend, with a call-in for any of you who will be running the marathon or anyone who ever has. On the question of all things, why did you decide to do something so extreme as to run a marathon, as to train for a marathon? 21243 WNYC 2124339692. Again, of all things, why did you decide to do something as extreme as to train for a marathon? 212-433-9692 and related to that, do you think there's such a thing as a marathon personality? Somebody brought that up to me the other day. Maybe there's a type of person who is drawn to such a massive undertaking. Do you think for yourself, marathoners out there, how would you like to describe what it is about you that draws you to this kind of challenge, this kind of feat? 212433 WNYC433 9692 and we also want to give those of you planning to run on Sunday a chance to thank someone on the radio, thank someone in your support system for helping to make this possible for you.

Is there anyone you would like to thank for doing all the necessary stuff while your life is being consumed by training? Your partner who took on more of making dinner or cleaning the bathroom or watching the kids more than before? Maybe your friends and family who are sponsoring you or anyone else? 212433, WNYC. That's 212-433-9692. You can also text that number. Again, answer any of these three questions in our last 10 minutes of the show today. Of all things, why did you decide to do something so extreme as to train for a marathon?

Do you think there is such a thing as a marathon personality? Maybe there's a type of person who's drawn to such a massive undertaking. Do you think? What are you thinking about yourself in that context, or who would you like to thank in your support system for helping to clear your time enough to make this possible for you at all? 212-433 WNYC, 212-433-9692. We'll take your calls and texts marathoners right after this.

[music]

Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Our lines are full with marathoners. You've got the three questions of all things, why did you decide to do something so extreme as to train for a marathon? Do you think there is such a thing as a marathon personality? Does that apply to you? Who would you like to thank for helping to clear so much of your time to make this training possible? Ethan in Brooklyn, you're on WNYC. Hi, Ethan.

Ethan: Oh, hey, Brian. How are you doing? Yes, I just wanted to say I did the marathon in 2013, and I did it just so I could tell people that I did it. That's the honest answer most people won't give it to you, but it's just nice to be able to tell people. Also, I enjoy just having strangers scream encouragement at me because I don't get enough encouragement at home.

Brian Lehrer: That's a wonderfully candid answer, though. I'm sorry about your home life. Amber in Harlem wants to thank some folks. Hi, Amber, you're on WNYC. Whoops, did we lose Amber? I think we lost Amber. Let's try Gloria and Montclair, who worked for the New York City Marathon in the past. Gloria, you're on WNYC. Hello.

Gloria: Yes, Hi, Brian. I worked for the New York City Marathon and the New York Roadrunners Club since 1979 was my first marathon. I've written a lot of running books and specifically about New York. I want to tell you that the essence of it can be understood by what the founder Fred Lebo built, which is a combination of entertainment, personal achievement, and sport. This was a very unique combination. I had worked for that race, broadcasting on the radio for four hours live for years. Until I ran it myself and crossed that finish line and burst into tears, I didn't completely understand the point that this is an achievement that only you yourself can do. No one can help you. There's no team. It's all you. It is the most exquisite way to experience New York and appreciate the boroughs the way you do when you run that race and that you achieve something unique. I will tell you a last story that I think exemplifies the feeling of New York, the marathon. The first year I ran, the tradition was that the workers stayed up all night to finish preparations, and I sat on the bench the next day with Fred Lebow, who became my mentor for his genius to create things, and it's so quintessential New York, what he created and coveted. All over the world, over 100 countries, people come to run this race.

Brian Lehrer: It's a beautiful story, Gloria. I just have to follow up on one quick thing. Did you say you did play-by-play on the radio of people running the marathon?

Gloria: Absolutely did. Four hours live broadcast, studied all the top runners, wrote the press kit with all the details. 365 intersections blocked off, how many urinals there were, how many police were used, how much water is consumed. It's an amazingly rich and vast event.

Brian Lehrer: Amazing.

Gloria: The one last thing I want to tell you is that exemplifies everything. Exhausted as I was that first time I worked, I said, Fred, why do I feel depressed? He said, "You don't understand. It's done, and you'll have to wait a whole year to do it again."

Brian Lehrer: Gloria, thank you. That was wonderful. All right. I guess she was the John Sterling, the Howie Rose, the Bob [unintelligible 00:06:40] of marathons in the past. On the radio, listener writes "Love the Brian Lehrer Show. My name is Zia. I'm running the marathon this Sunday, and I chose to run the marathon because it is the hardest thing I've ever done. It is a great personal accomplishment that is just for you. It's not for work or your family or anyone else, just you. It's a special accomplishment that you achieve through your own endurance, with your own mental and physical training. Ed in Hoboken, you're on WNYC. Hi, Ed.

Ed: Hi. How are you?

Brian Lehrer: Good. Your friends call you Extreme Ed?

Ed: Well, they did it one time. Yes. I've done New York three times. I've done a total of five marathons. I actually don't think it's that extreme. I think anybody can do it if they just put their mind to it.

Brian Lehrer: Why did you actually choose to start doing it?

Ed: I was at the Marathon 2004. My friend's sister was running, and if you've ever been, just the whole spirit of the day, it's just incredible. I just got swept up in it. I was like, okay, I'm going to do this next year. Registered. Got in. I did it in 2005. Did it 2009, 2013. I'd like to do it again. My girlfriend's running this Sunday and so is my cousin.

Brian Lehrer: Yay. Go girlfriend, and go, cousin. Do you think there's a marathon or personality?

Ed: I think people do it for different reasons. I heard the one caller say, just wanted to say they did it. For me, I like a challenge. It actually got me into triathlons after that. I think there's different reasons.

Brian Lehrer: Thank you, Ed. Thank you. Listener writes, "Hello, WNYC,-- Mara, I guess Mara is her name. First four letters of the word marathon. Go figure. Mara writes I got into marathon to celebrate my father, a colonel in the Marine Corps returning from Desert Storm. Thought I was one and done, but ended up doing 121 marathons with at least one in each of the 50 states. I definitely want to thank my husband, Jeff. He's been my main sponsor. Here's another thank you call. I think we have Amber in Harlem now. You're on WNYC, Amber. Hey there.

Amber: Hey. How are you? Happy marathon Friday. I wanted to call in and thank my husband Rob, who has been super supportive, and my two daughters, who are 11 and 13. This is actually my third marathon, but I ran my first New York Marathon last November, and I never thought I would run marathons, but I finally am-- You asked about personality, and I'm incredibly competitive. I finally said I can do this. I just wanted to thank my family because I've essentially been training for a marathon since July of 2023, which is lots of 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM wake up.

Sometimes I'm a little late for dinner because I'm training. I'm really grateful that I have my supportive family. I'm also running for Hope for New York, which is a charity. This is my second time on that team raising money for an organization that helps people in need across New York City. This has been a labor of love for me.

Brian Lehrer: Go get them, Amber. Thank you very much. Hank in Lake Grove is going to be our last caller. Hi, Hank. We've got about 30 seconds for you. How are you doing?

Hank: Doing very well. Heading into the city for this weekend. Even though my marathon days are done, we love the event this week. It turns the city into a very even more special place for us. My wife and I have both run the marathon in the past. I started in '82. My son and daughter have both run it. We are a marathon family.

Brian Lehrer: What makes you run?

Hank: You asked why?

Brian Lehrer: Yes.

Hank: Well, I'm just going to tell you. I think it's a pretty selfish event because when you're training, everything else gets turned off. I started running for health reasons, two or three miles a day. Then all of a sudden you're out there alone and it feels good and you have to-- You disappear from your family. My wife complained about it somewhat, and then she became everything I was, but she started when I stopped.

Brian Lehrer: There you go, Hank. That's going to have to be the last word. Good story there. Good story to end. Thanks for all your calls, marathoners. It's supposed to be a beautiful day to run on Sunday. Good luck and have fun out there. That's the Brian Lehrer Show for today, produced by Mary Croke, Lisa Allison, Amina Srna, Carl Boisrond, and Esperanza Rosenbaum. Our interns this term are Andres Pacheco, Hiron, and Olivia Green. Megan Ryan is the head of Live Radio. Zach Gottehrer-Cohen edits our daily politics podcast. That was Juliana Fonda and Milton Ruiz at the audio controls. Everybody, have a great weekend and stay tuned for Alison.

Copyright © 2024 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use at www.wnyc.org for further information.

New York Public Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline, often by contractors. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of New York Public Radio’s programming is the audio record.