Press Releases

Marathon Project reaches fulfilling finish line

by Pete Colaizzo, November 29, 2007

More than 60 students and mentors from The Marathon Project enjoyed a perfect day at the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov. 18. The runners participated in one of three races - an 8-kilometer (5-mile) run, a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a full marathon (26.2 miles).

The initiative, sponsored by the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County, Inc., is a new, innovative distance running program that pairs adult mentors with at-risk youth in the Poughkeepsie and Beacon City School Districts, as well as the county Department of Probation. It began in March and culminated with the Philadelphia race.

Here are some first-person race reports from adult mentors who participated in every step of the Project:

Judy Creedon, Poughkeepsie: Running with the kids in Philadelphia for the Marathon Project was an amazing experience. But as most runners will tell you, as exhilarating as race day is - and is it ever! - the lessons learned happen well before the timer ever starts.

Training for a long-distance run, we learned how to hydrate and to stretch. We emphasized putting enough "fuel in the tank," and we endured countless conversations on pacing. We learned how to wear weather-appropriate clothing and how to take care of our sacred feet. But that is the easy stuff ... the things we could all get out of a good running magazine. The lessons that we tried to teach and master had more to do with living well, working hard, never giving up, respecting each other and having fun.

On hot and humid summer mornings, I witnessed kids who had already finished their practice run waiting for others so they could be cheered on and personally handed cold water. I saw children and adults of varied ages, genders, ethnicities and abilities laugh and support each other up hills they thought they would never climb and distances they would never finish.

We began as individuals - some runners, some not. We trained as groups - one from Poughkeepsie, one from Beacon. But, by the time we reached Philly, we became a community of runners with a common goal - to give it our best, together.

Karen O'Connor, Poughkeepsie mentor, Department of Probation: As we ran up the "Rocky Stairs," the last suggestion Judy Creedon gave the mentors and kids of the Marathon Project was to "enjoy the experience." Although the group needed and appreciated all the other advice regarding shoe tying, sock thickness, hydration and proper race etiquette, as it turned out "enjoy the experience" was what got me through my first marathon and made it such a wonderful day.

Just watching the kids and mentors together having breakfast at 4:30 a.m., was fun. Everyone was up on time eating, and a low hum of anticipation filled the room before the first bus left for the course. It was the usual scramble before the race: porta potties, garbage bag jackets and a race to the start only to wait.

The course was great; so much to see in historic Philly, students all over the place cheering, museums, the zoo and the beautiful river. The people I met along the way were interesting and encouraging. Anyone who reads this column understands the feeling. The feeling of being at a race like this is what we wanted the kids to have. They got it. The look on their faces back at the hotel told the story, and they were empowered through running.

The experience started in March. They ran in the cold after school, on some weekends and then through the heat of the summer. The kids and mentors ran in the early morning the late afternoon, when they felt like it and when they didn't. I met some of the best people, some young some older, some from Beacon and some from Poughkeepsie. That's what we wanted to give to the kids, all of the feelings you get from running. Running with the kids gave me another joyous reason to run.

Project coordinator Susanne O'Neil and her co-workers did an incredible job of taking on a huge project. The organization of the trip to Philly for kids, mentors and parents was a marathon itself. Susanne kept this project going from March to November, encouraging kids and mentors while looking for funding for next year.

The Dutchess County running community should be proud of one of their own taking on a project that many of us have thought about but could not fathom getting started. Join us next year, volunteer to help with the Marathon Project; you will "enjoy the experience."

Bernadette Wiggin, mentor, Poughkeepsie High School teacher: On Nov. 17, a group of runners traveled to the City of Brotherly Love where, in less than 24 hours, they would be challenged by one of three races. I was part of that group, The Marathon Project, and the next day I would be running my first marathon. Looking at our group on the bus that morning, you might not guess that eight months ago we were strangers to each other and, for the most part, strangers to what we were about to do.

Although I'd run dozens of local races over the last 20 years, I'd never been part of a big city race and had certainly not run a marathon. This weekend was different. Physically I was trained and mentally I was prepared. I only hoped my body had gotten the memo and could carry me through the 26.2 miles.

Looking around the bus that morning, I was proud of what a group of middle school and high school students from Poughkeepsie and Beacon and their adult mentors had accomplished. Many in our group had never run before and some, like myself, had only gotten through a marathon by watching one on TV.

The following morning, I could hear the phone signaling the 3:45 a.m. wake up calls for the girls in the next room. By 4:30, the dining room downstairs was bustling with students and mentors. The 5 a.m. shuttle to the start was filled mostly by students. So much for the theory that high school classes start too early!

After our group picture on the steps of the Art Museum, we moved to the starting line. Even as a veteran runner I was amazed by the crush of people as I wove my way through the crowd to find an appropriate starting position.

The signal sounded and the racers were off. I had to choke back tears as I thought of all the miles I'd put in, the early morning long runs and the afternoons of meeting in the parking lot to run with our students. I imagined we were all feeling the same emotions. Over the next several hours I saw various members of our group. There was always the same excitement when we made contact: "Hey, we're doing this!"

I must admit to having gutted out the last 3 miles and I knew that my fellow runners were doing the same. Emotions hit me again when I saw the finish line and realized that my chip time of 3:43:14 was well ahead of the 4-hour goal I'd set for myself. I wondered how the rest were doing and whether they'd achieved their goals, whatever they might be. I knew for some, the goal was just to finish, for some it was to complete their race without stopping and for others it was to do better than Katie Holmes had in New York.

Upon meeting at the designated area and rejoining with those who had already finished, conversation centered around our fellow runners. "I saw Doug and Dino at mile 6, how did they do?"... "James did great, I knew he could!"... "Did anyone see Karen?"... "Bryan was thrilled to have finished his race without stopping!" ... "I passed Cindy heading to the turnaround; she looked strong." ... "How is Cathy feeling?" ... "Una did fine" ... and so on.

It was a proud moment when I realized we'd done it . . . each in our own way, each at his own pace and each for our own reasons. No longer were we just students from Poughkeepsie or Beacon. No longer were we just adults or mentors or teachers or parents. In eight months, we made the transition ... we were all runners.

Mary Veltre, mentor, Poughkeepsie: This was my first ever marathon race. The weather was perfect for the marathon distance: cool and crisp autumn temperatures in the high 30s. I arrived by bus to the start of the race at 6 a.m with the Marathon Project mentors and kids. We took pictures at the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art ... those famous stairs from the Rocky movie.

The race started at the plaza directly in front of the museum with thousands of runners lined up to the theme from "Rocky." The scene was beautiful, with flags from every country lining the plaza and a huge water fountain illuminated by lights.

The race course was pretty flat with only a few hills and the crowds were spectacular throughout the race. We ran past Drexel University frat houses at around mile 8 and the students were banging on drums and pots and pans and cheering the runners on. At mile 13.1, I heard the announcement that the first marathon runner had crossed the finish line!

We ran through Fairmont Park and arrived to a section called Manayunk at mile 18, where they were serving beer at the water stop! The cheers from the crowds were tremendous at the turnaround at mile 20. It was then that I realized that I had run the first half effortlessly, so I picked up the pace at mile 20 and I was thrilled to have run a 4:23 marathon on a very scenic course.

I personally want to thank my good friend Sue O'Neil, who encouraged me to run a marathon and was there to congratulate me as I went through the finish line and say: "So, when is the next one?" I also want to thank all the great mentors and kids from the Marathon Project, many of whom only started running in March to train for Philly. You guys are awesome!

All I can say is: "Yo, Philly ... see you in 2008!"