82-Year-Old Dave Obelkevich Prepares 50th New York City Marathon Completion

Dave Obelkevich, now 82, is preparing to run the New York City Marathon course for the 50th time (his 49th consecutive entry), after an unofficial start in 1973 and an official 1974 finish that began a decades-long streak marked by both setbacks and memorable moments. Other participants are running as acts of recovery and resilience: Yelena Shtyrkalo turned to running at the end of a difficult battle with postpartum depression and now runs the NYC Marathon as part of her recovery. Peter Gryga is running to honor his sister Sarah, who died of leukemia, and to give back to the community organizations that supported him and other grieving children. Steven Cannady, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in eighth grade, will run despite earlier warnings from doctors, managing his condition with continuous glucose monitoring and multiple daily insulin injections. Derek Lindstrom will run the marathon two years after receiving a heart transplant, underscoring how the race has become a platform for survivors and those overcoming serious medical challenges.