The day after running 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York City, five of Bay Ridge Prep’s longtime faculty members still showed up for work at 8 a.m. It might have been harder than usual to climb the stairs, but that is the small price to pay for being among the 40,000 runners from all over the world who gathered to run in the ING New York City Marathon.
Bay Ridge Prep’s runners included Dr. Michael Dealy, head of the high school; Middle School Math teacher Erik Fezzuoglio; Kate George, director of the lower school; Natasha Hazell, high school math and science teacher; and Dr. John Kugler, director, Middle School Bridge Program.
While Dr. Dealy, Fezzuoglio, Hazell and Dr. Kugler have ran marathons in previous years, this was the first marathon for George and she ran as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)’s Team in Training. Helping to raise more than $4,000 for the LLS, George said that the achievement of finishing her first marathon was even more rewarding because she knew she was doing something good for other people.
For Dr. Kugler, the marathon reminds him each year of New York City at its best. “It involves more than 40,000 runners and a support crew that is more than two million strong,” he said.
Fezzuoglio added that, “The marathon is an incredible opportunity to experience the spirit of New York City,” while Hazell said that besides the mental and physical challenge of the marathon, “There’s nothing more exciting than having millions of New Yorkers cheering you on throughout all five boroughs.”
Speaking about the uniqueness of the day, Dr. Dealy noted that “Marathon Day is the one day a year I get to be with some of the most courageous people in the world.”
Joining in the crowds cheering on the marathon participants was the Bay Ridge Prep Jazz Band, which played music on Fourth Avenue outside of Bay Ridge Prep’s 74th Street building. The band caught the attention of many runners as some paused to sing along and take pictures with the Bay Ridge Prep musicians, who belted out modern and older rock, pop and Motown songs.
