At 83, Dave Obelkevich lines up for his 50th New York City Marathon — daughter at his side

On Sunday, New York runs its marathon — and one starter has been there since the beginning. Dave Obelkevich, 83, is the only person to have finished every five-borough New York City Marathon since 1976; today he goes for his 49th in a row on that course, his 50th NYC Marathon overall and his 116th marathon. A retired music teacher, he survived intensive care after emergency aneurysm surgery in 2020, now walks most of the course, and is guided by his daughter Maria beside him. He first stumbled into the race on a Central Park jog in 1973. His motto has slowed down with him, in the best way: 'Some use a stopwatch. I use a calendar. I just want to finish.'

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