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On Sunday morning, sweaty, determined runners strode across the finish line on the track surrounding Onondaga Lake, with their arms raised triumphantly and smiles on their faces. Friends and family cheered and clapped on the sidelines, holding up handmade signs covered in glitter to express their support.

“It’s a good opportunity for people to get outside and enjoy the beautiful area that we have,” Olivia Bird, a half-marathon runner, said. “I’ve been here my whole life, but I’ve never come and run around the lake.”

The Great New York State Marathon took place over the weekend, starting and ending at the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview. Runners traversed the hilly course surrounding Onondaga Lake amid colorful fall leaves. On Saturday, runners partook in 5K and 10K runs, and full and half-marathon competitions were held on Sunday.

As runners of different ages and athletic abilities crossed the finish line – after running full – and half-marathon lengths – they were all ushered on by the event’s announcer. He encouraged each participant and even shouted out a runner’s birthday.

Originally from Syracuse, Bird now attends the University of Buffalo for dentistry and occasionally visits her family back home. She saw this year’s race as an opportunity to get a run in while home. She became familiar with marathon culture during her undergraduate college years in Boston, MA, and has been running ever since.

To prepare for the race, Bird ran every Sunday, trying to hit a certain number of miles each week. After practicing on flat ground, she said she wasn’t well equipped to deal with the hilly path around the lake. Though the unexpected terrain proved to be challenging, her family’s support and the good weather helped her push through.

Alexander Zhiltsov | Staff Photographer

After a tough run, competitors stop to take photos of their accomplishments at banners specifying the various categories of the Great NYS Marathon.

“No one in my family runs,” Bird said. “It’s really nice when they come out and watch me do something that I enjoy, even though they may not enjoy it.”

Diana Bird Marsalis, Olivia’s mom, said she enjoyed watching her daughter cross the finish line and being there to support her.

Runners of various skill levels faced challenges during the marathon. Ron Spain was eager to return to the marathon for a third year following a hamstring injury. He completed the half-marathon — his second of the year — after a month of training.

On his preparatory runs, Spain fought muscle soreness to increase his mileage each time. While his injury slowed him down, he never gave up and continued to add two or three miles to his runs. Now, he hopes to work his way up to a full marathon.

“I worked pretty hard to try and come back from it and it looks like I’m almost there, so I feel pretty good,” Spain said.

Some runners, like Hannah Rubeck, were drawn to the marathon from outside of Syracuse, especially for the cooler time of year. Rubeck drove an hour from Clinton, NY, to run in the fall weather, though the sun came out for the second half of the marathon.

“It’s a good time of year and the lake is nice,” Rubeck said. “It’s always hard when it starts out really cold and then gets a lot warmer while you’re running, so that was hard today.”

Beyond supporting their friends and family, many non-runners felt a sense of community for all attendees. Bird Marsalis said she’s glad the community has something to participate in that benefits both their physical and mental health.

“You’re all just out there doing a hard thing,” Rubeck said. “It’s nice to do that hard thing all together.”

Published on October 20, 2024 at 10:49 pm