Seeing Charlie Marchese train daily, usually in Clove Lakes Park, has been a constant for almost five decades!
Marchese, now a retired NYPD officer, has been involved in the sport for almost 50 years, and shows no signs of slowing down, as he has raced competitively throughout the decades at distances from one mile all the way up to ultra-marathons.
But he didn’t immediately fall in love with running.
“I ran frosh cross country at Farrell and it really was a lousy experience,” said Marchese. “I didn’t run again until 1977 when I hurt my shoulder playing softball...I weighed close to 230 pounds and it was not an easy chore to complete a lap of a quarter mile track but after a few months, I worked up to four miles on the track.
“I then met Bob Orazem and he persuaded me to run the roads, and by 1980, I attempted my first marathon in Pennsylvania and ran 2 hours, 58 minutes.”
Marchese, already then a member of the elite Greenery Bar racing team, continued to train and improve under the guidance of coach Jim O’Neill. Although runners like Orazem, Mike Sayers, Tom Condon, Steve Zaccariello, Tom Cuffe, Steve Montick and others raced with the best in the region, Marchese trained with the best and kept on with his consistent performances and performed well enough to score age-group and triple crown awards from the 1970s onto today, running times that the current local running world would envy.
“The Island running community has certainly changed over the years and is definitely not as competitive as it was in the ’80s,” said Marchese, who sports personal best times of 16:40 (5K), 1:15 (1/2 marathon) and a 2:48 marathon.
His toughest race? “It was the 1983 Boston Marathon,” said Marchese. “I struggled from the start and ran a personal worst of 3:14 cursing the whole way.”
Getting inspiration from others has always kept Marchese going.
“My role model would have to be Arnold Obey, who unfortunately passed away recently,” said Marchese. “Arnold was such a gracious wonderful man who always had a kind word for everyone.”
“I also think of my closest running friend who also passed away in the last year, Bobby Guidera,” continued Marchese. “Bobby and I had many spirited close races and I think of him constantly for his quick wit and unrelenting competitiveness.”
“I’ve met many fantastic and lifelong friends and I will run as long as my body will allow.”
As well as his heart and desire, which show no signs of slowing down.
News From the Running Community
SITRAC
SITRAC will host its annual Toy Drive for kids. Anyone interested in making a donation or donating an unwrapped toy email Lorraine Lettieri at statenislandtrac@yahoo.com. SITRAC will collect toys thru Dec. 15 for presentation to The Seaman’s Institute. It will also be presenting the proceeds and funds from The Labor of Love to the Triple Crown Races on Dec. 15.
For more information check out the website: www.statenislantrac.org
Hopefully this crew can return to the live Lou Marli Run in 2021! From left, are Brian Rowan, Charlie Marchese, Scott LaMorte, Jeff Benjamin, Fred Dedrick, Jimmy Hart, Bill Welsh, Bill Allert and George Kochman. (SIRA photo)
Lou Marli Run Thanksgiving Day Virtual Youth Run
This year’s “Givin’ Thanks Virtual Turkey Trot and Fundraiser” has raised over $3,500 along with 10 full shopping carts of food with participation from 80 virtual runners and walkers,” according to race organizer Steve Zimmermann. The money and the food raised will go to AllSaints and St.Paul’s food banks.
The Richmond Rockets
“The Richmond Rockets would like to congratulate the runners that have completed the virtual NYC Marathon this past Nov 1. A big thank you to the running clubs on Staten Island and all the volunteers who made the event possible. Our gratitude to all the veterans that were honored on Veterans Day as we participated in the annual Veterans Day Muck Struck 5k. Thank you for your service! And thank you Steve Zimmerman for keeping the tradition of the turkey trot going. Although a virtual race this year, donations were helpful in feeding those who are in need.”
Staten Island Running Association
The SIRA is thanking the more than 100 runners and walkers and 25 supporters and sponsors for making the 2020 Muche Struck Veterans Day Virtual 5K Run and Walk a success. A special thanks goes out to race director Tommy Hart for letting SIRA continue this road racing tradition.
For Giving Tuesday, SIRA is hoping donors will consider supporting its work with youth and community running on Staten Island. SIRA says it’s more important than ever to keep kids and adults moving and healthy during the pandemic. You can give using SIRA’s website at statenislandrunning.org or via PayPal at paypal.me/statenislandrunning.
SIRA also wants to welcome and thank our newest board members for 2020: Joe Brancali, Ramon Brown, Joseph Jones, Patricia Mulligan, Vincent Nabavi, Dana Koenigsberg and Michael McVey. And thank you to our founding board members Michael Schnall, Michael De Vito Jr., Jeff Benjamin, Ken Christensen, Dorothy Reilly, Brian Rowan, Louis Vazquez, and Steve Zimmerman for all their work. “We look forward to a healthy, safe and more successful 2021!”
Frequent Island visitor Joe Martino (pictured standing far right with the legendary Bill Rodgers, Brighton Kiwanis Club members and local runners) has published an autobiography on his running life. (SIRA photo)
Book of the month
“On The Run - Friendships and Finish Lines”
When running legend Bill Rodgers has appeared locally here throughout the years, longtime friend Joe Martino has accompanied him. A 14 minute, 30 second 5K runner, Martino has spent over 50 years in running, and participated in the first 1970 NYC Marathon.
Now, Martino has written an autobiography of his running life, replete with humor, inspiration and fond recollection of runners and races past. Priced at $14.99, this book is a must-have for runners of all abilities and ages.
To purchase a copy go to:
The Monthly Quiz
Please submit your answer to my email below. Correct answers will then be drawn from a lot with three winners. One winner receives a pair of ASICS running shoes, another winner a free session at CRYO Staten Island (CRYOSI.com) and the third winner receives a $20 gift card to the “Runners High” Running store (runnershighnjshop.com)
This Month’s Question
Can you name 1 male and 1 female (Two Total!) winners of the Lou Marli Run in the past?
Thanks for reading and keep Running!
Suggestions, questions. Comments? Please email Jeff at RBenja726@aol.com