Pups, pickles, and proposals: The spirit of the New York City Marathon
The beloved New York City marathon is a day that shows us much more about humanity than their ability to run a 26.2 mile race.
Photography by Lianna O'Grady
November 19, 2024
Spongebob, Forrest Gump, and a human hotdog walk into a bar. Just kidding! It’s the New York City Marathon.
This collection of unlikely characters gathered alongside fellow runners this past Sunday, November 3, to complete the TCS New York City Marathon, the largest marathon in the world. As the blowhorns blared, releasing the first wave of runners, participants beamed as they braved the staggering 26.2 miles through each of the city’s five boroughs. Some came fully outfitted in proudly flaunted flags, representing countries from Brazil to France, while others chose a more minimalistic style, pinning their race bibs directly to their shirtless chests – either way, the cheers rang out just as strong.
“Go Paul!” cried the woman standing in front of me at mile marker 8 in Brooklyn, the busy converging point of three start colors. “Way to go Michelle!” she rooted on heartily, reading off the names on the runners’ tops.
Thousands of spectators like her decorated the sidelines of every mile. With neon signs, tipsy chants, and electric energy unfazed even at the 2.5-hour mark, there were too many memorable moments to count on the other side of the lines. These are just a few highlights that embody the marathon's unmatchable spirit, all made by spectators encouraging runners to make it to the finish line on two legs– or four.
From Florida, Sydney the Service Aussie ran the daunting route alongside her owner, Shirley Rincon.
Decked in neon green sunglasses, a bright orange vest, and four little running shoes for her paws, it is safe to say she was strutting in style. Frequently looking back at the crowds, the Australian shepherd captured the hearts of all she passed by with an unmistakable pep in her step and a tongue hanging loose. She leaped over the finish line in just under eight hours, clocking a finish time of 7:58:20, and it wouldn’t be the first time she did so.
“It’s actually my fourth time running it!” the pup commented via Rincon. The marathon is among numerous other races, such as the Disney, Spartan, and Ragnar Relay race series, that Sydney has been training for on the treadmill. She wrapped up the night by posing with her signature lightsaber at the finish line. It is no secret that she was a joy for fellow runners and spectators alike – as well as an inspiration for some of us with lazy paws.
Keeping runners like Sydney moving was a team effort. Spectators on the sidelines handed out snacks and water cups to runners along the marathon’s course. Back at mile eight, I watched as a woman’s family handed her a shot of vodka that she downed, whooping before she started running again. Further down was a father holding his daughter in one hand and pumping up a paper cutout of his wife’s face in the other. “Go Kira!” they yelled in unison as the little girl waved her outstretched hand with an energy gel.
In this sea of people waiting for their loved ones, there were also just strangers wanting to help strangers. Among them was Haley Trunkett.
Peeling every banana she has before handing them out to the tired runners, Trunkett has her own reason for helping strangers. She ran the marathon last year but found herself in a risky situation at mile 14. Low on energy, she was handed a banana by a stranger to keep her going–a small gesture with a big meaning. This year, she went back to mile 14 not as a runner, but as someone who wanted to pay it forward. With her, she brought a team equipped with moral support, a couple of signs, and 20 bananas.
Trunkett is also a type one diabetic. “My [glucose] gels really helped me keep my blood sugar up during the race–and I kept Skittles on me–but it was so nice to get snacks from strangers,” Trunkett said, reflecting on why she returned to the sidelines.
Bananas were just one of the snacks people brought to give out. Known as the “Gatorade of food” for marathon runners, pickles were also one of the most popular snacks distributed to runners this year. Their acetic acid helps to fight cramps, making them the perfect snack after long-distance running. Near the finish line, a group of spectators handed out whole pickles wrapped in napkins to the runners as they passed by.
“Look at this pickle you’ve got yourself in!” read a sign one woman held up as people stopped by for a quick pickle break.
The magic did not stop at the finish line, though. For Brooklyn-based writer and proud dog-owner Isabel Klee, the marathon will be a day to remember for more reasons than one. Klee’s boyfriend Jacob Zerhusen trained for two things that day: a 26.2-mile race, and how to run that 26.2-mile race with proposal jitters on the brain.
The couple met during COVID and bonded over their love for dogs, a time that Klee details through her blog, aptly named Dogs & the City. “It’s been a wonderful, soul-changing three years of love and dogs and everything in between. I am grateful each and every day,” Klee remarks.
And there will be many more. As Zerhusen crossed the finish line, he met Klee on the other side not on two legs, but one knee.
“This world is incredible. This city is incredible. I am about to get engaged to the most incredible person. This is just like a peak,” Zerhusen commented in a fitting summary of the emotions felt at this year’s marathon.
From decorated dogs as runners, to pickle dealers as spectators, to engagement rings as medals, this year’s marathon was more than just a race – it was a testament to physical resilience, community between strangers, and the overarching spirit of this city. Barnard is embedded into this community, so it’s no surprise that the marathon resonates with life on campus – be sure to save the date for November 2 to be part of the spirit next year!