Running the Marathon—22nd Time Anything in Life is Possible
Dr. Stephen Wertheimer, an orthopedist from Los Angeles, is reflective on the eve of his 22nd marathon.
by Stephen A. Wertheimer, M.D.

I was a non-athlete most of my life, a bookworm as a child. When I went into practice at the age of about 31, I took up bike riding. Endurance riding for 100 miles attracted me the most. As my practice grew, the time I could devote to biking decreased so I started jogging. I couldn’t even jog 100 yards! I started to build up to greater distances very slowly until I could finally do 2 miles. It was a revelation that I could do this.

I advanced to a 5K, 10K and finally the New York City marathon in 1978. Then, it was in my blood! I have now run 34 marathons: 22 in New York City, 4 in London, 3 in Portland, Oregon, 2 in San Francisco, 1 in Vancouver, 1 in San Diego and 1 in Greece. I’m lucky there’s a new ruling: if you run 15 New York City marathons, you don’t have to be in a lottery. You are automatically in when you apply.

As a result of marathon running, I have a different image of myself. As a non-athlete I can do something most people of my age can’t do. Running is also a big stress reliever. It can be a help for a child who is having difficulties in school. The lesson learned is that if you keep plugging away, you’ll make the finish line.

I believe running is an example of how you can succeed in life by perseverance. Almost any goal is possible.#

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