10 Years Later
Running the 2024 New York City Marathon … my second one in 10 years
By Maryann Roefaro

Every time I see the Statue of Liberty, my heart warms as I think of my grandparents coming to Ellis Island more than 100 years ago, having the resilience to travel from Italy on a boat when they were just children.
As I sat on a ferry leaving Manhattan, on my way to Staten Island to run the 2024 New York City Marathon in November 2024, I had hopeful visions of the finish line that was waiting for me 26.2 miles away.
Ten years ago, I was surprised and honored to discover I was selected for the cover of 55Plus subsequent to running my first marathon at 55 years old. I will never forget the moment I crossed that finish line.
A marathon changes a person in ways they never expected. Today we see runners of all shapes, sizes and abilities at the start lines of marathons. It’s an incredible challenge both physically and mentally and it teaches those who train and run that they are capable of so much more than they ever imagined. That self-realization never goes away. It lends faith and confidence in oneself forever. There’s a saying that goes like this: “There will be days when I don’t know if I can run a marathon, but there will be a lifetime knowing that I have.”

Since my “cover girl” appearance 10 years ago, I have completed six marathons and more than 50 half marathons. Testing myself once again, I wondered if I could tolerate more than 20 weeks of training at 65 years old and run the 2024 NYC Marathon for the second time. The NYC Marathon is one of the most spectacular running events on earth and to date it is the largest that has ever occurred around the globe, having more than 55,000 runners, cheered by more than two million spectators and supported by more than 10,000 volunteers!
It is not an easy race — with bridges, inclines and a lot of turns — not to mention the late start for slower marathon finishers, a consequence from years of happy aging and slower running paces.
In summary, I took a train to take a subway to take a ferry to take a bus to the start line in Staten Island so I could run 26.2 miles back to Central Park where I left my hotel at 6:30 a.m.
My start time was 11:30 a.m. and I was tired before I started but somehow I ran for five hours and 44 minutes to cross that finish line — healthy and ecstatic, jumping up and down like a kid!
There were times during my training that I felt like I was pushing myself to my limits, thinking I must be nuts for wanting to complete a marathon at my age. As it turns out, there were 245 other women aged 65-69 across the globe doing the same thing. I finished 135 among the 245. As Vince Lombardi said, “Your body can stand almost anything. It’s your mind that you have to convince!”
I ran my first marathon in four hours and 29 minutes. I cared so deeply what my time was then. This time, I only cared about the finish. I never even looked at my watch. I stopped to talk and hug my family and friends, eat a banana, enjoy some peanut M&Ms and I just soaked in every moment of this incredible experience.
I am grateful beyond measure to my mind that never lost hope, to my body that responded to my requests and allowed me to push it to its limits, to my family who put up with my training and to a divine infrastructure that blessed my every step.
They say you don’t stop running because you’re getting older; you get older because you stop running. Regardless of what challenges you are facing, have faith in yourself and know that we were born with everything we need within ourselves — and let love lead the way! Don’t wish for dreams to come true, create the conditions that will allow you to reach your goals.
Maryann Roefaro, 65, has been the chief executive officer at Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York for 23 years until her retirement in February 2025. She is an avid runner who started running at 53 and has completed six marathons and over 50 half marathons.