David Obelkevich: New York Road Runners Say He's Only Person to Finish Every NYC Marathon Since 1976

Fewer than one percent of the global population has ever run a marathon since the year 2000, according to estimates from running organizations. For 83-year-old Upper West Sider David Obelkevich, that milestone is about to become a 116-time reality.

A Five-Borough Legacy Dating Back to 1976

When the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon kicks off, Obelkevich will toe the starting line for the event. According to the New York Road Runners, he stands alone as the only person to complete every single New York City Marathon since the course expanded to all five boroughs in 1976.

From Central Park Laps to Global Endurance

Growing up in an active family in Binghamton, New York, Obelkevich moved to New York City in the 1960s to attend Columbia University. He ran his very first marathon on a whim in 1974, back when the grueling 26.2-mile course was confined entirely to the pathways of Central Park. That spontaneous decision launched a multi-decade endurance journey that eventually pushed his total marathon count well into the hundreds when including races completed in cities like Boston and Tokyo.

David Obelkevich: New York Road Runners Say He's Only Person to Finish Every NYC Marathon Since 1976

Overcoming Hurdles and Chasing Memories

Through decades of early morning training, his pace naturally shifted. Obelkevich recalls his personal best clocking in at two hours and 40 minutes back in 1982, eight years after his debut. Though those peak competitive numbers are behind him, his streak pressed forward through significant physical hurdles, including an uninterrupted continuation following a blood clot in his leg in 2020.

Community Bonds and Finding Love on the Course

Beyond the medals and the milestones, the former public school teacher, father, and grandfather credits the human connections along the course as his primary fuel. Community members, including the mayor's wife Lyn, were present at the event.

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Obelkevich explained that because she was heading in his direction while he ascended, he greeted her with ‘Hi Lyn,’ prompting her reply of ‘Hi Dave,’ and noted how that brief interaction blossomed into romance. “Fell in love with her during that date.”

Stripping Away the Clock for the Ultimate Goal

For runners stepping up to the starting line for the first time, his philosophy strips away the pressure of the clock. Finishing is the only metric that truly counts, regardless of the pace.

“If I run a quarter of a mile, I get completely out of breath. So my walking is going to be what I do in the marathon,” Obelkevich noted with a chuckle while taking a recent stroll through Central Park. “That’s OK. Other people walk too… Anyone can start it, but it takes a good person to finish.”