30 years after his last race, runner Saul Schachter makes his return
My love of running — particularly on Long Island — began in high school. I was on the baseball team and wasn’t playing much, so I asked the coaches if I could switch to the track team. The coaches agreed to the move.
“Well, we have a meet tomorrow,” said the track coach. “You can be the anchor on our 440 relay team.” I had never practiced with the team and had no running shoes, only an old pair of Keds sneakers. But I agreed.
The next day, I had a 20-second lesson on how to run and receive the baton — and we were off! There were four teams, four runners per team, and by the time I was handed the baton, we were in third place. I didn’t know the rules of running or how to pace myself, I just ran! And I started passing the other runners.
Entering the homestretch, I had one runner to beat — and at the end, I did. First place for our team!
From there, I participated in Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving in Port Washington and Garden City. When I ran with a cold, it always seemed to clear out my sinuses better than any medicine.
The next summer, I ran in Eisenhower Park’s weekly Monday night 10-mile runs. I went on to compete in seven marathons — two on Long Island — and 12 local half-marathons.
Later on, when I was 35, I hurt my back. Badly. Three bulging discs, and my running career apparently was over.
I was initially despondent. What was I going to do for exercise? Biking filled the void a bit, but I missed my running.
Thirty years later, when COVID-19 hit, I decided to jog on our local high school track. It had a nice, cushiony surface. I ran two miles — without pain! I felt like a kid again!
I decided to enter the annual Nicholas Pedone 5k (3.1 miles) run that starts at Glen Cove High School. But I was nervous. Would my back hold up running a longer distance on the street’s hard surface? I decided to give it a try, joining a few hundred other hearty souls.
My pace was slow — I ended up averaging 14 minutes a mile — but I felt fine. However, when I was approaching the three-mile point, and with a daunting hill ahead, I started to weaken. I made it to the top and was tired, but saw around the bend a straightaway to the finish line where a cheering crowd awaited us. I could stagger in, but that would not do.
Somehow, I put on a burst of speed and sprinted. I felt like an Olympic runner. I passed one runner, then two more. I came in, arms raised triumphantly, an announcer called out, “And here’s Saul Schachter from Sea Cliff finishing with a smile!”
I didn’t win my age group. I would have barely won the 80-85-year-old age category. But 30 years after my previous race, it was nice to be back!
Saul Schachter
Sea Cliff
Rain forecast for LI ... Jessica Tisch named NYPD commissioner ... Stella Ristorante closing ... Planning a Thanksgiving dinner
Rain forecast for LI ... Jessica Tisch named NYPD commissioner ... Stella Ristorante closing ... Planning a Thanksgiving dinner