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Running down a dream

Lake Clear resident fulfills long-time goal of finishing NYC Marathon

Lake Clear resident Sue Homa shows off her New York City Marathon finisher’s medal and hat in Saranac Lake earlier this week. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

SARANAC LAKE — Nine years ago, Sue Homa ran a 5-kilometer fun run. That didn’t seem like much, but less than a decade later she finished one of the largest marathons in the world, crossing the finish line in a race with more than 50,000 other people.

Homa, who lives in Lake Clear with her two kids, finished the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4 in 43,983rd place out of 52,703 finishers. And while she didn’t set any speed records, Homa said the experience has helped in her professional life and inspired her kids to try and replicate the accomplishment.

After about six months of training, Homa and her kids — Elle, 12, and Cole, 14 — made the trip to New York the first weekend this month. Homa completed the Lake Placid Half Marathon several years ago, but took some time off from running to get a degree in massage therapy. She said the biggest issue in training, especially as a single mom, was finding the time.

“That really is the mental thing; figuring out your week (and) when you’re going to fit your running in,” she said. “I ran in town for my longer runs so I could come back to my car and get some water and some electrolyte stuff and then keep going.

“And then towards the end, it’s more time. So that was pretty much the biggest thing.”

Sue Homa, of Lake Clear, runs in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. (Photo provided)

Homa said that despite working full time, studying to be a yoga instructor and being a parent, Cole and Elle were her biggest supporters through the whole process.

“They both want to run the New York City Marathon now,” she said. “My daughter will be 18 in six years on the day the marathon will be, so she wants to run it on that day when she’s 18 (and) Cole will be 20.

“So I’m going to do it again.”

The NYC Marathon is not like smaller races where anyone can sign up and pay the entry fee. Homa qualified for the race by raising money for Team for Kids, which is a national charity that provides entry to marathons around the world. Homa said one of the biggest benefits — aside from the relatively easy entry — is that TFK had its own tents at the start and finish.

TFK raises money to provide athletic opportunities for kids that may not otherwise get them, including more than 100,000 kids in New York City alone. The charity’s website says runners have raised more than $67 million since 2002.

In addition to raising money for TFK, Homa said the beginning of the race is lined with bins to collect runners’ clothes as they start to warm up. Runners shed layers into the bins, and the clothes are then donated around New York.

Although the NYC Marathon is massive, Homa said there was a real community feel to the whole thing.

“It was just super, super exciting,” she said. “The crowds were fantastic. There were bands, there were choirs singing, people had these big signs. And I had my name on the front of my shirt so people were like ‘Go Sue!’ ‘You got this Sue!’ so it was really incredible.

“I really felt like an athlete running that, it was just unbelievable.”

Homa said she was surprised by some people’s leisurely attitude during the race.

“You’d crest from a hill, and you’d just see a sea of people. It never ended. You’d have to side-step between people,” she laughed. “People were taking pictures, so I’m thinking that everyone is running the same pace, and then it’s like they’re not even running anymore.”

During training, Homa’s longest runs capped out at about 20 miles, and she said getting past that mark led to an emotional release.

“I think I got the most emotional after I passed 20 miles, because that’s the farthest I had run,” she said. “So I was at 22 miles and all of a sudden the emotion kind of caught me. I was starting to hyperventilate, and I was like ‘Gotta keep it together or you’re not going to finish.’

“People were calling my name and you’re running through Central Park and it was really unbelievable. It was the coolest experience (and) I can’t wait to do it again.

“You just feel so present and in the moment,” she continued. “People are so excited for you, people you don’t even know are calling your name.”

Homa finished the race in 5 hours, 32 minutes and 52 seconds, and said that she ran with many of the same people through the race.

“It was just a really good atmosphere,” she said. “People of all sizes, all age groups. I’d pass people and I’d stop and stretch and then get passed by those same people. It was light and uplifting. Just good vibes the whole time.

“You really felt like you were part of something. If I only did one (marathon), that would be the one I wanted to do.”

Homa said she thinks she could do two marathons each year, and is eyeing next year’s Lake Placid Marathon already. She said that anyone who has considered a marathon should not think twice and just sign up.

“Just do it,” she said. “Don’t over-think it. Don’t hesitate if it’s something you want to do.”

Long endurance events like marathons often have people holding memorable signs along the route, and Homa said one in particular stood out.

“My favorite said ‘Find a cute butt and follow it,'” she laughed. “I hope people were following me.”

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