Staten Island runners would consistently recognize a voice from the speaker system at the Tavern on the Green finish line from 1976, when the NYC Marathon first passed through the five boroughs, until the late 1990s.
The late Kurt Steiner remarked on the microphone, “Runners, if you hear me, you can take a four-hour break!” to the runners who were finishing up.
Alternatively, three, four, five, or even more minutes and seconds!
New York Road Runner pioneers Allan Steinfeld, Fred Lebow, and Joe Kleinerman are pictured on the left, joining the late Kurt Steiner on the right. Then, in the background, is Jeff Benjamin, president of the Staten Island Athletic Club. (Photo by SIRA)The Staten Island Running Association
Throughout the past century, Steiner, one of the founders of the New York Road Runners and a 99-marathon runner himself, has been a frequent announcer at local Staten Island races, always encouraging with his distinctive rich Austrian accent. An annual Kurt Steiner voice sound-alike competition was also held by the former Pepper Martin Fourth of July 5-mile race crew, which was led by Michael McVey and Mike Brennan. McVey would win the championship at least once.
Following Steiner’s death in 1993, the Staten Island Athletic Club added his name to the lineup of the annual SIAC Fun Run Championships, which is being held today, alongside local Island running legend Vinnie Hutton.
Since 2004, runners in Central Park have also been urged on by a well-known voice in the classic Steiner matter, notwithstanding the accent.
Nearly 20 of the marathons and other NYRR races on the local calendar have been publicized by local resident Dave Cugini.
Cugini, who is also the principal of Susan E. Wagner High School, stated that it would be 20. However, due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and COVID in 2020, the event was canceled.
From Kurt to Dave, the mission of motivating runners to complete is a genuinely admirable undertaking and a gift that is still going strong today.
The Staten Island Athletic Club’s news
SIAC announces that Mark Vogt, who passed away earlier this year, will receive the 2024 Lou Marli Memorial Service Award posthumously. The Lou Marli Award is bestowed to an individual or organization which has dedicated a large part of their life to promoting running in the Staten Island running community. The flyer below has all the details.
On Saturday, February 8th, the Staten Island Athletic Club will host its awards ceremony.
Returning to Ocean Breeze are the USATF Indoor Nationals.
The local Ocean Breeze Indoor track facility is once again hosting the annual 2025 USATF Indoor Nationals, which will also be televised on NBC.
The 2025 USATF Indoor Nationals will be taking place locally here at the Ocean Breeze Indoor Track and Field Facility on February 22nd and 23rd!Track & Field in the USA
The event, which was last held here in 2019, returns this year along with the caveat of it being the selecting meet for Americans to go on to compete in the 2025 Indoor World championships!
Stay tuned for more info and to purchase tickets please go tohttps://www.usatf.org/events/2025/2025-usatf-indoor-championships
Monthly trivia contest sponsored by ASICS & JAMBAR!
Please submit your answer to my email below. All correct answers will then be put into a lot where two winners will be drawn randomly. One winner receives a pair of ASICS running shoes and the second a free 12 Bar Variety box ofJAMBARenergy bars.
Congrats to last month s winners Jason Berg (ASICS) and Anita Weisenfeld (Jambar).
This month s question
Since the late Pepper Martin event was mentioned in the beginning of the article, what was Staten Islander Pepper Martin s real first name?
Good luck and see you all next month. Keep running!
Questions, comments, upcoming news? Please feel free to email Jeff [email protected]
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