Medgar Evers College Marathon Man

Long-time employee completes third New York City race

John-Conrad Ste. Marthe recently completed his third New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5, with a time of 6 hours and 34 minutes. Ste. Marthe, an administrative events manager who has been a part of the Events Management & Space Reservations Department at Medgar Evers College for the past seven years, bettered his time by five minutes over last year. For the St. Lucian native, running provided a respite and helped him grieve when he lost a parent back in 2020.

“After the loss of my mother during Covid-19, I kind of slumped into a dark place,” Ste. Marthe admitted. “A friend of mine recommended running so I joined this running club. I showed up and they told me I couldn’t run and that they had to teach me how to run. They told me I had to walk first so I walked the first three weeks we met, which was three times a week for three weeks before they allowed me to run.”

The Westchester resident got his start when he connected with the Bronx-based Creative Living Running Club, an all-Dominican outfit where Spanish is the main mode of communication. Language has not proven to be a barrier for the 68-year-old runner, who has deeply invested himself into this new running lifestyle that finds him running three times a week—four to six miles twice during the weekday and between 10 and 12 miles at a time on the weekends (the mileage ups to between 18 and 20 miles per session as the marathon gets closer).

“I’m the only English-speaking guy and they post all day long and all night long and it’s all in Spanish,” Ste. Marthe explained. “We’re just like a family. When I don’t understand, I ask and they translate for me. I think there are least 50 or 60 registered members, but there are 25 of us who are very active. We train at least three times a week and we run a lot in Central Park on Sundays.”

While Ste.Marthe ran a virtual New York City Marathon set up by New York Road Runners race organizers in 2021 due to the pandemic, last year saw him run his first in-person marathon. As a first-timer, Ste. Marthe’s approach towards hydration and training led to his winding up in the medical tent right after completing the run. It’s a mistake he sought to avoid this year and started with his taking the prior week off to focus and avoid last year’s by altering his mental and physical approach.

“I took the week off, so I could set settling my mind, relaxing and isolating myself—even at home,” Ste. Marthe said. “I started on a huge hydration regimen—drinking six 16-ounce bottles of water a day and then towards the end, I finished my hydration with an electrolyte drink—I had about four a day. On marathon day, I woke up early at 4 a.m. and had breakfast at 4:30 a.m. I had some oatmeal and an energy drink and an energy bar. I took with me to the venue some cooked Udon noodles that I had an hour before the race. When I crossed the finish line last year, I was 100 percent dehydrated. It was not a good feeling and it was not a good experience. I vowed that I would read and learn more. I took two chewable salt pills this year and drank pickle juice for sodium during the race. It’s amazing how much better I felt when I crossed the finish line this time versus last year, when I felt like I came out of the ring with Mike Tyson.”

Ste. Marthe’s accomplishments are all the more impressive given that he’s a Type 2 diabetic. But even with this kind of a health obstacle, running has proven to be a remedy for any physical or emotional issues he might be grappling with from one week to the next. In the end, running has taught Ste. Marthe lessons he didn’t expect to learn.

“My body and my health has really benefited from this activity,” Ste. Marthe said. “My doctors give me kudos. I have also met some of the most wonderful people and made some really nice friends. [Running] has taught me the power of the human spirit and it has unleashed in me a power that I never imagined possible. I believe that I’ve learned to embrace discomfort when I run—uncertainty and it has led me to embark on a journey of self-recovery and personal growth.”