It’s Never Too Late
Marjorie Kagan
Every first-time marathoner lining up on Staten Island will have a different reason for taking on the 26.2-mile challenge: some are lacing up in support of a good cause, and others want to show the world that they’re up to the task. Both of those describe Marjorie Kagan—and at age 81, she may be the oldest newbie in the pack.
Kagan lost her husband of 33 years in 2007—so she got a dog to cope with her loneliness. Kagan and her puggle, Tzvi (the name means “deer” in Hebrew), began taking long walks, eventually finding their way to the dog run in Central Park. There, she befriended Yumi Ogita, a 2:50 marathoner with eight New York finishes under her belt.
“I needed a challenge,” Kagan explains, “and Yumi convinced me not just to take up running, but to run a marathon!” She joined NYRR’s Team for Kids, which raises funds to provide free and low-cost phys-ed programs to kids in underserved public schools. A retired teacher, Kagan is committed to TFK’s mission, and she’s grateful for the structure and support they provide.
In the five shorter races she’s run, Kagan has taken the top age-group prize in all but one. She attributes her success to hard work, and a little luck. “I wouldn’t miss a workout, and I always wear my lucky socks,” says Kagan. “I won my very first race in them, and I’ll definitely be wearing them on November 6!”
