Marathon Mom Sits One Out
Jen Lepori
Fifth grade teacher Jen Lepori, 37, knows a thing or two about the ING New York City Marathon—she’s run it five times. “It’s the biggest, it’s the best, it’s my hometown race,” the New Jersey resident explains. But instead of toeing the line on Staten Island November 6, Lepori will be hollering from the sidewalk—she’s expecting her second child in February—and as a veteran marathoner and spectator, she’s got some valuable tips for the 2 million strong peanut gallery.
“It’s easier for a runner to find you in the crowd than for you to find a runner,” she says. “My sister ran one year, and we wrote her name on a Winnie the Pooh balloon—she found us all along the course.” Lepori’s teammates from Athena NY will spot her three times: on Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, and in Manhattan on First Avenue and in Central Park. “Brooklyn is less crowded, so it’s a great place to see the race take shape. But by the time people get to Central Park, they really, really need to hear from you,” she advises.
Lepori’s top tip? “One year my sister and I cheered for my husband, and we bought little plastic stools from a bodega near the course. We sat on them while we waited in Brooklyn, then stood on them to see over the crowds in Manhattan. Best $2 I ever spent!”
Next year, climb up on your $2 stool and look for Lepori among the sneaker-clad speed demons. “I ran a PR in New York [3:23] after my first baby, so I’m really excited to get back out there!”
