Dave Obelkevich's 50 Years of Finish Lines
Dave Obelkevich is the only person to have run every single 5-boro New York City Marathon. On November 1, he’ll line up once again in Staten Island to cover the course from the start on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the finish in Central Park.
What makes Dave’s feat so extraordinary is his outlook. He’s never been motivated by medals or records. Instead, his streak is an expression of his deep and abiding love of running, New York City, and the people he’s met through the years.
A lifelong runner, Dave watched the 1973 New York City Marathon when it was four-plus loops of Central Park. "I was really inspired,” he said. "I joined the racers for one loop.” He signed up and ran the full race in 1974, crossing the finish line in 4:20:27.
In 1975, Dave started the marathon but dropped out after experiencing to several bouts of dizziness. "Though disappointed, I decided that it was best for my body to stop,” he said.
At the time, Dave wasn’t thinking about building a streak of New York City Marathon finishes, but running in 1976, when the race became a 5-boro affair, was a turning point. "Running across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and through neighborhoods I had never even visited despite living in New York for years, the marathon became more than a race—it became an annual celebration of the city itself,” he said.
"It was astonishing,” Dave added, that along some parts of the route, "the crowds were pressed in so closely that it was impossible to pass the runner in front of me for several miles.”
Dave ran his early marathons at a time when "all the people in the race were serious runners.” He, too, loved to chase fast times, and to this day, his 1982 race means the most to him. "I ran it in 2 hours and 40 minutes!” he said.
Dave has continued to run the New York City Marathon year after year because it allows him to reconnect with an activity that has shaped his life. "I truly love running, and in particular, I love running the TCS New York City Marathon,” he said. “Each year, I have been inspired to train appropriately, meet my goal of finishing, and maintain my historic streak.”
For the past five years, his daughter, Maria, has run by his side from start to finish, and she’ll do so again this year. He was especially grateful for her support in 2025. “At age 82, I battled balance issues as I got more fatigued,” he said. “I got through it thanks to my grit and Maria being an outstanding guide and support.”
Dave’s entire family backs his New York City Marathon streak. "My family is so proud of me, and their love and support means the world to me,” he said. "My wife and two grandsons will hopefully see us on the course. Other family members will be tracking us online.”
Dave’s streak might have ended about 25 years ago had his wife not intervened. "I had applied for the race as usual and was heartbroken to get a letter declining my entry," he said. "My wife, Lyn, wrote a letter to NYRR about the streak I held at that point, and my entry was then granted.” Shortly after, he added, New York Road Runners began a policy of guaranteed entry for runners with 15 or more finishes.
In 2020, Dave suffered a life-threatening aortic aneurysm that required emergency surgery and weeks in intensive care. He painstakingly rebuilt his strength, and a year later, he completed the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon.
There’s one constant, he said: "The elation each person experiences as they cross the finish line! For many people, it’s a life-changing event, and forever they can say, 'I am a marathoner!’”
Dave is determined to cross the finish line as many times as possible. “I will let my body tell me when my streak is up,” he said, “and I hope that is a long time from now.”
Dave is part of Team Inspire, a diverse group of marathon athletes with compelling stories. Each story represents one mile of the iconic 26.2-mile course of the TCS New York City Marathon.
Check out our video about Dave in our TCS New York City Marathon Course Experience Video Seriessegment below.