When Joel Kaufman of Queens crossed the finish line at last year’s TCS New York City Marathon after 8 p.m.—long after the crowds had cleared—he earned a unique distinction.
“I got a call from the New York Road Runners,” Kaufman told The Post. “They said, ‘You were the last official finisher.’ I thought, ‘That’s kind of cool. It’s a title no one can take from me.’ It’s not like being the 57,000th winner.”
At 66 years old, Kaufman completed the race in 8 hours, 43 minutes, and 34 seconds—averaging just under 20 minutes per mile. Despite it being his slowest time in the 10 years he’s walked the marathon, it marked another step in his journey supporting blood cancer patients.
Known by the nickname “Whammy,” the retired high school math teacher will return this Sunday, this time starting two hours earlier to honor his inspirational dedication.
“I’ll begin at 9:10 a.m., just after the elite runners,” Kaufman said. “I’ll stay far right on the road, wearing my cape, and 50,000 runners will be flying past me shouting, ‘On your left!’”
Kaufman’s signature cape showcases photos of leukemia patients and donors who’ve helped him raise over $150,000. He also wears symbolic gear: an American flag headband, a Star of David, a dog tag demanding the return of Israeli hostages, a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training shirt, and a colorful anklet representing a friend’s recovery from a stem cell transplant.
Inspired to walk marathons by a childhood friend who lost a battle with leukemia, Kaufman first completed the NYC race in 2015 in 7 hours, 40 minutes. A regular hiker, he found that marathon training gave his retirement purpose and structure.
He’s since completed races in London, Chicago, and at Disney World. His preferred training routine is walking five miles every other day to minimize injury risk.
While his fastest NYC finish is 6 hours and 53 minutes (in 2017), his dream is to complete the race in 6 hours and 30 minutes. Participants must finish by 10 p.m., regardless of start time.
Kaufman always comes prepared. He carries his own snacks—pretzels, protein bars, and Fig Newtons—and a water bottle, just in case aid stations run dry. He also brings music, though his player’s battery only lasts five hours.
He tries to strike up conversations with fellow participants during the long hours on course. But once he reaches the Bronx, it turns into what he calls a “zombie walk.”
“By that point, it’s dark, and people in the bars on First Avenue barely notice,” he said. “A few will shout encouragement. Once someone yelled, ‘You can run!’ And I said, ‘You can shut up.’ I think that was around mile 16 or 17.”
Despite ranking 51,266 out of 51,348 finishers last year, Kaufman accomplished his goal: “To finish and live.”
The NYRR confirmed to The Post that while some finishers behind Kaufman spent more time on the course, they had started earlier—making Kaufman the final official finisher.
This year, he’ll begin the race in the first wave as part of Team Inspire—a group of 26 runners, each chosen to represent one mile of the marathon for their compelling stories.
Kaufman says he’s not done yet.
“There’s no reason to stop,” he said. “I’m just getting started.”
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Image Source : nypost.com