New Flyer Profile: Michael Rabin

Michael R

How did I find the Flyers? I’m a professor at Parsons design school and a group of my students is doing a project on making Central Park more runner-friendly. As a frequent park runner I was very curious about their work and learned, though them, about various running clubs in NYC. I became interested in joining one myself and after some of my own research discovered the Flyers. The club seemed like the right mix of fun and running passion. The Flyers web site was the cincher, though. Great content! I joined a month or so ago and have been really enjoying the people, activities and attitude.

What’s my relationship with running? I began running in my early 20’s, was mostly dormant in my 30’s (childrearing fatigue) and resumed running in my 40’s. I ran my first marathon four years ago; the year I turned 50. I saw it as a one-time adventure (to cross off the list) and met my goal of running the whole course and crossing the finish line in one piece. Though I broke no records, I was pleased with the outcome. A few months later I went for a routine annual physical expecting nothing significant. My doctor ran an EKG and noted that it had changed a bit from the previous year's. With no cardiac symptoms (no dizziness, no shortness of breath, no chest pains) or risk factors (no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, no smoking, no obesity - and I’m fit) she said it was probably nothing, but would feel more comfortable if I ran it by a cardiologist. The cardiologist was not concerned though she followed up. After successive tests and within days she told me, in a new urgent tone, that I needed to be in the hospital NOW. The next day the surgeon discovered coronary blockage and inserted four stents. He said, "You were the guy who was going to go out running one day, drop dead, and no one would understand why."

After digesting it all, and with the doctor’s blessing, I resolved to run the New York City Marathon again for two reasons: 1) to test the new plumbing, and 2) as an act of defiance and affirmation. The hardware worked well and I shaved 1 hour and 14 minutes off of my previous year's time.

Since then I’ve run four more marathons for a total of six: four in NYC and two in San Francisco. Each successive year I knock off a minute or two and each marathon represents a celebration of life for me. In fact, every time I run any distance I end it with an appreciation for all of life’s moments and a special appreciation for NYRR’s motto “Run for Life.”

What’s next? I’m training for the NYC and SF marathons again this year. I’m also leaving Parsons after this semester to pursue my new passion as a Life Coach. I’ll be preparing a Flyers blog entry about the student project mentioned above. Look for it in a few weeks!

- Michael R.