Valley Streamer places 17th in L.I. race

Running is a way of life for Joe Paraszczuk. The college student from Valley Stream recently finished 17th out of more than 550 participants in the Long Island Marathon.

The race through central Nassau County was held on May 2. Paraszczuk, who just completed his sophomore year at York College, decided he wanted to run his first marathon near home, after contemplating running in the Pittsburgh Marathon with his roommate.

Paraszczuk graduated from North High School in 2008, wrapping up a four-year career on the varsity track and cross-country teams. He also runs for the track and cross-country teams at York.

The 26.2-mile marathon eclipsed Paraszczuk’s personal best for distance. He said the most he ever ran before was 14 miles. When he hit mile 14 on the Long Island Marathon, Paraszczuk said he started to struggle a little bit but got a second wind around mile 16. He completed the course in 3:11:48.

“From mile 21 to the end, it was pretty hard,” he said. “It was physically exhausting.” Fortunately, Paraszczuk said, a friend jumped on and ran beside him for about four miles near the end of the race to keep him motivated. Paraszczuk then finished the last half-mile by himself.

The course was very flat, he said, which made it easy in that regard. But the most difficult stretch was along the Wantagh Parkway, which Paraszczuk said was very long, didn’t have much too look at and had few spectators. He did get a pleasant surprise along the route when one of his teammates from York popped out of the woods along the parkway to cheer him on.

Paraszczuk’s former coach in Valley Stream, Michael Frazer, used to run in the Long Island Marathon. Paraszczuk remembers when Frazer would prepare for the annual run and the players would often go running with him. Then, they would go watch their coach in the marathon, usually staking out a spot around the second mile mark on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard.

After Paraszczuk completed the marathon, he got a call from Frazer. “I was especially nice for him to congratulate me,” Paraszczuk said, “because I idolize him.”

Frazer, who finished as high as 19th in the marathon in 2007, said he shared his experiences with his former runner. He was pleased to hear that Paraszczuk not only entered the marathon, but did well. “Joe was the integral fifth man on our cross -country team in 2007, which won North’s first ever cross-country Nassau County title,” Frazer said. “I can see how many times students look up to their teachers as role models and motivators, but in this case Joe was, and still is, an inspiration to me and my coaching staff.”

Paraszczuk’s other mentor is his grandfather, a high school runner back in the 1940s. Although his grandfather didn’t get to see him race, Paraszczuk said he came to the house afterwards to congratulate him. “For him to tell me he was proud of me,” Paraszczuk said, “it meant a lot.”

After the race and a few congratulations at home, Paraszczuk packed his bags and headed back to York College that afternoon with some friends, to finish up his last two weeks of classes. His is majoring in history and geography.

Paraszczuk said he is hoping to do another marathon in the fall. He plans on participating in the Long Island race again next year, and hopes to bring his time under three hours.