Who knew? There is a subculture in town of healthy, fit, disciplined, enthusiastic, and committed runners in all stages of development. Some ran in school, some didn't begin until middle aged, some pace themselves entering events all year while others gear up for one big annual event. Many women claim it is the best exercise when tending small children, the men love the camaraderie and everyone agrees setting goals and attaining them is good for the ego and the soul. The actual day of a race has the added bonus of being an exciting outing with friends and family.

"There are eight million stories in the naked city" announced Jack Webb each week at the beginning of Dragnet, the long running TV series. (No pun intended). Following are some facts and stories about several Manhasset neighbors who differ greatly in their approach to running, be it recreational, training for triathlons, or somewhere in between. There are many more runners in town and this is but a sampling.

"We've been doing the Montauk Triathlon as a family for a long time, over 10 years. It is so much fun and it gives us a chance to be together as a family. The night before we have a big pasta dinner, then we all participate in the race, and then discuss it endlessly for days afterwards," said Dudley Goettleman. "George, my husband, usually enters too but he injured his ankle and was on the sidelines this year." Dudley said individual times are not as important as the fun they have participating together, although she did add, "Next year I'm getting a racing bike because everyone was passing me."

"I am relatively new to this," said Greg Papa, who ran in the Montauk Triathlon with the Goettlemans in July. The event consists of a half-mile swim, 16 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run. "Two years ago I did the West Point Spring Triathlon, then Montauk in July and I plan on entering the Mighty Hamptons in September. These will all help me train for the New York City (NYC) Marathon in November, which I will enter for the first time. It is by chance that I participate in these events because I just wanted to stay in shape and they give you incentive to work out after college. I do work out about five to seven times a week. Pain accompanies the effort but it is such a great feeling of accomplishment to finish. The camaraderie is terrific-there is a great bunch of guys competing." Regina Papa, Greg's mom, said they have a lot of fun cheering Greg on and supporting him at the events. Matt Doran also ran the Montauk Triathlon in July and finished in spite of a flat tire.

The distances in the Montauk Triathlon are doubled for the Mighty Montauk, also held in Montauk but in June. This year marked the 23rd anniversary of the race and 661 athletes registered and 536 finished. Peter Klimesko has run the Mighty Montauk four times but not consecutively,-the twins might have something to do with that.

Gail Shefcik has run recreational all her life, then set a goal to run the NYC Marathon which she did in 1998 before starting her family. In 2003 she ran the LI Half Marathon and in 2004 ran the Mighty Montauk. Her husband, Jim, and her two boys were there to cheer her on. "I love to run," said Gail, "and I always wanted to be in a race where they write your number on your arm."

Jimmy Kenny has run the Mighty Montauk 11 times and says it is an unbelievable tradition, so much fun and so many Manhasset people participate. "Timmy Coughlin got me into it," he said, "Timmy was the life blood of the race and since his death in the attack on the World Trade Center I intend to run it each year as a tribute to him. Many others also do it to honor and remember Timmy because he is the one who got them so excited about the race in the first place." Jimmy Kenny said his sister, Christine, who just happens to be married to George Goettleman, Jr., was the seventh woman overall to finish the Mighty Montauk in 2004 and her time in 2003 was 3 hours and 13 minutes. He said Christine ran the NYC Marathon last November and was the 39th American woman to cross the finish line. She is ranked 80th in the world for women.

The Montauk races are not the only game in town. Pam Kenlon ran the LI Half Marathon in May which begins at Eisenhower Park. She ran with Christine O'Connor and Kelly Towers and it was Christine's very first marathon while Kelly had participated prior to starting her family and was easing back into the sport. Pam, too, had run marathons before having children and was getting back into it. "It was fun," Pam said, "we all committed to running in the event and it was so rewarding that it will become an annual event. All our children watched and our husbands and parents were there too. It is a wonderful family day." Pam added that she runs because it is very good for her health and she likes to work out with a purpose. "I like to have a goal. It is also great at this stage of my life to do something together with friends that does not include the children."

George Catallo has run marathons for Tuesday's Children and for Alzheimer's, a disease that affects his father. He has been competing since 1995 when some friends challenged him to enter a race. He got hooked and is still competing, and of course, his time has improved. Two things drive him, it feels good to complete the marathon and usually there is a cause linked to every race. "Southhampton is breast cancer and the race in Port Washington on Father's Day is sponsored by a local group that supports struggling families. Most events cost about $50 to $100." George continued, "I go on line at Nytriathlon.com and search for what races are available and put together a schedule for myself for the year, usually about three races a year. It's a great way to blow off the stress of life."

Paul Petras ran the LI Half Marathon in May at Eisenhower Park and it was raining so he did not bring the family. He and his wife, Laura, have four children under 6 so Laura does not attend many events. Competing in the half marathon was the result of Paul's desire to exercise and to find a group to exercise with. He joined the group that meets at the high school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. and on Sunday at 7 a.m. Another group meets at 5 a.m. because they catch an earlier train. The group began in 1968 as the offshoot of an adult education program and one or two members, Felix Suarez and Joe Fields, are original 1968 members. Some of the members of the group who went to Manhasset High School are: Kurt Kiess '82, Nick Petras '82, Andy Baranello '82, and Chris Maleno '84. "So", Paul Petras said, "in the group there were guys in their '60s and '70s as well as a bunch in their 30's who go out for the fellowship, who are not necessarily athletic but keep up a nice easy pace."

Kurt Kiess ran MHS track 20 years ago and two and a half years ago began running with the Gentleman's Jogging Club that meets at the MHS track. " I needed to attach to a group for the commitment to run, needed to be part of a group,-not just run but meet with the boys. It's a commitment to show up," he said, "but it is also a big social thing. We all help each other out, we're not in competition with each other but with ourselves." When Kurt met with Paul Petras and the group at the high school track and got back into it, he actually "got crazy with it" he said. "In 2002 I ran my first NYC Marathon in 3:21 and in 2003 I ran it in 3:20. Also, in 2003 I placed sixth in the LI Full Marathon with a time of 2:57. I was training for the Boston Marathon but due to severe arthritis in both hips, which I discovered in March of 2004, I'm going to need two hip replacements. I ran 2003 miles by Thanksgiving of 2003. I don't just run marathons,-don't just run one thing, I do them all." Kurt explained that "It's a goal, an emotional goal when you finish, regardless of the time. It is tougher on the guy who runs a five- miler in a very slow time because no one is there to cheer him on at the finish. That runner puts their heart and soul into it and is thrilled just to complete the run." He said "for me it's addictive. It's all about pain management." Kurt also said his family and friends are very supportive. His wife, Nina, has gotten shirts for their three children that say, "Run, Kurt, Run" .

Penni Sodi said running is by far the easiest exercise with young children - and she has three. Eight or nine years ago she ran triathlons like the Fit Hampton in Southampton, but that was before children. She runs a few times a week and works with a trainer with a group of girlfriends once a week. "We have lived here for two years," said Penni, "and it is so nice to see people out running and biking."

Mary Henry did not start running until she graduated from college. Living in the city, she set her sights on the Midnight Run in Central Park , a five mile event held on New Year's Eve. At a party she asked, "Does anyone want to run with me?" That developed into her first date with her husband, Peter, and they continued to participate for 10 -12 years, far longer than they should have, but the tradition was hard to give up. The event takes place on New Year's Eve so there are fireworks at some point and champagne at the water stops. No longer based in the city but living in Manhasset with their young family of four daughters, they would, towards the end, catch a Plandome taxi at 11 p.m., get dropped off at midnight, run and then hop back in the taxi for the ride home. "Now we ski with the family instead," said Mary.

They have not abandoned running altogether. Peter's brothers also like to run and now the family has substituted a new tradition, the Turkey Trot in upstate New York, a 25K run, or 15.5 miles. And Mary has run the LI Half Marathon, a 13.1 mile event, every year she has not been pregnant. Mary had run the full LI Marathon for the first time in 1986 and last year ran the 26.2 mile Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. "Now I am content running the Turkey Trot, LI Half Marathon in May and the Shelter Island 10 K in June which is such a pretty race, it goes by fabulous houses and the people are on the lawns sipping champagne and cheering us on." I'm not that competitive," Mary said, " I run every day because I love it." Peter Henry is training for a half iron man in Montauk in October which consists of a 1.5 mile swim, 50 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run.

Bob Kane has run 10 NYC Marathons in the past 11 years, sidelined in 1999 by knee surgery. He only runs the one marathon all year but claims " it keeps me honest and forces me to get into shape at least once a year." He begins training around Labor Day when he goes from running 0 to 20 miles at a time. He keeps up his training until the first Sunday in November when the run is traditionally held. When and why did he start running the NYC Marathon? Bob is a rugby player and "back when I was 31 and in awesome shape, Rambo shape," he was in the city during that first weekend in November and saw "25,000 people from out of town and overseas parading around in running clothes for the marathon and I felt left out." He also caught a newscast showing runners assembling at the starting line on Staten Island and felt he was in better shape. He grabbed some running gear, his ATM card, didn't worry that the most he had run at one time was eight miles, hailed a cab and joined some runners with numbers who had missed the start. They were filtering into the race at the Verazzano Bridge which was at a point two miles into the race, and he joined them. At the 20- mile marker (18 miles for Bob) he said he had not begun to sweat, had no cramps, felt good and he credits rugby for his being in such good shape. He was permitted to run on the sidelines at the finish to get an official time-4:28. His wife, Linda, made him a paper medal to scale and it hangs with the other nine.

Bob Anastasia assessed different types of runners. "There are those who jog and don't run races, for example, during the summer you see college kids jogging around to stay in shape for their college sport. I'm a decent runner who morphed into a decent marathoner. It is said you only have so many marathons in your body and after you reach that point, and it's different for everyone, you just slow down. It is emotionally and physically draining to stay so focused." Bob has run 17 NYC Marathons and six LI Marathons and plays other sports like basketball in the St. Mary's summer league -"one of the best around. Years ago I could run a marathon and play basketball two days later, but as you get older the recovery time is longer-now I can play basketball in about a week." Bob said he enjoys the Garden City 5 Miler because it is flat and fast and the Port Washington 5 Mile Turkey Trot because it is hilly and more of a challenge. "I'm the only one who has run that Port Washington race every year for the past 28 years," he said. No discussion about running is complete without mentioning Joe Viverito. Joe remembers the NYC Marathon in the early 1970's when it was four loops around Central Park and that it wasn't until 1976 that it encompassed the five boroughs of Manhattan. Joe has run 105 marathons and intends to run the NYC Marathon in November. He runs twice a day, before and after work, and feels it is too important not to do it. "It is exhilarating", he said, "and running is good thinking time, it fosters creativity, is an emotional experience and a huge release." He noted not as many people run as in the past and those that do choose shorter distances. "In my day," he said, "it was not unusual to run in events that were 15, 18 or 31 miles. Today the 5K or 3.1 mile is more common, which no doubt results in less injuries. The running boom was in the mid-70's and running is not as fashionable now," he said. Also, he noticed that today many more women are runners. Joe Viverito has been running since he graduated from college in 1955. Once a week he still runs both 22 miles at Jones Beach, on the grass near the highway, and 10 miles up and down the hill on Beacon Hill Road in Port Washington. Bob Anastasia said, "As far as running is concerned, Joe Viverito is king."