As a cold wind whipped around them and enthusiastic crowds cheered them on, more than 23 runners from the Port Washington area, some first-time marathoners, others, returning athletes, ran the 26-mile New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7. An annual event that draws athletes from all over the world and one that even non-runners anticipate eagerly, the course takes the runners through each of the five boroughs and over several bridges, including the Verrazano and the 59th Street Bridge. We caught up (eventually) with some of Port's finest, to offer our congratulations and register their impressions of this year's NYC Marathon.

"Exuberant and exhausted" is how athlete Jill Gold described how she felt at the end of the Marathon. Slowed somewhat by knee pain, this Port Washington resident still impressively placed 525 out of 9,000 female runners. "When it gets tough, you push through," Ms. Gold explained, adding that "it is always inspiring to see the Achilles Track Club -- all of whom are disabled athletes -- in the Marathon." There might just be other family members joining Jill Gold in future marathons: middle son Adam is running cross-country at Weber Middle School and is showing interest.

This was writer Dan Paisner's eighth consecutive marathon, all the more amazing for someone who considered himself "the slowest kid in my gym class." We asked what was the best part of this year's NYC Marathon. "It was a nice day," Dan answered, "with very enthusiastic and supportive crowds." To train, Dan said he logs forty to fifty miles per week in the three or four months leading up to the race. He enjoys running all over scenic Port, and votes the Town Dock's water fountain as the best tasting one of all.

Dan trained for this year's race with first-timer John Marx. Would John do it again? "Absolutely!" he answered. John took up running less than two years ago, but now he's hooked; Bostonians will see him in their city's marathon in April. He found the hardest part of the NYC race to have been the last seven or eight miles, but the views from the bridges were breathtaking. His family -- wife Liz, and children Jackie, Johnny, and David -- were there to cheer him on, though baby Robbie had to stay at home with the sitter.

Port is proud of all its marathon runners and congratulates each one, many of whom are listed below:

Paul Aloe

Nancy Bolger

Mary Connelly

Eric Evans

Tina Fuchs

Orlando Gamboa

Jill Gold

Toshiki Hiraoka

William Hohauser

Kenji Ito

Stephen Latzman

Michael Leoce

John Marx

Maricar Marquez

Scott McCoy

Raymond Minicucci

Sutini Ngadiman

Daniel P

aisner

Karen Rasin

David Schwartz

William Soter

Norihisa Sumiya

Jonathan Tyras