Zucker Sets 50 Mile Record

by AJ de Saint Phalle

Zeke Zucker recently won the 42nd annual J.F.K. 50 mile race, besting
the record in the veterans division by a full two minutes. It was held
in Williamsport, MD. There were 1,026 entrants and 876 official
finishers from 44 states, Washington D.C. and six countries. The race
was held November 20.
The John F. Kennedy race was established in the early '60s as part of
the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness' program.
"This kind of race doesn't have a whole lot of glory. It's a fairly
small fraternity...the people are less taken with themselves than 5K and
10K racers," said Zucker.
Zucker won the senior men's (50-59) division last year. He said he felt
like he had an albatross around his neck going into this year's event,
especially when race director Mike Spinnler was quoted in the Hagerstown
Daily Mail saying, "Zeke has all these 60 and over guys shaking in their
boots." Zucker said "It's not my style to do the Babe Ruth thing and
point to the stands."
Additional pressure was there due to the fact that Zucker had "kind of
slacked off" during the weeks prior to the race. "I know the splits, and
all through the race I was perilously close, within one minute, to
beating the record."
Asked what he thinks about for nearly eight hours of running, Zucker
said, "You find yourself periodically occupied with individual duels,
and then due to the slower pace (average 9.28 mph) you do a lot of
chatting, like you're sitting next to somebody on a bus."
The race began with 2.5 miles of "relentlessly uphill" pavement, then
joins the "limpy-bumpy" Appalachian Trail for 13 miles, before joining
up with the "totally flat" Chesapeake and Ohio Barge Canal Tow Path for
26.4 miles. Zucker said that he was physically "done" as he faced the
final 8.4 mile uphill climb. But he kept pushing, and remembers finally
hearing Spinnler scream, "You did it! You're in the record book!" as he
crossed the finish line. "I was elated, cold due to the rain, absolutely
exhausted, but still able to walk," said Zucker.
Zeke's final time was 7:53:10.
The 60 year old Vermonter has been working for 12 years at the nordic
center at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, where he has been
the director since 1998. During what he calls the "swing season," Zucker
works as a consultant for Elite Racing in San Diego, staging
music-themed marathons all over the United States. And in between
events, he also works as a step-on guide for Greg Martell Express, doing
"Taste of Vermont" day trips.
A retired Navy Commander, Zucker says he's not going to retire from
running just yet, and since he likes to mix it up, he's not sure if
he''ll do the J.F.K again next year.
Zucker enthusiastically invites you to join him January 8 at the
Smugglers' Notch Resort for free cross country and snowshoeing from 1-4
p.m., all part of national "Winter Trails Day." Please call 644-1173 for
more information.