"Around Labor Day of 2019, I had to go into the hospital for open-heart surgery. That was quite unexpected. Totally unexpected. Didn't realize that. I had no signs of anything going wrong with my body. I was actually training to do the Ragnar Napa with a bunch of friends. We were going to go out there and revisit our old ultra team. A bunch of old geezers were going to go out and run this race so I was training for that. I just happened to go into the doctors for a checkup. One thing led to another and I found out I had a major aneurysm on my aorta and that needed to be taken care of right away. I spent Labor Day weekend getting that tended to. When I got out of the hospital, I got back out to Montauk and started rehabbing and walking. My last visit to the doctor, which was around November maybe, they gave me a thumbs up that I could start training and running. So I have this big bodacious goal to run the 2020 marathon in New York."
After consulting with some of our listeners, we heard you want more uplifting and inspirational stories in these uncertain times so we decided to catch up with one of the most familiar and friendliest voices that New York City runners may be familiar with. Former New York Road Runners director of events and New York City Marathon race director Peter Ciaccia joins the show.
Ciaccia retired from his role with NYRR after 18 years following the 2018 New York City Marathon. Ciaccia started becoming a fixture at the start and finish of races when Mary Wittenberg left NYRR in May 2015 and he was promoted. His "Good morning, runners!' and "Do I have clearance on the roadways?" were staples at the start of races. In his time with the organization, he was a leader who helped innovate and improve races. We'll go back to his family's roots in Italy, his childhood in the Bronx, his introduction to sport, his love and passion for music and how he brought those talents to event planning.
Whether you were winning local races or among the final finishers, Peter was always one of the biggest cheerleaders for everyone's race experience.
We also ask him about how he's processing all the news regarding the coronavirus and what it would take for him to feel safe at a race.
▶ Follow Peter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peter_ciaccia/
Support for this episode comes from FICS NYC (206 West 23rd Street, 3rd Floor) a fitness recovery and wellness studio. FICS is among the many places that have had to close their doors due to the COVI-19 pandemic. The fitness inspired calibration recovery studio is still offering 15-minute virtual chiropractic consultations with Dr. Duma so that you can continue to stay healthy while you're at home. She's worked with runners of all levels and members of the U.S. Olympic fencing team so you're in good hands. To schedule your appointment, you can call them at 646-241-4948 or email [email protected]. When they re-open you can use code RUNNERSOFNYC to get 20% off all services, packages and memberships (only for first month). First-time users also get their choice of one modality for free on their initial visit. | https://ficsnyc.com/
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