Nick
1st New York City Marathon
After sailing in the Merchant Marine and spending eight years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Nick is excited to join United Way of Long Island’s Team Mission United in support of veterans and Long Islanders affected by COVID-19 ahead of this fall's New York City Marathon.
A Lindenhurst native, Nick attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy before sailing on commercial oil tankers for six years. Though he wasn’t active duty, he supported the troops by delivering tanks and MRAPS to U.S. forces in Kuwait. As Nick trains for the New York City Marathon, he is fueled by a desire to help others who have served.
“A lot of really close friends of mine are either active duty or veterans, so it’s definitely close to the chest for me,” Nick said. “Veterans give up so much for our freedoms, so I’m just giving back to a community that has given so much to us. I know COVID-19 has been especially hard on them over the past year, so I’m hoping to help out.”
Nick was a competitive swimmer growing up, but when his aspirations began stretching beyond the pool about 10 years ago, he discovered triathlons. He’s since completed four Half Ironman Triathlons and one Ironman Triathlon, and he’s training for a second this fall. One full Ironman race consists of a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bicycle ride and 26.2-mile run, all completed in the same day.
As a Principal System Operating Procedure Coordinator at National Grid, staying active helps Nick keep busy while he isn’t at the office. He’s also currently working towards a Master of Business Administration degree at SUNY Oswego. Training for Ironman Triathlons and the New York City Marathon provides Nick a goal-oriented mission in life, similar to the time he spent as a Merchant Marine and in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
In past years, Nick has been a spectator at the New York City Marathon multiple times. He’s excited not only to be on the other side of the barricades this fall, but to be running for a cause that has shaped his life.
