Thirty-one years, 25 marathons, more than 100 road races, three children and two neck surgeries later, Carol Marinaccio ran her 26th marathon this past Sunday in New York City at the age of 55. She was one of 39,000 runners who participated in the marathon. Marinaccio, a Trumbull resident who works for the Norwalk Public School system as a grants administrator, began running marathons to initiate a lifestyle change. Living an unhealthy lifestyle began to frustrate Marinaccio and she made the decision to start training for marathons, eating healthier and quit smoking. She has competed in marathons around the country, including in New York City, Chicago, Indiana, Boston and Massachusetts. In 1976, she competed in her first marathon at age 24 in Silver Lake, Mass. Before that race, she had never run more than six miles in her lifetime. "To train for my first marathon, I just went out and ran 26 miles three weeks before the race," Marinaccio said. "I was never an athlete or a runner and my goal for the marathon was just to finish it." At Sunday's marathon, Marinaccio was running, not just for a sense of accomplishment, but for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp charity, established by actor Paul Newman and located in Ashford, Conn.

The charity offers summer camp for children in elementary school children to high school who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. On Saturday night, the eve of the marathon, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp held a reception at the East Side Marriott for the 227 runners participating for this charity. Newman, a surprise guest speaker, talked about how proud he was of the participants in the run for the charity. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp also showed a video of the summer camp and the children who participated, which inspired and touched Marinaccio and her fellow runners. The participants running for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp surpassed their original goal of $700,000, raising $928,000 for the organization and gaining the knowledge that they changed many children's lives. "The whole time I was running, I was thinking about how much we raised and how much the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp charity has grown, and the children who are a part of it," Marinaccio said. "They inspired us to keep going and finish." Marinaccio raised more than $4,200, which will be donated to the charity to help send a child to summer camp where he or she will participate in activities, such as biking, boating, swimming and arts and crafts. "I thought the fundraising part would be difficult but it has actually proved to be very easy," Marinaccio said. "Everyone I have asked has contributed something. "Doing this for this charity that I am passionate about makes the whole thing very worthwhile," she said. "The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp group treats you as family."

Marinaccio began training in April for the New York City Marathon and ran about 50 miles per week. In addition to running, she had enlisted the help of a personal trainer, Nancy Loshuk, who assisted her in a strength training program and nutrition counseling. Her favorite place to run is at Seaside Park in Bridgeport. Marinaccio, who wore her good luck ladybug earrings and two medals, one from her mother and one from her children, said this marathon will be her last for now, but she is unsure of what may happen in the future. She will continue to go for daily runs and compete in 5K and 10K road races. "The older you get the more challenging the running becomes and the longer it takes to recover from the marathons," Marinaccio said. "I want to continue focusing on my career and finish my doctorate degree in Women's Leadership. These are things that I have had to balance with my marathon training, but now can devote more time to." Marinaccio, who ran the New York City Marathon in 2002, is the mother of three children, Gabriella, Anna, and Rachael. Her family, friends and coworkers are her biggest support team, she said. "This year, knowing that I am making a difference in a child's life is what will keep me going, in addition to my family and friends' support," Marinaccio said.

The race course crossed five boroughs in New York City; Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. It ended in Central Park, before millions of spectators viewing the race from around the world. Marinaccio said the hardest part of the race is usually in the last three-quarters of the course. "The last six miles are really tough, you become exhausted. But you look around you and you see thousands of people cheering you on, your family and friends, and that keeps you going," she said. "The spectators of the race will encourage anyone to finish, no matter how long it takes." Marinaccio said the New York City Marathon is her favorite race because of its ethnic and scenic course.

"You go through many ethnic, cultural places and the residents are all cheering for you, calling out your name [which you can write on your shirt if you want]. You experience their culture as you are running through." Marinaccio said if anyone is interested in running marathons, they should start small and work their way up. "Find a plan that works for you and stick to a schedule," she said. "Read books on marathon training and be disciplined in it. It's not about how many miles you run; it is about the quality of work you put in." Marinaccio hopes to become a volunteer for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and for the New York City Marathon. "Who knows, maybe in five years I will want to run another marathon," Marinaccio said. "But for now, I am happy with what I have done."