Video by: Keziah Green
Photos by: HM Papon
FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — On the eve of the 39th ING New York City Marathon, not only are the runners preparing for the race but so are residents and business owners in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
At the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Lafayette Avenue, spectators are expected to cheer on the runners along the route.
“The whole community gets involved,” said David Schulhoff, a resident of Fort Greene. “People who you wouldn’t normally say hi to on a daily basis would be the ones you’d be cheering on in the marathon.”
Businesses such as Ralph’s Meat Corp., a deli on the corner of South Portland and Lafayette Avenues, are also preparing for the marathon by stocking up on pastries, rolls and coffee.
“That’s the day we make money. We depend on getting the customers out the store as quick as possible because the faster you get them out, the more business you get,” said Ralph Jawat, owner of Ralph’s Meat Corp.
Though there are many businesses along Lafayette Avenue, those that serve lunch and dinner will not benefit from the event due to the time of the race passing through the neighborhood.
Ed Tretter, owner of 67 Burger on the corner of South Elliot Place and Lafayette Avenue said since the race usually passes his restaurant around 10 a.m. spectators usually don’t stick around by lunch time.
“I think if the race would bypass again at 1 p.m., it would have a major impact on our business,” he said.
The 26.2 mile-race goes through all five boroughs, starting at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island, and ending in Manhattan at Central Park. Last year 37,899 runners participated.
For spectators like Schulhoff, the race is very inspiring to him.
“When I see 80 year-olds chugging out there, it makes me feel that everything is possible,” he said.
