A zombie chases a runner during the Spackenkill Leo Club Zombie Run to benefit the Spackenkill Community Service Club at Locust Grove. / Courtesy photo/Bob Kopac

Wappingers Falls' Caitlin Martin, far left, was the pace leader for a legally blind runner from New Zealand at this year's New York City Marathon. / Courtesy photo

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Caitlin Martin is a competitive endurance athlete. She has competed in ultra-distance races and Ironman distance triathlons. At this year’s New York City Marathon, though, she dialed back her speed intensity several notches.

Slower, in this case, was most definitely as memorable as any personal-best time she may have achieved.

Martin, who lives in Wappingers Falls, was selected to be an Achilles International guide for the NYC Marathon this year. She was pace leader for a runner from New Zealand who is legally blind and was attempting to complete her first marathon. With the help of Martin, “Vinnie” got to the finish line of her first marathon in just less than five hours.

“(Vinnie) traveled with her husband, who was also one of her guides, and she stayed connected to him by a string,’’ Martin said. “I was the pace leader for her time goal and we came in … with 37 seconds to spare!”

This was Martin’s ninth overall marathon and third NYC Marathon in a row, excluding last year’s canceled event: She added, via email: “With my PR marathon being 3:23, it was difficult to run a race any other than my own but it was nothing short of an incredible experience to help this woman achieve her lifelong goal. I was enthusiastic the entire race and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure Vinnie had the experience of her lifetime, as she deserved nothing less. We spent all morning together on Staten Island getting to know one another before the gun went off.’’

A few hours ahead of her in NYC, Martin was inspired also by the finish of her brother, Colin Martin, who was among the top locals across the line in 3:04:16. It was Colin Martin’s first NYC Marathon. But, like his sister, he is no stranger to endurance events.

Colin Martin has completed four Ironman Triathlon races, including a stellar effort at the Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, Ironman in August. He finished that race in just over 9.5 hours, placing fourth in his division, beating out seven professional triathletes and qualifying for the famous Hawaii Ironman in Kona. At the Quebec event, he also shared the finish line with Caitlin, who completed her first Ironman, in a little over 12 hours.

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Caitlin called her brother’s NYC finish “beyond inspiring.’’ She added: “Colin has always been my training partner and my best friend through some of our biggest races including training for Ironman Mt. Tremblant. I was Colin’s number 1 fan last year when he raced and six days after he completed an Ironman in 2012, he took it upon himself to sign me up and I found out when I received my confirmation email that day. He was the first one I saw when I crossed the finish line that day. I was lucky enough to see him numerous times that day on the course and along with my family and my best friends, we couldn’t have asked for better support. The two of us are very lucky we have one another to make training fun and are nothing less than incredibly fortunate to have an amazing and supportive family.’’

Harrisburg Marathon

The “middle-aged machines” keep firing on all cylinders.

One week after his training partners David Swift and Neil Grencer excelled at the New York City Marathon, Michel Joseph of Poughkeepsie had a strong showing at the Harrisburg Marathon on Sunday. Joseph placed eighth in the 40-49 division and 80th overall in 3:22:21. Joseph trains with Swift, Grencer, John McKee and others out of the Spackenkill area.

Also at Harrisburg, Jamie Stroffolino of Wappingers Falls placed 91st overall in 3:24:16, one week after completing the NYC race.

More NYC results

Thanks to those readers who contributed information on more local finishers at this year’s NYC Marathon. Between those emails and some more searching in the race results database, here are some more local results:

Knox Robinson of Beacon continues to be one of the more consistent performers at NYC. The 38-year-old placed 163rd overall and 28th in his age group with a time of 2:44:50. It was his fifth sub-3:00:00 effort at NYC. The others: 2:57:12, in 2004; 2:48:00, in 2006; 2:41:06, in 2010; 2:37:12, in 2011.

Perks’ Posse: Two members of a training group formed years ago by coach Steve Perks completed this year’s marathon. Lorna Thompson of Poughkeepsie was 16th in her age group. The 68-year-old finished in 4:39:05. Karen Tremaine, 54, of Stormville finished in 4:10:25.

NYPD team: Two local runners competing on the New York Police Department team completed this year’s marathon. Sean Fedigan of LaGrangeville finished in 3:30:50. Greg Burton of New Paltz finished in 4:16:04.

Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club member Pete Colaizzo, the track coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, writes on running every week in Players. He can be reached at runhed246@hotmail.com. For more club information, go to www.mhrrc.org/