Philly 'Marathon Man' To Keep 25-Race Streak Alive Despite Injury

PHILADELPHIA – Mark "Marathon Man" Sullivan has raced in 178 marathons, and ran fast enough in 33 of them to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Then, in 2017, a short walk to pick up the mail derailed his racing career.

“I walked down my driveway, turned to the right, took a few steps, and there was a flash of light,” Sullivan said. “An electrical charge, went through my system. I suddenly had this intense pain in my left knee. My knee buckled and I went straight down. I remember letting out a cry, it was like the air went out of me. I was in such excruciating pain.”

Doctors ordered up X-rays and MRIs, x-rays and MRIs but couldn’t find the problem. Sullivan went to physical therapy and even tried acupuncture, but healing came slow. He began to suffer from arthritis and possibly nerve damage, but doctors say they’re not sure of the root cause of his pain.

“I did the exercises they told me to do,” said Sullivan. “I worked hard, followed their instructions, but every time I did that I felt worse.”

For a long while, just going for a jog felt like getting “hit in the leg with a baseball bat,” he said.

But Sullivan, 57, says won’t let that stop him from participating in the Philadelphia Marathon this weekend. He’s one of two runners who have finished every single Philly marathon - 25 in a row. On Sunday, Sullivan says plans to walk (and maybe jog) the 26.2 mile course to keep his streak alive.

Sullivan’s wife, Robin, can’t say that she’s happy about it. “I understand [why he’s doing it] because I’m a runner, too. I don't love the sport as much as he does,” she said. “I would not put myself through what he’s doing. Running is part of who he is.”

Indeed, Sullivan’s devotion to long-distance running has developed a following. He offers private lessons and gives inspirational speeches. He even shares his Philly marathon experiences with other runners in a series of pre-race seminars every year. He gives tips on everything from how to pick the best shoes to warnings about the Philadelphia Marathon terrain.

For instance Sullivan, who lives in Freeburg, tells runners to watch their speed between the five- and seven-mile markers. That’s where they might not realize they’re running up a slight incline that turns into a steep hill that can “knock the wind out of anyone’s sails” by the time they get to 34th Street.

It’s those kind of marathon tidbits that Sullivan says can help a competitor make it to the end of the grueling race a little faster. This year, Sullivan says he’s not worried about his race time, or anyone else’s for that matter.

“I never before ever looked down on slow runners,” said Sullivan. “In fact I’ve coached slow runners. I always knew that the people in the back of the pack work just as hard as the winners do. They’re running the same race.”

This year he expects to enjoy a much slower pace knowing his wife will be there waiting for him at the finish line like she has 25-times before.

“We are partners. I love him, and I will support him through things like this because it’s part of who he is,” she said.

“I will be praying for him.”

David Block is a legally blind, award-winning filmmaker and freelance journalist.