Gregory Petrov of West Windsor was the fastest runner in the under 14 category in the Super Hero Half Marathon in Morristown on May 19. His time was 1:36:24.15. “I’m in 65th place out of 1,700 runners and eighth in 19 and under,” says Petrov.
Petrov, 13, is a seventh grade student at Grover Middle School, where he is on the track, cross country, and wrestling teams. “I always loved running long distance and I was intrigued by running a half,” he says. “I run two miles in the morning before school and about five miles after practice.”
He became serious about running longer distances last summer and began training on long runs on the canal during the winter, running for 16 miles at a time. “I ran many previous 5ks and was getting first in my age group and high places overall,” he says. “After doing this many times, I decided to run my first half marathon.” On weekends he practices from 15 to 20 miles each day.
“I love running half marathons and the feeling you get after you hear that gun shot to start, and love to get the awards,” says Petrov. “Half marathons are an adventure, a very difficult, painful, and emotionally damaging adventure. Once you get done its well worth the pain, if you can make it.”
