Chris Busbee and Mike Kloepfer: A Marathon Friendship
From October 17 through November 1, more than 24,000 runners from over 150 countries around the world will be running the 2020 Virtual TCS New York City Marathon. All of them have incredible stories of getting to the starting line in this challenging year. We're inspired to share just a few of them here.
You can still register to run the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon! Whether you're running or supporting this spectacular virtual event, check out our info hub for tips, special offers, and more.
Chris Busbee and Mike Kloepfer’s friendship began thanks to the New York City Marathon.
In 2000, they took on the task of training Dr. Howard Scher, a renowned genitourinary oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to run a sub–four hour race. More than pride was on the line: Friends and colleagues pledged donations to MSKCC’s Fred’s Team based on Dr. Scher’s finishing time—the faster he ran, the more he’d raise for cancer research.
The three men would meet at 5:00 a.m. in Central Park to train. On race day, Chris and Mike ran every step with Dr. Scher, meeting their sub-four goal and raising about $250,000.
Mike has run every New York City Marathon since 1996, giving him a 23-year “streak.” He's run 53 races with Fred’s Team. The 2019 TCS New York City Marathon marked his 100th marathon overall and he raised $206,000 for Fred’s Team at that race. Chris honored Mike's achievement with the gift of a “100 Marathons” belt buckle.
“I made so many friends as a result of the New York City Marathon,” Mike said.
Chris has 22 New York City Marathon finishes to his credit. Every year, Marathon Sunday evokes the same mix of fear, excitement, and immense gratitude. It is more than a race to Chris. “It’s taught me about humility and what it takes to succeed,” he said. “[This lesson] translates into everything in my life. I say to myself, ‘Look, you ran the freaking New York Marathon 20-some odd times, you can do this.’”
The race has also strengthened Mike and Chris’s friendship. “It’s a highlight of our years to get together and [race],” said Mike.
When this year’s TCS New York City Marathon became a virtual event, Chris and Mike signed up—and made plans to run together. Chris now lives in Telluride, CO, while Mike resides in San Francisco; they’ll run the Rio Grande trail in Aspen, CO.
The course is at 6,800 feet—a challenge for Mike, who lives at sea level—but for both men, this marathon is less about the time and more about going the distance together. Mike is also running for Fred’s Team again this year.
Chris and Mike are excited about continuing their “race” to 25 New York City Marathon finishes. Whoever gets there first, they’ve agreed, has to take the other (and both of their wives) to dinner at a restaurant of their choosing anywhere in the world.
Both men are grateful to the lifelong friendship the TCS New York City Marathon has given them. As Chris said, “I owe more to that race and the people that Mike and I have gotten to know there over the years than I can ever repay.”
