Runner Spotlight: Glenn

By Kimberly Green | August 29, 2023
Glenn, a man with long light brown hair, kneels in the grass in front of a painted wooden fence, with three dogs: two larger dogs sitting on either side of him, looking into the distance, and him holding a smaller, shaggy black pup in his arms.

Glenn with his dogs

Glenn is a small animal veterinarian who helps shelters and rescues in his hometown of Ocean City, NJ. With such a passion for animals, it’s no surprise that he’s the perfect fit for Team PAWS NY for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon!

After running the race last year, Glenn was hooked and is excited to fundraise on behalf of PAWS NY to participate this year. Read his full Q&A below to learn more about his own furry family, favorite outdoor activities, and which band he’s seen in concert 30+ times!

Why did you decide to run the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon? Have you participated in long races in the past?

I was lucky enough to win the lottery for the 2022 New York City Marathon. While running last year I knew I would do it again. That was my first and only marathon…so far. Otherwise, I ran an 18-mile race on Long Beach Island last year as my marathon prep.

What is your connection to PAWS NY? Why is this cause important to you?

I’m a small animal veterinarian and also actively help shelters and rescues in Ocean County NJ. For the 2023 NYC Marathon, I wanted to find a charity to run for and since I’ve devoted my life to helping animals, I looked for an animal-based charity and stumbled upon PAWS NY!

Do you have any pets of your own? Did you grow up with pets? Tell us about them!

I have three dogs and one gerbil at this time. Winter and Ember are 6-year-old Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix girls, Ernie is a paralyzed Havanese who’s now 16 years old. The gerbil is named Fig. She was rescued after a tail injury and I had to remove half of her tail.

Glenn smiles at the finish line for the 2022 TCS NYC Marathon, wearing his finisher's medal and holding it up in his hand. He wears all black running gear and his marathon bib number, while holding a bag of supplies in his other hand.How long have you been running? What are some of your favorite places to run?

I was turning 50 years old in 2019 and decided to finish a 5K by the end of the year. I reached that goal, and then COVID hit. I found myself with extra free time and chose to fill it with running and biking. There is a park about a mile away from me with a paved wooded trail, Winding River Park in Toms River, and that’s my favorite place.

What do you do in your free time (besides run)?

Occasional kayaking and boogie boarding, biking, gardening, concerts, and hanging out with the dogs and my wonderful wife, Laurie.

Share 2-3 fun facts about yourself! What should we know?

I’ve been vegetarian for 30 years and vegan for the past five. I’m a beginner beekeeper; we have two hives in the backyard this year. And I’ve seen the band GWAR in concert about 30 times!

What are your goals for this race?

Finish in less than 5 hours.

Glenn, thanks for dedicating your life to helping animals! You’re going to be amazing in your second marathon! Click here to donate to Glenn’s fundraising page or support the team overall.

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