We recognize our athletes achievements which help build team spirit and inspire athletic advancement.
November is known as Movember – Men’s Health Awareness month. We encourage you to take action in staying healthy; physically and mentally. We chose our Empire Spotlight to shine a light on a special friend, runner and coach who’s everyday healthy lifestyle has kept him breaking barriers and defying his age. He is an example to men’s health and the running community.
Sid is a longtime coach and runner, having a storied career which includes 50 Masters Nationals Championships and 8 World Masters Championships. Sid was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2005. He has won 10 NYRR age group ‘Runner of the Year’ awards, won the 5th Ave mile 10 times, and this year he ran the 5th Ave mile for the 34th time, the only person to have run the race every year under the Masters Category.
At 78 years of age, Sid has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. This summer, he and his wife Asteria joined Empire Tri Club in initiating and coaching the Hospital for Special Surgery Runners Club. The club is now it its second session which will run through mid-December. He has been a longtime (40 year!) member of the Central Park Track Club and a Coach for the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Team for Kids.
Empire sat with Sid for a brief chat to learn more about his philosophy and give us his best advice for the track!
EMPIRE: What is your coaching philosophy?
SID: Adding is Subtracting —Subtracting is Adding. “less is more, More is Less”
EMPIRE: What motivates you to keep on training?
SID: I like to see positive results.
EMPIRE: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone, when racing?
SID: Know your pace.
EMPIRE: Would you like to share a funny or crazy thing that’s ever happened to you during a race?
SID: I ran my 1st marathon without eating!
EMPIRE: Now that you know better 
? what do you eat to fuel-up before your race?
SID: Smoothie-almonds, walnuts, 1 spoon of protein powder, 1 spoon of maca 1 spoon of chia seed, apple, banana, strawberry’s, blue berries, black berries, 8 oz of water and 3 ice cubes.
EMPIRE: For you, what is key to balancing everyday life and training?
SID: Always think positive. And win or lose I always congratulate my opponents.
“All around the track, Howard is recognized as one of America’s best ambassadors for the sport and mission of masters track with his enthusiasm and support for everyone involved from athletes to organizers:” Bob Weiner, Runner’s World Online
