Norber Sander won the New York City Marathon in 1974. For many, that would be a total highlight in one’s life. But with a lovely family, wonderful friends, Fordam classmates, and a full life, Norb Sander had many wonderful facets in his life. In my mind, the legacy of Norb Sander is many fold. But his ressurection of the 169th street Armory is every bit as amazing and exciting as Fred Lebow convicing new sponsors to sign up for a marathon through five boroughs.
The New Balance Armory puts on over 75 events a year, and over 150,000 young teenagers found the Armory as their sanctuary of sport. Alan Brooks reminded me that I coined that the Armory was the house that Norb Sander built. It is so true. Norb Sander put every cell, heck, his mitochondria into raising money and making events better. His moving the Millrose to the Armory saved the event.
At the 2017 NYRR Hall of Fame, Norb’s family accepted an award in his honor. From track heaven, the good Doctor must be smiling, and missing all of his friends. Each time someone runs around the 200 meter Mondo track of the NB Armory, the legacy of Dr. Norb Sander grows. But, all of those years ago, in 1974, Dr. Norb Sander won the 1974 New York City Marathon, five loops around Central Park, an arduous course, but not the hardest (Norb won Yonkers too, and New Orleans) marathon that the good doctor had won.
