Felicitas Perez captured the attention of hundreds at the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, cheered on by onlookers and serenaded with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” Despite the electrifying atmosphere, the sky had turned dark as it approached 9:55 p.m. Perez had completed the 26.2-mile journey in 10 hours and 21 minutes, marking it as her slowest marathon at the age of 60. Despite this, it was the moment she had only dreamed of – her “grand finale.”
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Perez is no stranger to grueling long-distance races, having completed numerous 5Ks, marathons, and even a 50K race of over 31 miles. She has previously achieved her personal marathon time of six and a half hours, but after enduring multiple brain aneurysms and a burst appendix over the last five years, being among the last to finish the 2023 NYC Marathon stands as a remarkable achievement.
“New York has been on my bucket list for a long time, and in 2019, I got my bib,” Perez shared. However, medical emergencies forced her to defer her participation until this year. “I had to put this run to rest. I didn’t know how my body was going to handle it, but I knew that I was gonna finish it no matter what.”
A video shared on Instagram by photojournalist Michal Blank garnered significant attention following the marathon. The video depicts her crossing the finish line with the assistance of New York Road Runners (NYRR) staff, surrounded by cheering supporters and spectators.
As captured in the video, Perez recounts, “It was just so impressive to see people still out there.”
Blank, who didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Life’s request for comment, labeled Perez as “the very last runner at the NYC Marathon,” which a representative for NYRR has since clarified. The final official finisher was Joel Kaufman, who crossed the finish line at 8:17 p.m. According to NYRR, results on their website show that Perez was followed by three other runners, with Francine Silver closing out the route at 11:11 p.m.
The emotional conclusion of Perez’s run resonated with social media users, offering a glimpse of the struggle that preceded her marathon journey.
“I had two brain aneurysms in 2019. One ruptured, and one didn’t. So I had two brain surgeries in 2019,” Perez revealed, detailing the challenges she experienced prior to the marathon.
Her account of undergoing a craniotomy in early 2021 to remove an aneurysm that wrapped around her cranial nerves highlighted her dedication to overcoming adversity.
Despite enduring medical hardships, Perez remained undeterred. Refusing to allow her health setbacks to dampen her determination, she completed the 2023 marathon, overcoming obstacles with sheer willpower.
Reflecting on her journey, Perez maintained, “For me to have finished, it took a lot. It was all heart.”
After the marathon, Perez celebrated with a friend in her hotel before returning home to San Antonio. Looking ahead, she affirms her intention to continue participating in 5Ks and half-marathons, radiating a profound sense of gratitude and resilience.
