Gaeten Dominic doesn’t believe in easy modes of transportation like driving a car or riding the subway.
Those would be pretty simple ways to get to Pennsylvania Hospital, where he works as a registered nurse, from his home on the 3100 block of South 18th Street.
Instead he makes the 27-minute run or rides his bike, even in the cold, rain or snow.
Dominic isn’t a masochist. He’s a distance runner, and the 45-year-old welcomes all opportunities for conditioning, including his commute.
The athlete is now wrapping up his 24-week training routine for Sunday’s Citizens Bank Philadelphia Marathon — his eighth such event. His goal is to complete the race in 3:30, which would qualify him for April’s Boston Marathon. Dominic recorded his best time of 3:32 in the 2001 race.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 26-mile marathon, which attracts athletes worldwide. Last year’s winner, Kenyan Mike Korir, is expected to be part of this year’s field, which also will include U.S. Olympic hopefuls. The scenic marathon route will take runners past landmark sites such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, City Hall, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Zoo and Boathouse Row.
During his training schedule, Dominic, a 1976 graduate of Bishop Neumann High, has his own mini-marathon route. Every morning on his way to work, he picks up bananas from Anthony’s fruit stand on Packer Avenue.
"My run takes me up Passyunk Avenue and Broad Street," he said. "I am like the Hulkster [pro wrestler Hulk Hogan] on the street. Everybody waves to me."
Nothing stops the runner in training. Last week, through the rain and heavy winds, Dominic stayed right on his training course.
"I rode my bike in the wind [last Thursday]," he said. "I was blowing around pretty bad. The bananas weighed me down."
Dominic’s obsession with running started eight years ago after he contracted Hepatitis C through a previous job and lost 40-50 pounds. His recovery involved going on a chemo medication to get his body back in shape. Despite his return to good health, Dominic still doesn’t want to discuss the illness in depth.
But he does share details about the regimen that helped him heal. As a way to get back in shape, Dominic started walking every day, which led to jogging and, eventually, distance runs. In January 1995, while undergoing treatments, he set the personal goal of participating in his first Philadelphia Marathon. Sure enough, he rose to the challenge and finished the race in four hours.
"I was thrilled," said the athlete, who is sponsored by Claritin and Aquaphor. "It was just a good time, especially now, since my best time is 3:32."
Dominic, who also participates in the Broad Street Run, hasn’t missed a race since. He makes it a point to dedicate his races to someone in his life. In 1997, the runner gave that honor to his father-in-law, who was dying of lung cancer.
"I came home and gave him my medal," said Dominic, who is dedicating this year’s race to his two kids and wife Michele "for putting up with this torture all year long."
His daughters Courtney, 16, and Noelle, 12, will attend the race, while his wife of 19 years will stay home because, she said, she is too nervous to watch.
Despite the rigors of his training regimen, which includes 21-mile weekend distance runs, Dominic not only has time for his kids, but other youths as well. He volunteers as the athletic director and softball coach at Holy Spirit, 1845 Hartranft St.
If Dominic makes his goal time at this weekend’s race, his family will travel with him to watch him compete in the Boston Marathon. Even if the runner falls short, he has no plans to slow down.
"I run all year long," he said.
The Philadelphia Marathon is the highlight of a weekend full of activities that begins with the Health and Fitness Expo at Memorial Hall tomorrow and Saturday. The Verizon Family Fun Run, for kids 4-12, will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. around Memorial Hall. T-shirts, medals and refreshments will be awarded to the first 250 registered participants. On Saturday night, a runners’ pasta dinner will be held at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m. The event, which costs $20 per person, is for all racers, their families and anyone else who loves pasta.
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For more information about the Philadelphia Marathon, call 215-685-0054 or log onto www.philadelphiamarathon.com.
