Having the time of her life

“I like to look at miles as if they have personalities, First 6 miles…starter, mile 13, half way, mile 18… reminds me of a previous tune-up race, mile 26… let’s go, let’s get this done. They are literally milestones, they are all trying to tell me something,” says Elizabeth (Lizzy) Luxenberg.

The 19-year-old Great Neck native, who is currently a student at NYU, is gearing up for her debut run in the New York City marathon on Sunday, November 4. Lizzy, who is running in support of Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, has raised over $8,000 for the cause. And she’s got the support of her parents, sister and the community at large.

What started in 8th grade as a fitness routine to get in shape has evolved over the years into a passion. Lizzy first got acclimated on a treadmill but became bored with the routine. “It was boring. I wanted to take on something specific, I wanted something to be my thing. I wanted my goal to be more than just a focus on the scale,” stressed Luxenberg.

“I wasn’t happy with my time, so with the help of my trainer Diana at Equinox fitness in Great Neck, I started making distance my goal.”

Luxenberg, who spent her post high school year at Midreshet Amit, ran two marathons while in Israel. “It took me four years to realize that it’s (running) not a lifestyle until you have something specific. I wanted to be a runner.” Luxenberg recently was the featured student at the Amit Dinner in the Five Towns, where she delivered a dvar Torah.

“In December 2011, I ran the Beit She’an half marathon up in Northern Israel and in 2012 I ran the Jerusalem half marathon. I spent two hours in the middle of the day and two hours after night seder training. I was ‘the’ American girl at the Body Line fitness gym in Gilo. My school was very supportive.”

Since returning from her year in Israel, Lizzy has tested her body through the rigors of a very extreme running regimen in preparation for her first full 26.2-mile marathon. Her training has consisted of a daily 20 mile run through out Great Neck in the wee dark hours of the morning.