Newsday

Brodsky, 54, of Atlantic Beach, has been HIV positive for the past nine years, and was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2002.

"Doctors gave me two to four years to live after I had my tumor," he said. "They all said they'd never be able to get it all out."

Since becoming ill, running has become his passion. Starting with the 2005 New York City Marathon, Brodsky decided he would run one marathon per month over the next year. He did so through July of this year before he hurt his shoulder while running his monthly marathon in August.

But he was back on the course yesterday, where he ran with his wife, Jodi. The couple has three daughters, all of whom graduated from Lawrence High School.

Jodi finished in 4:29:32; Richard came in at 5:06:02.

"This stinks. She never beats me by this much," he said.

Brodsky said the HIV hasn't had any major effects on his day-to-day health, and that the cancer has caused "some balance issues." Still, not enough to keep him from running.

By running, Brodsky raises money for the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation through donations. The money goes to help bring medicine to those afflicted with AIDS. Brodsky has organized the World AIDS marathon, which will be run this year for the third time. The race is going to be held Dec. 1 in Kisumu, Kenya.

"There are 8,500 people a day dying from AIDS, and I'm out here running marathons every month because I get the medicine," Brodsky said. "If you get the medicine, you can live a great life."

More information about Brodsky's foundation can be found at www.richardmbrodsky.org.

DIANE HERBERT, 36

It took a cross-country trip to inspire Diane Herbert to become a runner. Four years ago, she traveled with her brother to participate in a program called "Challenge Alaska," in which volunteers worked with disabled athletes who were competing in a 267-mile stage race.

"After I did that, I had to ask myself, 'What are you doing with your able body? '" Herbert said. "I was lucky enough to be thin, but I wasn't in shape. "

So Herbert, a Farmingdale resident, decided to take up distance running and yesterday she ran her third New York City Marathon, finishing with a personal best time of 3:31:00.

"I never thought the feeling would be as great as the first one, but to have millions of people and to look to the crowd and spot your family, it's amazing," she said.

Running a marathon requires incredible mental discipline and Herbert spends her professional life helping others learn how to achieve a similar healthy attitude. She is a Professor of Psychology at Hofstra and teaches such courses as "Healthy Psychology" and "Psychology of Physical Disabilities. "

"I have a real positive outlook and try to keep positive thoughts. It's great to feel healthy," Herbert said. "My dad's favorite saying was, 'It's a great life if you don't weaken. ' I've taken that to be my personal philosophy, and I tell my students how great running can make you feel."

SHANE McKEON, 29

New York's Bravest defeated New York's Finest to become New York's Fastest - again.

Every year at the New York City Marathon, hundreds of the city's firefighters and police officers run the race and square off.

The side that has the best average time for its top 10 finishers wins. The FDNY had 10 finishers cross the finish line before the NYPD had five and raised the trophy given to the winner.

"This really isn't much of a rivalry," said FDNY's Shane McKeon, who added that the FDNY has won 20 of the past 24 races. "We've been crushing them every year."

McKeon, who lives in Middle Village, Queens, was the FDNY's sixth finisher, coming in at 3:09:65.

He was running his sixth marathon.

"Today the weather cooperated. It's been hot as hell the past few years, but today was great," he said. "This is a feat of accomplishment. There's endurance, mental toughness and a lot more. We train together and there is a great brotherhood."

DAN TAYLOR, 73

Just about every finisher raised his or her arms and wore a wide smile as he or she crossed the finish line. But 73-year-old Dan Taylor was grouchy. He wasn't pleased with his time. He finished in 4:39:07.

"This is embarrassing. I'm not happy at all," Taylor said, with a sheepish smile, as if to acknowledge that he knew he really had achieved something great. "I've never run with 37,000 people. It was crowded. Man, that was tough. But it was a marvelous event. "

Taylor, who is from Gettysburg, Pa., blamed his time on his lack of training. He recently returned from Europe to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary. He said he couldn't do much distance training in Europe. He also said he wasn't always into physical fitness.

"When I was 32, I weighed 205 pounds, I smoked, and I was sedentary," he said. "I saw people 10 or 15 years older than me dying of heart attacks, and I decided to get in shape. "

Taylor first ran the New York City Marathon in 1978, and has been running marathons on a consistent basis since. But yesterday was the first time he's run the New York Marathon since his first one. And he's planning to run a lot more marathons.

"I told myself when I ran one at 60 that I'd run one at 70, at 80, at 90, and 100. Then I'll quit. "

The good news is he's got 27 years to improve on his time.

PHILIP GLANCROSS, 57

Philip Glancross ran his first New York City Marathon in the months following New York City's most trying period.

"I came to run in November, 2001, just after 9/11 and I thought the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic with all the support," Glancross said. "After that, I decided I would keep coming. It's better here than anywhere else. A fantastic event. "

Not only does Glancross come, but he organizes a company trip for his employees to come and run.

This isn't your ordinary staff get-together, however. Glancross hails from Knebworth, England, which is 30 miles north of London. He is the CEO of a chain called Formula One Auto Centers. Twenty-five of Glancross' employees made the trip, and 18 ran the race. As for the rest, Glancross joked, "They sat on their bloody hands and watched us run. "

Glancross was exhausted after the race, which he finished in 4:12:30 "I'm 57 and I feel 92. I'm absolutely knackerd [That's "exhausted" for you Americans.] Me legs are about to fall off."

SHANE McKEON, 29

New York's Bravest defeated New York's Finest to become New York's Fastest - again.

Every year at the New York City Marathon, hundreds of the city's firefighters and police officers run the race and square off.

The side that has the best average time for its top 10 finishers wins. The FDNY had 10 finishers cross the finish line before the NYPD had five and raised the trophy given to the winner.

"This really isn't much of a rivalry," said FDNY's Shane McKeon, who added that the FDNY has won 20 of the past 24 races. "We've been crushing them every year."

McKeon, who lives in Middle Village, Queens, was the FDNY's sixth finisher, coming in at 3:09:65.

He was running his sixth marathon.

"Today the weather cooperated. It's been hot as hell the past few years, but today was great," he said. "This is a feat of accomplishment. There's endurance, mental toughness and a lot more. We train together and there is a great brotherhood."