Sobieraski has run 46 marathons in 46 days to honor fallen Rochester police officer
Carlton resident plans to run 50 marathons on consecutive days, with 49th in Orleans County
Provided photos: Brett Sobieraski, a Carlton resident, is shown on June 4 entering New York State, the eighth and final state of a 1,247-mile journey on foot. He plans to complete the consecutive day streak of 50 marathons on Sunday, finishing at the Halls of Justice Courtyard in Rochester. He is making the effort to honor Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
BYRON – Brett Sobieraski set a very ambitious goal almost two months ago, when he set out from Florida to run a marathon every day until he made it to Rochester. It would be an 8-state trek, covering 1,247 miles on foot.
Even his closest friends told him to scale back the plan. A 26.2-mile run every day for seven weeks seemed unrealistic, almost certain failure.
But Sobieraski,a resident of Carlton in Orleans County, has pushed through pain before in an endurance challenge. He ran 175 miles along the Erie Canal to raise money for the Special Olympics. He has completed the 135-mile Badwater in California’s Death Valley, and swam 32 miles across Lake Ontario.
His new challenge would honor the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz. He was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
Sobieraski felt Maz didn’t get his due after his death, and that the media was too quick to move on. Maz was barely in a one-day news cycle, in Sobieraski’s view.
He wanted Maz to be remembered and his family to be feel emotional support from the community.
“This has never been about the running,” Sobieraski said in an interview today. “It’s just honoring a fallen hero. This is about spreading awareness of Tony, and hopefully bringing some emotional support for his family.”
Mazurkiewicz was shot in the upper body on Bauman Street. He worked in RPD’s Tactical Unit 8. He would investigate many of the city’s toughest cases. Sobieraski said Maz was deeply respected in the RPD.
Tony Mazurkiewicz
Mazurkiewicz is survived by his wife of 28 years, Lynne; four grown children and three grandchildren.
“He was a fixture at the RPD,” Sobieraski said. “He was a great street cop.”
Sobieraski is very close to meeting his goal of 48 marathons in a row. Sobieraski finished his 46th straight marathon today. He began in Wyoming County near Attica and spent most of the run in Genesee County, passing through Batavia and ending at Byron.
Tomorrow (Thursday) he starts on Clinton Street Road and heads to Bergen, and then into Churchville in Monroe County, ending on Scottsville Road in Rochester, at the Monroe County Public Safety Training Facility.
Sobieraski could be done the next day, but he set a completion date for Sunday. He allowed two days of rest as part of the 50 days, in case his body or his RV broke down. Both are still in good shape. (Sobieraski ran his fastest marathon today in 3 hours, 52 minutes. He has been getting faster on the latter half of the journey, consistently around 4 hours despite some pain in the knees, hips and shins.)
So Sobieraski’s 48-marathon challenge is turning into a 50-marathon challenge and one of the extra days will be Saturday in Orleans County.
He is planning to run from his Carlton home to Albion so he can be part of the Strawberry Festival 5K race. After that he will run back home. He has finished the Albion race several times before, even dressing in a strawberry costume for the June 12, 2021 event.
“The Strawberry Festival is such a great race,” Sobieraski said. “I love the feel of the race. It’s near and dear to my heart, and I want to do it because it’s in Orleans County.”
His other “extra” marathon is planned for Friday in Webster with 26 laps around a 1-mile track.
Brett Sobieraski wears a shirt honoring Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz at the start of a marathon on June 3, beginning in Custer City, Pa.
Sunday will be a big day. More than 700 people have signed up to run the last stretch of the marathon with Sobieraski. A big crowd will join him for the last 3 miles from Genesee Valley Park to Halls of Justice Courtyard in Rochester. (Click here for more information about the last 3 miles of the journey.)
Sobieraski said he has been encouraged by people all along the journey through eight states – Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.
He is often greeted by police officers when he enters a new state. There were 24 waiting for him when he crossed into New York State.
Many people have struck up conversations and donated to the Mazurkiewicz family. Sobieraski is trying to raise $100,000 for the family and is currently at about $75,000.
He said in many ways the journey has become “a humanity tour.” Many people of humble means have surprised him with their donations and kind words.
Sobieraski often carries an American flag on the marathon runs. He said he feels the love from so many people. But he believes those strong emotions are ultimately directed to Mazurkiewicz, who died trying to protect a city he was devoted to serving.
“I’m just a conduit,” Sobieraski said. “These people are out there for Tony Mazurkiewicz.”
Lynn Mazurkiewicz, Tony’s wife, posted this message on Facebook today: “I have to say… every step Brett Sobieraski has taken I have been in awe… and just told him again today how thankful I am that he is showing us all Tony’s memory lives on.
“While I know Tony is shaking his head and declaring Brett crazy – he would be absolutely humbled and thankful just as my children and I are – we love you Brett!”
