Archdiocesan priest runs ‘good race’ at NYC Marathon
“On the day of the race, you do much better than when you are training, and you also do much better than you thought you would,” said Father Manuel Duenas, who ran in this year’s New York City Marathon on Nov. 2. Father Manuel, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark and vice-rector of Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny, NJ, told Jersey Catholic that he sees many parallels between his running and his Christian faith.
“Part of the reason you do better has to do with the fact that you are running with other people,” he said. “There are also people in the streets encouraging you. In a sense, this reminds me of the reality of the Church, because none of us can live our faith alone. We all need a community, need support, need the help of others, and the intercession of the saints.”
A reported 59,226 runners crossed the finish line of the 2025 marathon, a new record. The 26.2-mile race takes runners through every borough of New York City. It was the third New York City Marathon that Father Manuel had run in, having also participated in 2021 and 2024. He also ran in the 2023 Boston Marathon and several other races.
Training and growing in faith
A native of Burgos, Spain, Father Manuel has been an avid runner since the age of 16. He said that the seminarians at Redemptoris Mater think of running as his way to relax; it goes deeper than that, however.
It takes about 16 weeks to train for a marathon, he said, “presuming you are already in decent shape.” During that time, he will run four or five times a week, averaging 30-40 miles per week—a serious commitment that, for Father Manuel, also reflects the commitment it takes to live one’s Christian faith.
“Saint Paul himself speaks about running a good race when he talks about being a Christian,” Father Manuel said.
“You cannot decide to compete in a marathon and run it the next day,” he explained. “You must train for it. There is a progression that also serves as an image of the Church. Becoming a Christian doesn’t stop at baptism. You need to grow in your faith and receive formation so that you can live as a Christian.”
Of course, an essential part of training is setting goals. This year, Father Manuel wanted to cross the finish line at Central Park in under 3 hours. His final time? “I finished in 2 hours, 58 minutes, and 53 seconds,” he said.
Considering that the average finishing time in this year’s marathon was just over 4.5 hours, Saint Paul would surely agree that Father Manuel ran a very good race.
See more photos of Father Manuel Duenas running the NYC Marathon HERE.
Featured image: Father Manuel Duenas, vice-rector of Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny, NJ, runs in the 2025 New York City Marathon. (Photo courtesy Father Manuel Duenas)
