More than 28,000 runners took to the streets for the 44th annual Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 17, battling intense heat and humidity that turned the event into a physical and emotional test—and claimed the life of one participant.
The race began in Prospect Park at 7 a.m., with the temperature already at 66°F and humidity levels reaching 90%, according to Weather Underground. As the day progressed, conditions only grew more challenging.
Tragically, Charles Rogers, a 31-year-old from Manhattan, collapsed from cardiac arrest near Mile 8 on Ocean Parkway. He was transported to Maimonides Medical Center but could not be revived. This marked the second recent fatality in the race’s history; in 2022, another Manhattan runner, 32-year-old David Reichman, died after finishing the course.
Despite the somber news, many runners found strength and unity in the shared difficulty of the day.
Robert Denker, an 81-year-old veteran of the race who has been running since the 1970s, reflected on the loss. “After the race, I found out what had happened, and it hits home,” he said. “You never know … a lot of people say you want to push forward, but you really shouldn’t if you feel off.”
In the wake of Rogers’ passing, a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife, Sydney, raised more than $26,000 within two days.
Enduring Spirit in the Face of Adversity
Runner Deena Mikhail echoed the sentiments of many participants when she described the weather as “certainly not working in our favor.” Heat, humidity, and an unexpected burst of sunshine tested even the most experienced racers.
But those harsh conditions only brought the running community closer together, she said.
“Everyone—strangers—rallied around each other,” Mikhail said, calling the spectators “phenomenal.”
During the race, when Mikhail began to feel faint, a fellow runner offered her salt tablets to replenish electrolytes. The gesture helped her recover. Later, near the finish on the Coney Island boardwalk, Mikhail returned the kindness, stopping to assist another runner who was struggling with cramps.
“Those two instances in particular solidified how the running community really does stick together,” she said.
Although it was Mikhail’s first Brooklyn Half, she said it likely won’t be her last. “Running onto Coney Island’s boardwalk and seeing the Cyclone, the tower—it was pretty cool. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said. “Having volunteers medal you on that boardwalk was iconic. It made everything worth it.”
Mina Verzosa, a member of the Just Us Running Club, finished her fourth Brooklyn Half this year. She, too, found the humidity extremely challenging but remained confident due to her training for the Rio de Janeiro Marathon next month.
Verzosa began running in 2018, at age 37, after her doctor encouraged her to pick one active hobby. Though she had tried a one-mile NYRR race years earlier—after which she swore off running—she returned with renewed purpose and completed her first full marathon in 2019. Since then, she’s run several half and full marathons.
“This is a good sport,” she said. “It’s never too late to start.”
Many members of her running club started later in life as well, and now compete in global events. “We want to keep running until we can’t anymore,” Verzosa quipped. “It’s inspiring to see others in their 70s and 80s still going strong.”
Among those inspirational figures is Robert Denker, who finished fourth in his age group with a time just over three hours—even as the heat took its toll.
“I ran with my daughter at first, but by Mile 5 or 6, I slowed down a lot. That’s not like me,” he admitted. Despite the struggle, he admired the speed of the first- and second-place finishers in his group.
Though he often says each race is his last, Denker hinted he may make another appearance. “I intend to train,” he said. “We’ll see what happens—I have to make up for this year.”
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