Having relocated to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Nev Schulman returns to his childhood neighborhood each year as he crosses the finish line near Central Park West.
The TV host uses running to strengthen his existing communities as he discovers new ones.
Schulman, best known for hosting and producing “Catfish: The TV Show,” has had the spirit of the New York City Marathon instilled within him even before birth. A year before he was born, his father, real estate broker Robert Schulman, ran the 5-borough marathon in 1983 in under 3 hours.
“I’ll never forget that my father called it [the marathon] the best day of the year,” says Schulman.
Each “Marathon Sunday,” Schulman’s father would take him and his brother Ariel across the street to watch the participants cross the finish line. “Seeing all of the people for hours crossing, and just the pride and joy and happiness of the runners left just an indelible mark on me,” recalls Schulman, “and completely inspired me to run the NYC Marathon.”
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon will be Schulman’s 10th time participating, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the marathon. While he did not accomplish his goal of matching his father’s sub 3 hour marathon, he kept training, eventually accomplishing his mission on his third try.
However, Schulman did not stop there. He finds a new way to run for others each year. In 2023, Schulman guided blind marathon runner Francesco Magisano, the New York director of Achilles International, an organization that partners runners to guide fellow runners with disabilities. Schulman calls it, “the most fulfilling marathon I’d ever run.” He has since done three more marathons with Magisano, and is training for an Iron Man with him as well. Last year, Schulman guided a veteran in the New York City Marathon who lost both of his legs while on tour in Afghanistan.
On Nov. 1, Schulman will be the pacer for his wife, Laura Perlongo, founder of McCarren Kids Track Club, a nonprofit dedicated to running in North Brooklyn. Perlongo is aiming to run a sub three hours and 30 minute marathon.
“I run, my wife runs, our kids are on the track team that my wife started, and running has become a big part of how we identify as New Yorkers, as a family, and I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of that,” states Schulman.
In Aug. 2024, Schulman’s joy for running almost came to an early close when he broke his neck in a bike accident. While in intensive care, he reflected on how grateful he was for the ability to run. Luckily, he was able to recover from the injury and miraculously compete in the New York City Marathon that same year, with Magisano once again at his side.
In between marathons, Schulman needs to continue running in order to train for the next one.
“If I’m not moving, I get a little cuckoo,” he says upfront.
In the last year, Schulman has tapped back into his Jewish roots by joining The Nice Jewish Runners run club. Being the host of a TV show about dating, Schulman has welcomed the rising popularity of run clubs in New York City as a way for single people to mingle.
While Schulman has raced in marathons across the globe, from London to Boston, Chicago and Pittsburgh, he cannot deny how “The NYC Marathon just has some sort of inexplicable magic to it.”
The act of running is Schulman’s favorite exercise, allowing him to turn off his brain while still eliciting a sense of deep accomplishment.
“I still somewhat dread doing them [marathons]” he admits, “and at the end of every marathon I still say, why am I doing this […] And yet, I can’t stop doing it.”
