Robert Eslick

I have a saying: "Never give up in life. Try and fail, but at least try."

Like in life you have to get to the starting line and have a goal. I've been an avid runner since the young age of 39 (my first Marathon). Now 66 years young and 42 marathons later, I had a life changing day - Sunday November 7th, 2021 - that I will never forget. My goal was to get Back in the Game - no excuses. Start and finish another NYC Marathon, the world's best, and I've ran the Boston Marathon 5 times.

Running the 50th Anniversary of the TCS NYC Marathon, my 20th NYC Marathon, would have never been possible without Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle and his team at HSS. From the first time I met Dr. Della Valle he made me feel comfortable even though I was experiencing tremendous pain and could barely bend or walk at the time. But when told by Dr. Della Valle that I needed a hip replacement, things changed. I had tremendous anxiety as I'm not good with surgery. I now had to deal with reality in what was a life-changing moment for me.

The possibility of not being able to run another marathon was not in my vocabulary. "Try and fail, but at least try!" Well, this of course had to be well thought out. First, Dr. Della Valle took over and the new hip was in place - great job! Then many months of intense physical therapy and rehab, thanks to HSS Ivy Rehab and Heather Williams and her team. Then to let the body heal. Well, 28 weeks later I was at the start of the NYC Marathon and happy to say I finished what was the greatest marathon experience I ever had. Simply put I was Back in the Game!

This would never had been possible without the professionalism of Dr. Della Valle, HSS and those affiliated from the nurses to the related health care providers. I will forever be indebted to them all. See you on the roads!