Know Your Neighbor: Eric Gelber, Real Estate Executive/Ultra Marathoner, Chappaqua

When you think of long distance runners, Eric Gelber probably isn’t what most people envision.

Sure, the Chappaqua resident is in great shape, but he wasn’t a high school or collegiate track star or even someone who was an avid recreational runner. He also doesn’t appear to have the prototypical runner’s long, lean physique.

Twelve years ago, he and a friend dared each other to try and enter and run the New York City Marathon. After 18 weeks of intense training, Gelber completed the race.

It wasn’t until 2007, however, when Gelber, currently senior vice president of the Manhattan-based CBRE Group, Inc.’s New York Tri-State Region Retail Services, took running seriously.

That is when a close friend of the family was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that has one of the lowest five-year relative survival rates of all cancers, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF).

Since then he has run races for the charity and has taken to participating in Ultra Marathons, including charting his own courses to raise funds and awareness for multiple myeloma.

“If I put my mind to something I’m really committed to finishing it,” said Gelber, a Syracuse University graduate who has executed more than $4 billion in leases and property sales in a two-decade real estate career. “But the charity aspect has put a whole new perspective on it.”

Gelber, 46, now organizes one event a year to bring attention to the cause. In 2011, he ran 155 miles from Oneonta to his parents’ home in Suffern, a 45-hour sojourn he did largely by himself. Last July, Gelber chose something even more extreme–he signed up for the Badwater Ultra-marathon, 135 miles through Death Valley where temperatures can soar to 130 degrees.

By comparison, his latest effort last weekend was a walk in the park–literally. He spent 48 consecutive hours traversing the 6.1-mile loop in Central Park, starting on Friday at 8 a.m., completing 27 laps, about 164 miles, his longest distance yet.

Gelber, who moved to Chappaqua with his family 15 years ago, spends months planning his runs along with his wife, Tani, his three children, other family members, friends and volunteers.

“I think they’re proud,” Gelber said of his family. “I think they appreciate the commitment. It’s not a one-man show. The kids come out to the events, too.”

In order to withstand the events, he meticulously charts his caloric intake, consuming an average of 30 ounces of fluid and 250 to 300 calories an hour. He draws up a pace to make sure he finishes. If he needs to, he has the ability to take a quick 10- or 15-minute nap to reinvigorate himself. Gelber said he focuses on little goals at a time.

In a touching tribute last weekend, he started the race with myeloma patient Sally Kalksma, of Pine Beach, N.J. and completed the final lap with Jeannie Dreyer, of Brookline, N.H., also a myeloma patient.

“When it gets tough out there, and it always does, I think about my friend Anita Sorrel, who lost her battle with myeloma in 2012,” Gelber said. “I also think about people like Sally and Jeannie, who are healthy today because of the work of the MMRF and its research and pharmaceutical partners. I know that what I am doing is making a real difference in the lives of patients who today have six new drugs that did not exist 10 years ago.”

Through donors and sponsors, he has raised an estimated $180,000 for MMRF in the past five years, said Alicia O’Neill, director of MMRF Endurance Events. That was before the weekend. In his 48 Hours in the Park, as he called last weekend’s run, Gelber raised an astonishing $100,000.

While the MMRF assists many dedicated runners each year to enter high-profile races such as the New York City and Boston marathons in order to raise money for the foundation, no one has matched Gelber’s zeal.

“We’ve never had anyone do anything like this,” O’Neill said. “It’s so out of the box.”

At some point, Gelber will plot next year’s event, although right now he has no idea what that might entail. However, he looks upon himself as fortunate to be healthy and fit to attract attention to raise thousands of dollars for the cause. Just don’t call him crazy for accomplishing it the way that he does.

“I live a regular life,” Gelber said. “I have a full-time job. I have a wife and three kids. I try to enjoy all the things that comes with that.”