Fleet Feet Syracuse

Saturday night’s gusty winds calmed before sunrise Sunday morning, much to the relief of runner Jeff Ward. At mile seven of the inaugural Empire State Marathon, the rising sun began to light to road before the 25-year-old. 

“It’s good timing in the fall, but yesterday I wouldn’t have said the same thing,” he said. Even with 19.2 miles ahead of him, Ward seemed chipper and relaxed. 

One of 2,550 registrants for Sunday’s races, the Central Square native “came home” from Baltimore to race in his eighth marathon. Five countries and 33 states were...