Father’s Day Celebration Came Early for the Massaro Family

A Family’s Passion for Running Leads to Berth in Special Olympics USA Games

By Randy Robertson, NYC and Hudson Valley Regional Storyteller

Utica, NY – A lone figure circled the track at Utica University, a small white running bib fixed to his dark red shirt. Most of the athletes, coaches and parents were still finishing their morning coffee and mapping out their day ahead as one determined young man ran strong and fast in the first competition of the Special Olympics Summer Games state meet.

The 10K race featured exactly one runner on this early June day, 23-year-old Jack Massaro of Palisade, New York. As Jack completed one lap after another, light rain started to fall, and the bleachers started to fill up with interested spectators. Each lap led to more recognition and cheers from the gathering crowd, none louder or more heartfelt than from Jack’s parents Kelly and Karen Massaro.

As Jack repeatedly glided past in his neon yellow running shoes, Kelly and Karen shouted words of encouragement to their son. Watching Jack run has become a regular occurrence for the Massaros, who were overjoyed to learn that Jack was selected to compete in the 2026 USA Games in Minnesota from June 20-26. Seeing Jack running free and easy at the state games and knowing he was headed to Minnesota for the USA Games was like an early Father’s Day gift for Kelly, who has long been an avid runner himself.

“My husband is really the runner and started Jack running in middle school,” Karen Massaro said. “They started with 5K races together and it just progressed as Jack really took to the sport. Jack also runs with his brother Cole. They ran cross country and track together in high school and just ran the NYC marathon together this past year.”

Running is indeed a family affair, as Karen and Kelly also ran the New York City Marathon together back in 2000 in addition to several other marathons. Without question they have passed along their passion for running to their kids. Anyone who saw Jack running around the track with a smile on his face even in a sprinkling rain in Utica recognized they were seeing someone in his happy place.

“I haven’t met someone who genuinely loves running as much as Jack does,” said Coach Paige Peloso, who will accompany Jack and three other athletes to the USA Games. “Jack wears it on his sleeve, running is what he loves to do. His goal is always to do his best, and the USA Games will be a culmination of his Special Olympics career.”

Jack is forging an impressive marathon career as well. In addition to successfully running the 2025 New York City Marathon, Jack also recently completed the London Marathon and perhaps the grandest race of all, the Boston Marathon. Jack ran the 26.2 miles in Boston in less than four hours this past April, pushing the pace at a level unprecedented for him, but he was confident he could finish.

“The hardest part was running through all the hills,” Jack said. “The secret to being a good runner is believing in myself and never giving up.”

Jack certainly didn’t give up, but he did give his parents and coach a bit of nervous anxiety for a few hours.

“I was so impressed, that was a way better time than he had been doing,” Coach Peloso said. “I was following along online and I was thinking oh my gosh he’s running at a fast pace. It has to be so empowering, competing with that much gusto and that quickly.”

From their viewing area just past mile 26 in Boston that day, Kelly and Karen waited eagerly for Jack to appear in sight. When he arrived in 3 hours and 45 minutes, the Massaros were ecstatic.

“We were right at the finish line,” Kelly said. “We got there earlier, and just the crowd was so excited, and we got to see the finishers come in. And the hand cyclers, and then got to see Jack come in, and just so much noise from the crowd cheering for everybody nonstop. There’s an app now where you can track the runners. So we were tracking them. I’m like, wow, it was really fast. I think he’s coming out too fast, because the first part of Boston is kind of downhill. And at the half, he kept up the pace, and we couldn’t believe it. He did it.”

Jack will enter the USA Games healthy and confident. He strode along the track smoothly and happily at the Summer Games in Utica and will run in three events in Minnesota. Jack’s agenda at the USA Games includes the 3,000 meters, the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters. Though all are much shorter than a marathon, the hype and the competition could be of a similar magnitude. Simply making the trip will be a major milestone for Jack.

“It’s a long trip, and this is his first time flying without us,” Karen noted. “But that’s a beautiful thing about Special Olympics. Traveling with the team, traveling with your coaches, so we’re excited for this new level of independence.”

Jack acknowledged that the trip would be a big deal.

“I feel very excited, and I’m a little nervous,” Jack said. “I’ve never traveled far away before. I mean, usually I go with my family. We went to London, we saw Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Eye of London, and we also saw Stranger Things on Broadway.”

There won’t be anything strange for Jack once he laces up his sneakers and starts running in Minnesota. He’ll find himself back in the happy place that brings a smile to his face and applause from adoring spectators. Facing challenges and pushing forward is helping Jack achieve running success, and his mom said he’s channeling that budding confidence into his work as well.

Jack is working this summer at the Compassion Café on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Karen noted that the café is a non-profit that employs young adults with disabilities. Working there has allowed Jack to increase his life skills and gives Karen and Kelly an opportunity to network with other parents.

You can be sure that Jack will still find time to sneak in some training runs throughout the summer. He’s already entered the Chicago Marathon in October, so like most avid runners Jack already has that next race on the calendar.  After Chicago, Jack plans to run the Tokyo and Berlin Marathons to complete the holy grail of world-class marathons now that he’s got medals from Boston, New York and London. Collectively those six races are known as the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and recently Sydney has been added to the list so Jack may find himself running quite often.

“Jack loves to run, and he loves to run distance, and he’s just got a smile on his face,” Karen said. “When you ask him, Jack, how do you feel? He’s like, ‘I feel free. I feel strong.’ So running is his, um, I don’t know, he just loves it. So coming into these places, especially the distance ones, he just loves it, you know?”

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