NYCHA Employee Earns Medal for Completing Marathons Worldwide 

When NYCHA Plasterer Kamil Duzynski takes a vacation, he just might fit in running a marathon with the travel plans. 

In cities across the world, such as Berlin, Tokyo, and London, Mr. Duzynski and his wife have been able to enjoy traveling with their two daughters while also making time to complete the 26.2-mile race.  

“We travel everywhere together, and we’re always taking our kids,” said Mr. Duzynski, who has worked at the Authority since 2018 and is a member of NYCHA’s Runners Club. “It’s a great idea to see some really nice places and take the kids with us. We’re going on vacation, and plus, we can run the marathon.”  

In addition to Berlin, Tokyo, and London, the couple has run city marathons in Boston, Chicago, and locally in New York City. By finishing these six original races of the Abbot World Marathon Majors, they have both earned the organization’s prestigious Six Star Medal. 

“That was something incredible; it was a really special day for us,” Mr. Duzynski said of receiving the medal after competing this year in London, just six days after Boston. “When we got this medal, we felt like we did something really cool and not really easy to do.” 

Completing some of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world was not something Mr. Duzynski, a Plasterer at Dyckman Houses, initially set out to achieve. Originally from Poland, he only started running competitively around age 37 after moving to Westchester County. At the time, he was looking for new active interests and was inspired by the sight of long-distance runners.   

“I was just trying to change something in my life,” he recalled. “I remember watching marathons and one day I said, ‘I want to be one of them.’”  

He entered his first marathon race in New York City in 2016, just nine months after he started training. Distance running eventually became like an addiction for Mr. Duzynski, offering a sense of freedom along with plenty of health benefits.  

“When I run I just have time for myself, so I can just relax and I don’t have to think about anything,” he explained. “It also keeps me fit, so it just makes me feel better.” 

In only 10 years of competitive running, he has crossed the finish line at more than 20 marathons. Including this year’s New York City Marathon, which he ranks among his favorite courses, he has run the famed event a total of six times. 

While Mr. Duzynski has compiled an impressive resume of marathon achievements, he has his wife to thank for suggesting they take on the six Abbot World Marathon Majors. Last year alone, the married couple finished four of the major city races on their quest toward the Six Star Medal.  

“2025 was really busy,” he quipped.  

Running is clearly a family affair in the Duzynski household, as the couple’s two daughters are passionate runners themselves. They may plan future vacations to Sydney, Australia, and Cape Town, South Africa – the two newest cities that have been added to the World Marathon Majors challenge.  

For now, Mr. Duzynski’s fellow Runners Club members at NYCHA are congratulating their colleague on reaching an “amazing milestone” through his travels around the globe.  

“Completing all six marathons is a remarkable accomplishment that requires dedication, perseverance, and an extraordinary commitment to the sport,” Runners Club member Ramon Lugo said.