From a Duke Treadmill to the New York Streets

Every day is like a race for Michael Ferrandino. 

The Duke urologic oncologist balances up to five surgeries, directs the urology residency training program and gets home in time to enjoy an evening with his wife, 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son. 

With all of that, Ferrandino squeezes in runs on treadmills in a Duke Medicine Pavilion lounge to train for the New York City Marathon. He’ll trade the rubber tracks for the streets of all five New York City boroughs on Nov. 3. 

Ferrandino is running the New York City Marathon as part of “Movember,” an international charity where men grow mustaches to raise money and awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer.

“The majority of my practice is dealing with prostate cancer,” Ferrandino said. “It was important to run for a purpose bigger than me and align myself with an organization fighting a problem I so frequently see.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 13 percent of American men will get prostate cancer. About one in 250 men will develop testicular cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Ferrandino started running races five years ago after challenging himself to finish the New Orleans Marathon, which coincided with his 40^th birthday. He’s finished marathons – 26.219 mile races – in New York City, Chicago and Utah, all with finish times under three and a half hours. 

Through networking with friends and family, Ferrandino has raised about $3,500 for the Movember. He’s also grown a mustache and goatee for the race.

Ferrandino’s training regimen mixes three runs for about five miles at the Duke Medicine Pavilion and two longer runs ranging from 10-20 miles on weekends at the American Tobacco Campus or in neighborhoods in Chapel Hill.

His fitness routine at work inspired Brant Inman, the Cary N. Robertson Associate Professor of Urologic Oncology, to start using a Peloton, a stationary bike with on-demand fitness classes, in the faculty lounge. 

“Instead of logging into the computer, as I normally would, for 30 to 60 minutes prior to my first cases, I now log into my Peloton account and exercise,” Inman said. 

After the New York City Marathon, Ferrandino will run the Boston Marathon on April 20 for the first time. 

Ferrandino said he’s noticed a shift in his mindset with consistent exercise. 

“I feel more attentive and present in every aspect of my life,” he said. “The stress doesn’t beat me like it used to.” 

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