2020 - 2021
EAST MEADOW GUIDE
Page 21
Coronavirus pandemic updates
Long Island Marathon slated for the fall
By Brian Stieglitz
T
he Jovia 2020 Long Island Marathon, named after its title sponsor, kicks off at Eisenhower Park and sends runners into local communities and business districts and through county parks. Typically hosted each May, this year’s event was postponed to Oct. 2-4 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Named after its new title sponsor, the Jovia Financial Credit Union — formerly NEFCU — and in its second year with a new course, the marathon, which begins and ends in Eisenhower Park, is one of Long Island’s best-known running events. Thousands of runners compete in the marathon or one of four shorter races. Last year it saw a new route, among other additions such as a partnership with a smartphone application that allows spectators to live-track their friends and family members who are competing. There will be a number of changes this year to comply with pandemic guidelines. There is supposed to be 5K run on Friday, Oct. 2, a 10K on Saturday and a 13.1-mile half marathon on Sunday. There will be no full marathon or 35.5-mile challenge, however, and athletes will have the option of transferring their entries to a 22.4-mile challenge (all three remaining races). There will be no additional fees to do so for those who signed up for the full marathon, and runners who signed up for the 35.5-mile challenge and take part in the shorter combined challenge will receive a refund of $15, the price difference. Athletes who cannot participate on the new dates can either have their entries rolled over to the 2021 race, at no additional cost, or take part in a virtual race. Those who choose the latter will receive marathon “swag” and can upload their race results online. Other than the above, there will be no refunds. The county Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums previously oversaw the race before Corey Roberts, of the Baldwin-based company Race
Awesome, won the bid to become the race director for the 2019 event. He said that the race hadn’t had a makeover in decades and his goal was to make the race most exciting for runners and spectators. The marathon dates back to the inaugural Macombs Dam Park Marathon in the Bronx in 1958. That race was later renamed the Cherry Tree Marathon, but continued to be run in the Bronx until 1970, when it moved to Central Park. It was later named the Earth Day Marathon, and eventually moved from Manhattan to Roosevelt Raceway, and then to Eisenhower Park. In addition to its running events, today it also includes the Long Island Fitness and Health Expo and the marathon’s own Food Truck Festival. The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce also sets up shop at the festival and greeted residents and runners. Roberts, a native of Australia who co-owns Race Awesome with his wife, Stacey. His goal in changing the course was to treat runners to the scenery of county parks and give spectators more opportunities to cheer on friends and family members as they run through local business districts. Race Awesome names a main beneficiary at all of its events, and dedicated the 2019 Long Island Marathon to Friends of Karen, an area nonprofit that provides services to families of critically ill children. The 2019 winner was Dan Gargaro, of West Islip, and Alyssa Salese, of Huntington, was the first female finisher. Peter Hawkins, 54, of Malverne, remained the winner of the wheelchair marathon. Winning the half-marathon was Erick Obdulio Chavez Chox with Lori Brown as the first female finisher. And Patrick Smyth placed first in the 10K race and Michele Walker, of Massapequa, finished first out of the women competing. Photos by: Brian Stieglitz/Herald
Top photo: Michele Walker, left, of Massapequa, Shari Klarfeld, of Plainview, and Michiko Clarke, of Westbury, finished first, second and third among the women competing in the 10K race at the NEFCU 2019 Long Island Marathon.
