Suffolk Kicks Off Annual County Marathon

A tradition for ten years, and one that attracts runners from around the country, the Suffolk County Marathon has officially been kicked off, marking its tenth consecutive year of operation.

Each year, the Marathon raises money to benefit Veterans. Sponsored by Catholic Health, the event has raised $1,000,000 since its inception in 2014.

Local leaders held a press conference at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge last Thursday to commemorate the kickoff.

“We have the largest population of Veterans in the state, second in the country behind San Diego” said Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), a Marine Reservist and Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee. “What’s unique about Suffolk County is that we don’t have an active-duty military base. That’s what makes Suffolk County special; people choose to come here [for the Marathon].”

Lennon, dressed in his fatigues, said he plans to carry twenty-two pounds on his back, as he does in every run, symbolizing the average twenty-two Veterans who take their own lives daily. County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) signed Lennon’s bill in April that designates September 22 as Veterans Suicide Awareness Remembrance Day.

“This is a crisis epidemic across our community,” said Lennon. “No Veteran can be left behind in this country.”

Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Chair of the Veterans Committee, said that he values the involvement of the Legislature on an annual basis, and plans to participate in the series himself.

“I’m proud of the role that Team Legislature plays in the Marathon with our bi-partisan relay team,” Caracappa told The Messenger. “We don’t just talk the talk, we run the run!”

“Over a million dollars, so far, have gone to our Veterans and their organizations; the Marathon is crucial,” added Caracappa. “We’re going to carry on this tradition.” Caracappa says that “seeing the difference” the money makes in the affected organizations, Veterans, and families is one of the most fulfilling parts of the process.

Bill Faulk, Regional Public Affairs Manager for PSE&G Long Island, said that the company has sponsored the race for many years and that PSE&G has supported over five hundred organizations in both Suffolk and Nassau counties, many of which have been Veterans’ organizations.

Ben Chiaramonte, a vice president on the executive board of the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees (AME), said that AME has participated in the Marathon for “several years as runners, volunteers, and crossing guards.”

Corey Roberts, co-founder of Race Awesome, Inc., said that this is the company’s fifth year of producing the Suffolk County Marathon. He added that it was “so refreshing” to learn that the Romaine Administration planned to continue the Marathon and recognized its benefit for Veterans’ organizations.

“On this day, we run in the spirit of the Greeks,” Executive Romaine told The Messenger, referencing the Athenian victory over the Persians in 490 B.C., in which the courier Pheidippides ran 26.2 miles from the site of battle victory to Athens to deliver the good news. “We run for Veterans and for Suffolk County.”

Romaine added that State troopers and parks department officials are cooperative in closing roads, directing traffic, and other logistical aspects of administering the Marathon. Romaine says that since the Marathon is to be held in October, it won’t cause massive traffic delays. Troopers will also coordinate to halt and allow traffic based on the waves of runners as they make their way around the track.
“It’s a year-long process; everyone is in constant communication,” Romaine added.

The race will start in Babylon Village, with the marathon track spanning across the Robert Moses Causeway bridge to Fire Island, looping back, and ending in Gardiner County Park in West Bay Shore.

“The money obtained through a grant process and appropriated by the County Legislature every year, and net proceeds go from the event straight to the Veterans organizations,” said Romaine.

The marathon, the half-marathon, and the 10K will be held on Sunday, October 20, and the 5K will be held on Saturday, October 19.
Romaine encourages all who are able to register and run. Registration and additional information can be found at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Babylon/SuffolkCountyMarathonHalfMarathonand5K.