The Long Island Marathon has been the only one I've run. Every year it is such a great accomplishment. I don't have any other marathon to compare it to but what I can say is that running on the Wantagh for approx. 9-10 miles is the most boring experience - or should I say painfully boring. Thank God for my MP3. After 26.2 grueling miles, us full marathoners do not even get a separate T-shirt. I will continue to do this marathon but it would be great if the second half course could be changed, at least for 5 or 6 miles. I really don't care about the lack of spectators along the Wantagh, but seeing highway for miles and miles, only to turn around and see more miles is torture. (The worst part was that my name/result time along with approximately 9 others were omitted from the original FLRRT results, and therefore our names were not in Newsday, which was a great disappointment.) I think there should be more emphasis on the full marathon instead of catering to the half marathoners.

As a first-timer on this course, I learned that all the criticisms I had read here were not only true, but an understatement. Poor organization, not enough porta-potties at the start (nowhere *near* enough), about the ugliest course you could put together on Long Island, post-race amenities consisting of donuts and not much else... I could go on, but will close with the frustration my family felt after driving to see me finish and not having a way to get into the park or even to get directions on where they could leave their car (the police on traffic duty commented to my wife that this was probably the most poorly organized event they had seen).

Some of the glowing reports posted here have to be from the event organizers themselves -- if they are, that would be entirely in-character with the way this event was handled.

Have run this one twice, and finished third in my age group once. Has to be the ugliest course you can imagine. Here we are on beautiful Long Island and we're running up and down a drab highway flanked by concrete dividers! Give me a break. Insufficient water stations, mediocre organization. Recommend the Mystic Marathon instead - Active does a very good job of managing and the course is scenic.

I had read previous comments so I wasn't expecting much, but it really doesn't have much to offer. The first part of the race provided views of Nassau Coliseum, and various parking lots, and the pavement was quite poor for much of the area.

The second half after the half marathoners left us (4,000 out of 4,500) was on the Wantaugh Parkway, and while the pavement got better, the lack of fans, the same constant unchanging scenery, and the pain and boredom starts to set in, and it becomes one you want to get over with but do not care to finish.

The end of the race was constant squiggles around a golf course as opposed to a nice straightaway. Once you finish, you see signs for Michelob Ultra, but you only get a donut, the pudding and a donut bagel.

If you want to do a spring marathon in the New York area, you should stick with the Jersey Shore Marathon two weeks earlier. (The Long Island Marathon does have the way nicer medal.)

I do have dreams that one day they will have some Rock & Roll Marathon along Jones Beach with the free concert at the amphitheatre after the race (wouldn't that be something!!), but until then, I will definitely give this one a pass.

Having run this event every year since the early nineties, it's hit a new low in terms of its organization. Where to start... inadequate bathroom facilities at the start, water stations serving water in Dixie cups (glad it wasn't hot), same lousy course as last year and terrible post-race refreshments (donuts!?!). With all of the beautiful places on L.I., why is this event run through an industrial park? L.I. deserves better than this. There's enough commentary from others that isn't worth repeating again except my recommendation that you find a better event.

I have to believe that some of the glowing reviews posted below are seeded by those associated with the event. This event used to have close to 10,000 participants (on a better course) -- this year they had fewer than 3,500. No surprise that the title sponsor is a commercial real estate developer given the 'scenic' course. Save your money. I won't be back -- this event has finally 'jumped the shark.' C+

I was extremely disappointed in my hometown 1/2 marathon. The course was dangerous and full of uneven surfaces. The spectators were minimal, which was probably due to the poor weather that day. But what was remarkably lame was the finish line area. Zero energy... Just about every 5 and 10k I have ever run had more energy and more activity, food, water, spectators, etc...

The finish line area could have been mistaken for a medium-size family re-union. Bottom line the most poorly managed race I have ever run.

The most impressive race I have ever run is the NYC Marathon, 2nd place Virginia Beach Rock 'n Roll Half, 3rd the Monument Ave 10k...

Never Again L.I.!!!!!

I have read some of the comments on this race and they appear to be too harsh. I experienced no lines at the Friday afternoon check-in (at around 7 pm).
The course was fairly flat but could be more accurately described as gently rolling. There were a bit too many sharp turns, but so what?! Unfortunately the 2005 marathon was marred by heavy rains and there were lots of puddles on the course, but that was unavoidable. The rain also probably discouraged many spectators. As for the post-race reception, it was about average; nothing to discourage anyone from entering this race, especially if you live on the island.

I liked the race except where oh where is the bag check? Any race put on by runners must have a bag check!

I ran the 1/2 twice previously. So I was familiar with the logistics and did not hope for much. The run provides a good training experience. Spectator support is minimal after 11 miles. Therafer the race divides into the 1/2 and the whole. The race favors the 1/2 especially when the marathoners were welcomed with the leftovers. If you want the whole marathon experience, this is not the race for you. If you're gearing up for a real marathon, this is a worthwile training run.

The parking at Jones Beach was great. Running along the ocean was spectacular, and the fans along the beach were tremendous. The B-52s concert at the Jones Beach Amphitheatre put an exclamation point on this great event! Oops. I woke up. Running in a parking lot can be bad, but it is ridiculous when it is a parking lot in need of some paving. Puddles everywhere. The highway was quiet, but then it was quiet, and more quiet. Am I really in pain if no one is there to watch?

Long Island has possibilities of putting on a major league event, and they end up doing a sandlot ball-type marathon.

P.S. If you have Michelob Ultra signs up at the end of a marathon, be kind enough to give a finisher a cup of Michelob Ultra!!