Long Island Marathon - Race Reviews

I have ran this race over 20 times (half/full). The course was recently changed. Not a spectator friendly course at all. Race consisted of up and back routes, bank lines and obscure roads to nowhere. Mitchell Field and N.C. College are great examples. No water stations at every mile. No clocks at all on the course. The worst race that this marathon/half marathon has ever had. A very small turnout. This used to be THE race on Long Island for many years, but not with this racing group that heads it and made the course changes. Need to put people in charge that have some imagination for a racing course, even if if means reinstating a previous course.

I ran the half instead of the full. I registered for the full but missed a turn at some point and went the wrong way.

This was only my third marathon but I have run the Long Island Half the previous two years. I signed up for this race because they changed the course to limit the amount of time/miles on a parkway. Course wise, I thought it was a good challenging course, with some hills and flat areas. Unfortunately it rained so there were a lot of puddles at the beginning that caused some runners to slow down and cause a traffic jam.....Other than that little spat, the course itself was good up until the 6 to 7 miles on the parkway. Though it was limited compared to previous years, 6 miles is still a lot of parkway nothingness... For the most part, the organization was pretty good, though I know there were complaints about the 10K and that some marathoners missed the sign for the Half.Full split but those are kinks that can be worked out. My disappointment was that they ran out of shirts, which always is weird to me if you sign up and put your size down, then they should have a shirt for you but they didn't. The after party would have been awesome had it not been for the rain.... The rain caused a lot of spectators to not turn out which is always a downer... Overall, I was pleased with this marathon and I did have a PR so that was cool.

Long Islanders....if you call this course flat then you are absolutely out of your mind. I have run 12 marathons already and I will say this is either the first or second most hilliest course I have ever run. If you call this flat then you have never ran a marathon in the midwest and other marathons outside of the east coast. During the 'stretch of death' that starts at the split of the half marathon/marathon there is a 300 feet elevation gain especially at Mile 16. I never trained the last few months so this is where it got to me. This race was well organized, but disappointed that there were no electrolytes for the first several aid stations; however, they had them on the marathon course. To everyone living outside of Long Island: Hotels are brutally overpriced here and over 100.00 for a decent hotel. The marathon rate is 140.00 at Marriott. Crazy. I went to Priceline and got an express deal for a Radisson for 93.00. Also on Priceline a round trip ticket with the basic no carry on (I brought a backpack) is 120.00 on Priceline and also on priceline I was able to rent a car for 35.00 a day. This is my 8th state for my 50 marathons in 50 states and I would recommend it for anyone who just wants to do a quick weekend state knockout.

I had read all the reviews with complaints about the dull course, in particular, the 12/13 miles on the closed parkway. Personally, I loved it. Plenty of space, no turns so fast, spectators were not legion but made up for their lack of numbers with their enthusiasm. Good expo for a small marathon, great volunteers, I would recommend this race to anybody. For those who are interested, T-shirt was not great, medal average, but that is low on my list of criteria

I ran the 2016 race in the rain and remember that in 2005 it was a similar battle. The course was different, but I love it the same because I'm close to home in East Meadow, run by the local shops and it's easy to get to and from this race. I only missed this race once because I was struck by a drunken driver and had to sit the 2003 race. My time was never recorded due to chip malfunction from the rain and I'm a bit of a stat junkie and wish I could get my time recorded on line. 4:20:18 bib #1611 if anybody can work the magic.

PROS: If you are looking for a fast and flat spring marathon this is it! Plus you get a free 5k the weekend before. The finish line festival was fantastic and logistics is easy with drop off points, parking and shuttles. CONS: I think the all day rain hampered the volunteer support, but the aid station setup could have been better. The first half of the course and the last two aid stations had water only! The final few aid stations on the return section of the highway had the cups left on the median making it very difficult to get drinks. A tip for those running next year. The 2nd half is run on the highway with wide sweeping turns, this makes running the tangents very difficult.

There seem to be a few runners who had a negative race experience and I honestly don't get it. Yes, 14 miles of this course take place on a highway, but the highway is lined with trees and very scenic. True, there aren't tons of people cheering the whole way, but there are still a few lounging about who are very vocal and friendly, cheering for every runner that passes. Anyone that's done marathon training has spent countless hours running without a single person cheering- why does this become the metric by which a race is judged? This is not the NYC marathon I definitely recommend running NY, but the long island race is not in competition with NY. It is a much smaller, event that includes runners of all ages and abilities by having a marathon, 1/2-marathon and 10K option all at the same time. It's a bit strange to be running among people doing such varying distances, but it works well because the course remains open for much longer than a typical half marathon, allowing slower runners a chance to finish without worrying too much about a cutoff. For a serious but non-competitive runner like myself, the course was perfect. An early season race is often a challenge and us NYers are still recovering from a tough winter, but the weather was reasonable cool (a bit warm towards the end, maybe?) and the course was pancake-flat with minimal turns, making it easy to stay in the 'zone'. Aid stations were also well-staffed with both water and gatorade available at nearly every station and powergels available at most. The volunteers were well-trained and they didn't put fingers in cups or spill as they handed off the cups. In conclusion, the course was exactly what I expected. Not a very loud production, but a great blend of suburbia and parkway, with very friendly people all around.

If you read other comments here, you'll quickly find out that this marathon is renowned year after year for being unbelievably boring. The problem is, I couldn't believe just how bad it was until I ran it myself. It's all true. So, this was my 27th marathon. I have run all over the world and wanted to finally do this one because it's local for me as a New York City resident and it's been held for more than 40 years apparently... Fine. Now I've done it; flat course, fast time, yada, yada, yada... But I will never do it again as it truly is as shamefully dull as I had been forewarned. The big question I have for the organizers is WHY? Long Island has some beautiful areas, with parks, lakes, oceanfront, bays...With just a little more effort, they could surely improve the course AND attract more runners (hint: LI has 1.5 million residents and NYC is 40 minutes away, not to mention the vast tri-state area, the North East corridor, etc)...Even at that time of year - the first Sunday in May - when most of the inner and mid parts of Long Island have a burst of spring color to enjoy, even a moderate attempt to move or re-route the course would be a huge improvement. The fact, however, is that so much of this marathon (at least 14 miles of it) are on a closed-off, car-free, people-free, Site-free (unless you count highway trees) out-and-back course, the course is a textbook 'how to make your race as uninteresting and uninviting as possible'. And yes, I know there are a handful of supporters on this site who will wax on about the zen-like qualities of no fans and no scenery, but really? Is that what a big running event like a marathon - something for runners, families, fans, and volunteers - should be about? Is that what really represents a major area like Long Island and does it show off some of its lovelier qualities to draw in runners from all over and get a boost for the area for that weekend? I can't imagine that it does. With such wonderful examples such as the New York City Marathon 'right down the street' (heck, even the New Jersey Marathon which runs along beach towns in April does a great job each year), why hasn't someone at the Long Island Marathon taken a hint in the last 40+ years to make this better. The area's runners and Long Island itself deserves far better from a marathon that calls itself by that name.

I think about 13K people run the festival, but less than 700 do the full marathon. So the first 10 miles you are with the 1/2 marathon folks. Then they take a right and the full marathoners keep going straight out and back down the Wantaugh Parkway. Personally, I love it. You have the whole road to yourself and the few spectators that you see have so much energy to give you. And the volunteers at the water stop were wonderful. I recommend this race if you don't need lots of support, want a straight forward flat course. Plus the food bag at the end of the race was great.

First time running the LI marathon and it met my expectations. A relatively flat course, like other commenters I agree that sections of the highway are boring but if you are running for a PR this is the place to go. The spectators were great, water/gatorade was plentiful and the weather didn't ruin the day. You just never know about LI weather but on a nice day this is a great place to run.

This was my first full marathon. The course is nothing to brag about, although running on the Wantaugh Parkway is surreal and cutting through Westbury Village is a nice little touch of quaintness. The thing that made this race are the very helpful organizers and volunteers, as well as the race spectators and supporters who are fantastic at handing out bags of sliced oranges at the right time and cheering you on. From a county of 1.5 million people, this race really provides a friendly atmosphere.

First of all, the course is just as boring as everyone says it is. You run most of the race on a fairly flat parkway that just seems to go forever. Try to run with a friend or make sure you have a killer playlist or podcasts or books on tape or something. Organization is OK. For those of us without cars shuttles to the train for both the expo and the race would be much appreciated. Water stations were great and the volunteers were lovely. And the people who came to stand along the parkway and cheer were awesome. Great swag (you get a light hoodie at the expo and a nice, thick finisher hoodie, along with a nice medal). If you can deal with the dull course, this is actually a pretty good race.

Now most people know the Long Island Marathon is probably one of the most boring courses around. And it is. Most of the Long Island Marathon festival is geared toward the Half-Marathon and 10-K races. But the value of the marathon for your fee is great. In this day and age when the NYC changes you at minimum $250, in LI I was able to register a week before the race and pay only $67 plus the active fee of $5.25, for a total of $72.25. For this I received a beautiful long sleeved hooded and thumbed hole runners shirt, 1 pair of new balance runners socks. After finishing I received a stylish 26.2 finisher's medal along with a attractive blue finisher's hoodie. There was also the finishers bag filled with treats and finishers festival with music, sponsors table and of course the Beer Garden (no limit). Now in this day with the ever increasing race fees this race was a wonderful surprise. For you runners who do not look for value (or just like to complain) the rest of the experience may not be up to your standard. Course: The course is scenic for the first 10 miles when the full and half marathoners run together. From mile 10 to mile 23 the full runners are basically alone on a closed highway. This aspect is very mentally changeling for the runners, it is hard to stay focused and maintain your pace. No shade from the sun or any protection from any other elements (the benefit of registering late is checking the weather). There were plenty of water and Gatorade stops with some having gels in the second half. The volunteers on the course especially on the highway were great, energetic and helpful. You can call out what you need as you get close and they deliver it to you without you breaking stride. The last 5 k winds through the main road back to the park (through the golf course) to the finish area. The crowd supports while thin on the highway were energetic Security was tighter this year due to Boston but in no way effected your enjoyment of this race. Parking is easy just arrive about 1 hour before the race. The officials do an excellent job of making this an enjoyable event. Having run this race 8 times, while dreading the course the atmosphere never disappoints me.

I actually loved the course. Nice straightaways on the highway without turns slowing you down. People say boring, but I wasn't there for entertainment while I ran. I was on a mission and all I needed was my watch for entertainment. If you need crowds to finish, pick a different race. If you want a PR, this is a great pick....IF the weather holds up. Extremely risky race if weather turns out hot. (I had cool day) Those highway miles could be brutal in the heat. Plenty of water stops, so I had plenty to drink. Only complaint was that someone should be directing the 10K/Half walkers to stay all the way to the side. Sometimes you had people taking a Sunday stroll in the middle of the road.

The course is psychologically challenging, for sure, with its long stretches of highway and lack of scenery. I ran it b/c my team needed 3 competitors and I enjoyed competing in it. However, I was disappointed with the after party and the lack of award presentations, raffles, fun stuff like that etc. Coming through the finish felt more like going through an assembly line than a celebration of a major athletic accomplishment. The local running clubs weren't allowed to pitch tents in the main party area, so if you wanted to hang out with your friends, you had to be away from the music & refreshments. And the county official who's responsible for the whole thing has his name plastered all over every piece of LI Marathon paraphernalia, even the medals. Even on my age group award, this politician's name was bigger than mine! Egads. I'll do it again for my team, but in a year when they have a full team w/o me, I'm Boston bound!

This was my first time running the LI Marathon. I have run NYC six times. The positive aspects about the marathon is that the course is flat and you can sign up for it the day before. There are a number of negative aspects to the race which I was prepared for - the run is not scenic and most of the crowd abandons you around mile 10. The one thing that I was not prepared for was the poor water stations. The amount of water they gave you are stations was about two shot glasses worth. After mile 16, I approached each water station parched and left little better. Also a few times I raised my hand for water and the water was pulled away by the station aid. Apparently they were confused by my gesture. For anyone running the race, i would recommend bringing your own water for the second half of the race. Finally the race officials never asked for feedback about the race. This is something NYC does every year and a little feedback could correct some of the problems.

Ran the full marathon yesterday and found the race well organized. Course was basically flat and kinda boring which is ok if your running for time. Spent many miles on a closed highway which wasn't too bad due to cloudy skies. The few spectators I saw where enthusiastic and so where the volunteers at the water tables which was much appreciated. Finish line festivities were nice too (beer!). 2nd half of marathon had mile markers but no clocks. Ran into some congestion (slower half marathoners) during last few miles but not too bad especially since most of the second half of race I was basically alone. Had a small PR here so that really made my day! I would race it again if I wanted to stay local, but weather would influence me.

First time doing the Long Island Marathon. Overall, there were many things I enjoyed about it. I know that other people felt the route could have been better. However, I thought closing the highway and allowing the runners on the highway was the best part of the course. The race opened up after the 10 mile. The runners in the half marathon were heading back to the finish line. After that there was more room. There were still enough of runners to set your pace off of. But of all races I have done, at whatever distance, the Long Island marathon had the best water stations. There was water stations at every mile. Each one was well stocked with more than enough water, gu, etc. The people at the water stations were very motivated to say the least. The Long Island marathon is the race to do if you are doing your first marathon or if you are looking for a PR. Lastly, if you do this marathon get there early. There was parking but it was filling up fast.

I had run the half before but this was first time i did the full. The half gets the big crowd. We split at mile 10 and there are definitely more spectators in those first 10 miles. After you split its about 13 miles on a highway. I actually liked it! I enjoyed the sun (it was quite warm) and the trees....but if your one who NEEDS spectators this may not be the one to choose for a full...you're better off doing the half. But I enjoyed it. Very well organized, mile markers were very visible and water pretty much every mile. At like mile 23 you are back on local streets and there are spectators a again. Lotsa food at the end and nice sweatshirt/hoodie for full marathoners. Also a re-usable lunch bag. The medal was nice and a tech T (same for half and full runners). If you love running...DO IT! But get there early for parking near the finish (and time to walk to the start...like 10 mins from finish/parking lot). I would do it again!

I returned to the LI Festival of Races to run the Half. In 2009, I ran the full and PR'd, but decided to avoid the long slog on the Wantagh Parkway. The Half course is waaaayyyy better than the second half of the full where it is all lonely stretches of highway for almost 12 miles. As in 2009, the organizers were great, the medal was very nice (at least for the half runners) and we got a tech shirt, a tech hat and tech socks in a very nice heavy duty nylon bag. Well worth the registration price! It was a hot day as the sun came out and I over dressed for the weather. There were a few spectators along the Half course that were great. The volunteers manning the aid stations were awesome as always. There were only three bands which was ok by me. I was hoping for more Gatorade along the course but I simply doubled up when I reach the right aide stations. I will probably go back again to do the Half.

This is the first time doing this race. Overall, I liked it a lot. After reading other comments about the route I would have to disagree. I thought running the highway was the better part of the course. The field opened up after mile 10. The half marathon runners started to head back to the park at this point. However, there were still enough of runners in the full marathon to set your pace to. Also, of all the races I've done, at whatever distance, the LI marathon had the greatest water station. There was one every mile with more than enough water, gu, etc.. But the people at the water stations were the best part. For lack of a better term they were very motivated. Thanks again to all the people who put this event on.

If your coming to run this marathon and expect a lot of fan fare and spectators, this is not the race for you. If you are coming for beautiful scenery, this is also not the race for you. If you have trained through the winter and did not run Boston, live in the general area, and want to run a marathon the 1st week in May, this race IS FOR YOU. I have run the half marathon numerous times, but never the full until 5/1/11. The expo is not terrific, but what else do you want besides to pick up your bib number anyway. Easy access to start on race day. At the 10 mile mark, the half marathoners get off the Wantagh parkway and the full marathoners start their way down south on the parkway until the turn around at mile 16. The water stops at each mile stops are all manned by H.S. kids who shout encouragement throughout the day. Yes, there is not much shade on the parkway and the weather can definitely be an issue. There are spectators on the parkway, just not huge crowds like one is accustomed to at big city marathons. The finish area is very nice (band, beer and very easy for family to find you). Baggage claim is very close and your car should be as well. Yes, you may be running alone at times on the parkway, listening to the birds chirping away, but it is what it is. It is a flat course. Having lived on Long Island all my life and run the half a few times, I am very happy that I ran the full. All in all Nassau County puts on a good show on Marathon Weekend and if you live in the area, you owe it to yourself to run one of the races they offer (5k, 10k 13.1, 26.2). I did not break 3 hours like planned which was disappointing, but it was a good run with some good people I met on the way.

I ran the LIM in 2010, and from my own experiences, I have to tell you that this was the most boring and dull marathon EVER. IT was SIMPLY A LONG, HOT, SCORCHING HIGHWAY from mile 10 and up (where half and full marathoners separate). Although I got a medal in my age group (18) and the medal every participate receives, it did NOT make up for the lousy experience while running it. PROS: GREAT SUPPORTING STAFF FLUID STATIONS AT EVERY MILE FREE MEDAL AND SOUVENIRS ($65) FOOD AT THE END OF THE RACE GREAT, EASY-TO-READ DIRECTIONS CONS: STUPID, LOUSY CHOICE OF RACE COURSE NOT TOO MANY SPECTATORS DURING RACE NO PLEASANT SCENERY WHATSOEVER FEW MARATHON PARTICIPANTS EXTREMELY HOT CONDITIONS WITH NO SHADE I knew over 20 people who came to the race festival and I came with 7 people, so trust me: this WAS A BORING RACE. My race time was just over 3:00. I was very disappointed about that. AND although I was VERY appreciative of all of the hard work the staff put in into the organization of this event, I probably will not be returning unless they drastically change the race course in the near future. :( *SIGH*

My second full marathon. Course was flat (yay). For about half of the course you're on a highway! The good thing was that there was plenty of room. Bad thing: it gets a bit boring. I'm a novice marathoner, but I enjoyed myself. The water/hydration stations were GREAT! Every mile on the full marathon course (after you split from the half marathon) they had water and Gatorade. The people there were almost fighting amongst themselves to hand me a drink. They also cheered us all along. It was very hot (77, I think) and all of the water came in handy.

This is a small marathon with a mixed of good and bad and I think there is room for improvement. The GOOD: It is one of the few marathons close to NYC and the course is flatter than the NYC Marathon (but there are faster marathons if you look for a PR). The marathon bag contained a few items that I found useful, such as a thermal bag and a metal water bottle. I like the marathon shirt and use it often on my training runs. The BAD: You need a car if you want to run this marathon. The start and the expo are far away from any public transportation option. Like many people in NYC, I do not have a car. As there is no race-day packet pick-up, from NYC you need to rent a car and waste half a day to go in the middle of nowhere twice. On Saturday to pick up your number and on Sunday to run the race. Allowing pick-up on race day and organizing some shuttle from the train station to the start/end of the race would greatly improve race experience. From mile 10, where the half-marathon people leave the course, you run on your own. I did not mind this too much, but the course is really ugly and lonely. The website indicated that gel would be available at several points along the course, but I could not find any until mile 22. I did not bring any as I relied on what the organizers had advertised and experienced the thrill of racing a marathon without any carbo support. On race day it was pouring rain, but at the arrival there was little or no cover provided. You can imagine the pleasure of finishing a marathon with your glycogen on red, soaked under the pouring rain, with no place to find shelter and change before walking 3 miles to the nearest train station.

I read some of the comments and have some agreements and some disagreements. I think the course could have been more scenic. But I will have to say: it made me love running again. I've run all my life, competitively and for leisure for at least 13 years, and running this marathon was the best thing I could have done. It's got so much energy in the beginning, which is nice, especially when it's your first marathon. In the middle of it, there was no cheering, I but can't say that it affected my opinion really; it actually made the experience all the more amazing. I mean, when you are running a 400 meters, it's crowds of cheering, but on the 9th mile or so of running, when you are fighting your mind to keep "wanting to finish," you don't want to hear cheering; you want peace... you want rhythm. When all the cheering stopped and it was just other runners, running at your pace - the ones who decided NOT to stop - it gets you going. You feed off of that rhythm and the respect you build for each other, it's quite beautiful, really. I mean, when the rain hits your face, and you look up and it's just trees straight ahead, you could hear each other "DYING" (breathing heavily) and hearing every stride, every sneaker hitting the wet pavement... it just feels like war. It's what being a runner is all about. Running is an individual sport; that is what makes it so challenging... that's why runners - REAL runners - RUN.

I lived on Long Island for 23 years, and this race almost makes me embarrassed to say so - simply a drib-drab, boring course with no visual stimulation along the highway. I know it is a local race, but surely the directors could get something more creative going (the Gold Coast, Jones Beach, etc., etc.). The course is mostly flat, which is a plus, but there has been enough headwind due to the lack of trees along the highway. Not killer. Don't expect cheering, except at the very end. Overall the organization is good for a race this size, although of course the 5K/half marathon thing is a challenge when pacing oneself.

This is a well-organized course, but it attracts only a small field (possibly because it's on the same day as the Five Borough Bike Tour, the NJ Marathon and the Providence Marathon). Expect little fan support and a boring 13-mile stretch on the Wantagh Parkway. This course is also pancake flat (I recall only one minor hill exiting the parkway). I thoroughly enjoyed the Long Island Marathon. The mile markers were visible and accurately placed, and all had clocks (most marathons of this size neglect to put up clocks). The first ~10 miles also were shared with the halfers. The roads were never narrow, so there was no crowding issue. I enjoyed the fan support in Woodbury - thanks for coming out in the rain!! After the split, the course gets tough only because it appears to be an endless stretch of highway. There were a few spots with fans, but mostly I was alone (I did make a friend who helped me pull through mile 17). I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but the highway was made up of concrete in spots that was especially hard on my knees. Coming off the parkway was a huge thrill. The end of this race blew by me simply because I was elated to be back on local streets. The race re-enters Eisenhower Park at mile 25. Fast runners beware: The slow halfers will be in your way, and this is also where the course gets narrow and windy. My only gripes: No race-day packet pickup (would it kill organizers to set up a table for those of us not from Long Island?). Also, can the race be moved to Saturday so that it won't conflict with other events?

I ran the half in '08 and the full in '09, and both were PRs. On the positive side, the course is fairly flat - I remember the biggest hills as bridges just crossing over streets below. The give-aways were good and the vendors sell anything you would need within reason. I have to comment on the long stretch on the parkway that everyone seems to dislike. It didn't bother me at all - it was flat with enough other runners to pace you. Sure, Ocean Parkway and Bethpage Parkway are prettier, but after all, you need to run 10 through 22 somewhere. On the downside, the parking is far away from the start and finish; and the finish is more of an issue. Having to pick up the race packet the night before is a pain when you live more than an hour away. Finally, it was drizzling at the start so I had on two Dri-Fit shirts and tossed one on the tank (Korean War Memorial) in Eisenhower Park only to have it stolen.

I ran this race in 2009 for the second time. I would find ut hard to complain, as I ran my second fastest time of the 14 marathons that I have completed. As mentioned in previous posts for 2009, it was cool and rainy. The course is OK as best, and for the first 10 miles (before the half marathon turnoff), there are plenty of runners. Even though there were only about 500 finishers in the full race, I never felt alone on the Wantagh Parkway. Yes, all of those miles on the parkway can be challenging. If you know that going in, and if there is not bad weather, you have a chance to run a fast race. As someone who lives within a hour of the race, it was great local and inexpensive option. The organization was solid and I would consider running it again.

This was my first marathon experience. I'm 48 and ran in honor of my sister, who recently lost her battle with breast cancer at age 35. I achieved my goal, and want to take this opportunity to thank the organizers and the incredible volunteers, who stood out in the rain and help make it possible. They were all amazing and had a wonderful spirit along the entire course. Overall, the event was well very organized.

Coming to run this marathon got us close enough to be able to visit Manhattan. So that was a plus. The race itself was a fairly flat course, very green, with the trees leafing out for spring and all. The temperature at the start was 63 degrees, though it cooled some after the rain started. It was overcast, with a forecast for rain in the afternoon. However, rain started falling early in the race and continued for most, if not all of the 6 hours the course was open. But it was not all bad. The winds seemed to be calm (or maybe light and variable) but in any case, the wind was not a factor in this race. And the rain was kind of a drizzle most of the way, and maybe was a bit more intense around noon. Still, I was not cold, and other runners did not seem to be cold either (I saw runners wearing coats, runners wearing tank tops, and everything in between). Still, by late in the race, we were feeling that the rain was less than desirable. But at least it was not sunny and overly hot. There were some 6,000 runners in these races (marathon, half marathon, and 10K). It seemed pretty well organized at the start line. People seemed to find the start line okay, and the finish line was nearby, so it was not quite a closed loop course. The race started with one wheelchair racer; then the others followed. The course did a two-mile loop near the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Nassau College and returned near the starting line. The course did a bigger loop up to the north; then at mile marker 10, the half-marathoners broke off to the right, and the marathoners continued down Wantagh Parkway. What is interesting is that this is a 4-lane divided highway, and the whole thing was closed for the marathon. That was quite impressive, and it took a lot of law enforcement to keep the cars out. One painting contractor managed to get access with his van and was driving down the course. Apparently the police chased him off, but he managed to get back on and cruise some more. Then later, he was driving in the other direction. Another spectator, I guess. One other car on the course looked like it had a lost driver who did not know where to go. Anyway, from about mile marker 9 to 23 was on this freeway. And the bridges along the way were brick structures, and they all seemed to look the same. So that part was routine. One other funny thing happened. A half-marathoner finished, then got her umbrella and a chase-lounge, and went and sat along the freeway at about mile 22.5, to watch the stragglers - like me - closing in on the finish. Off the freeway, we ran a couple of miles on a road leading back to Eisenhower Park, and the last part of the course was through the rather large park. The finish line was set up in Eisenhower Park, and bottles of water were passed out there, and a nylon zipper-topped lunch sack, with different food items in it, was handed out to each runner. A couple of comments about the race: There were more fans than I would have expected for a rainy day - many were standing under the bridges. They were an encouragement, and that was a plus. Also, the aid station workers were hearty souls to tolerate the rain in order to serve and encourage the runners. They were great. A couple of things were negatives: I twice e-mailed the staff for clarification and more information, and was never answered. One concern was that the pasta dinner was scheduled for Friday night. That was odd for a Sunday marathon. Another was the location of the expo. Locals probably knew the place by name, but GPS did not recognize the name, and no address was given. So I had difficulty finding the expo. Then conflicting information on end time for the expo was given. Both 6 p.m. and 5 p.m. were published in different places. I did not arrive until past 5, and all but one vendor had torn down their displays, and a sort of chaos was in place. I did not know where to start the process. It all worked out, but they ran out of safety pins, race booklets, and told me they ran out of large T-shirts. Though we did come up with all these items, it was a bit stressful. One guy I met Sunday morning just got in town and had not registered. He did not know who to talk to, and that the policy was to allow no race-day registrations. I never found out if he got to race or not. Other amenities: The T-shirt was rather plain and unimaginative. The aid stations were well stocked. Water early on and then water and Gatorade from about mile 10, and GU gel at several stations later in the race. The volunteers were an encouragement to us (though the last couple of stations were abandoned by the time I showed up). Those, of course, were self-service. This race is not a difficult one. It is pretty flat and easy; perhaps no marathon should be called easy, but comparatively, but it is easier than some hilly courses. The support was good during the race. The food and lunch bag at the end were good. Not having my inquiries answered was not cool, and having a pasta dinner Friday night for a Sunday race was odd. So weigh it all out. If you need an excuse to visit NYC, this is a good marathon event to participate in.

This was my second marathon and I got some real mixed feelings about this race. Ill start off with the good. Volunteers were amazing; all of these kids came out in the cold and rain, handing out water and cheering you on. Awesome! The expo was nice. I got a great deal on clothing. The shirts, towel/scarf, lunchbox cooler, and water bottle were nice. The course was alright, and had a nice, optimistic, festive atmosphere. And now the bad: this race said they had 7,000 runners, and there were only 500+ marathoners, so you start the race with the 10K and half-marathoners all at once. This isn't bad, but you're stuck side by side with these novice women who sped right by you two minutes into the race only for you to pass them 1-2 miles later while they're huffing and puffing. Quite annoying! Also, it's hard to maintain a steady, even pace for a marathon running side by side with half-marathon people for 10 miles. The turnpike was pretty boring after awhile; I'm not from Long Island, but I'm sure there must be a better place to run miles 10-22. All in all, I probably would not run the marathon race again (maybe the half) because it seems like the marathon is more of a second thought to the half and the 10K with the course selection on a random highway for so long and not through a more interesting environment.

Great organization. The marathon does get lonely after the split at the 10-mile mark. Though the fans that did come out in the rain, the support was greatly appreciated. Water station support was great. Thanks to all for a great time.

Folks, it's a small-time marathon so don't expect big crowds--most of the people out there know someone in the race and that's why they're out there! Lighten up on the "boring course" already; it's flat and fast and that should be enough for any marathoner. I've run this race a number of times and there are plenty of people around (volunteers and runners), who can get you to the start and tell you where the bathrooms are and what time the race starts.

I've been running this race since 1987, when I was 15. The half in 1987 was from Eisenhoweher Park to Jones Beach. Over the years, the course has changed. Now it runs south to Sunrise Highway, and then to the boring, no-fan Wantagh Parkway. Since there was a change made in 2004, the course has been fun - going through Westbury and Hicksville, and then back to Eisenhower Park. Plenty of water and restrooms. See you out on the course!