Wednesday, June 18, 2025
The Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Marathon energized the region last weekend, drawing thousands of runners, families, and foodies for a celebration of endurance, community, and local flavor.
Festivities kicked off with a 5K Family Fun Run on May 2, followed by a 10K and 1K Kids Fun Run on May 3 and the half-marathon and marathon May 4. Each race began, and ended, in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park.
Not only is the marathon a premier sporting event in Nassau County and an economic generator for the area, but a great source of community entertainment outside of the races. A food truck festival ran all weekend, along with a full line up of music entertainment at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in the park. The marathon, which celebrated its 51st year, has been sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union for nearly the last decade.
Over 4,000 runners participated in this year’s races.
Peter Purpura, vice president of business development at Jovia Financial Credit Union, said the race has served as a great way for the company to get to know the Long Island community.
“One of the interesting things about this race in particular is that over the weekend, we get to interact with so many of the runners, and it’s fascinating to find out why people are running,” he said at a preview news conference on April 29. “Some people are running because they’re getting over a broken heart or a broken bone — some of them are getting over sickness. Some of them are running for somebody who is sick. Some of them are just running to feel good and be part of the community.
“I think our partnership with this event is really relevant,” he added. “We’ve been in the community for 85 years now, serving our members, and they trust us for a variety of financial needs. Similar to the runners, they come to us with a number of different reasons, and some of them are good, some of them are bad. But no matter what, our staff is always looking to greet them and get them to their next mile.”
Friends of Karen, a nonprofit that supports critically ill children and their families, has had a team run in the 5K race for nearly 20 years. The team was formed by Evelyn Anderson, whose son Luke had leukemia, in order to give back to Friends of Karen which helped her family.
“That small team has morphed into a team that has close to 200 participants who run with Friends of Karen in a very bright, yellow singlet, to raise funds to continue support the families we help, especially those right here in Nassau County,” Leslie Bellissimo, the Long Island-New York Metro Regional Director said. “We are so grateful to Nassau County for inviting us back year after year to continue to be part of the marathon weekend, to help us spread awareness of our very special mission.”
Corey Roberts, the race’s organizer, offered his gratitude to Jovia and to PSEG, another sponsor of the event.
“Without these people, it’s hard to produce a race,” he said. “It’s even harder to provide a race if we don’t have the cooperation of the county and the county services. We’re really grateful.”
The 26.2-mile race began and ended near Eisenhower Park’s Field 5. Runners headed west, leaving the park on Merrick Avenue, and then turned toward Garden City on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard. The race looped back toward East Meadow, and runners then headed north and east through Salisbury, around the perimeter of Eisenhower Park, before re-entering the park near Carmen Avenue. The half marathon followed a similar path, but excluded some parts that ran through the park. As runners crossed the finish line, they were cheered on by grandstands full of supporters.
