The Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Marathon is set to return this weekend, drawing thousands of runners, festivalgoers and food lovers for a weekend packed with action, entertainment, local eats and more.
Festivities will kick off with a 5K Family Fun Run on Friday, May 2, followed by a 10K and 1K Kids Fun Run on Saturday, May 3 and the half-marathon and marathon on Sunday, May 4. Each race begins — and ends — in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park.
Last year’s event attracted over 3,700 runners from around the world, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a news conference on April 29. Not only is it a premier sporting event and an economic generator for the area, but there’s other ways to get involved in the fun if you’re not participating in a race. A food truck festival will run all weekend long, and there will be a full line up of music entertainment at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre located in the park.
The marathon, now in its 51st year, has been sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union for nearly the last decade.
Corey Roberts, the race’s organizer, offered his gratitude to Jovia, the title sponsor, 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 — we can’t way for another phenomenal year,” Roberts added.
Minor traffic impacts are expected in the area as the races occur, and information about closures and other concerns will be communicated by the county, Blakeman said. This year’s races are expected to draw over 4,200 athletes, and there’s still time to register at RunLongIslandMarathon.com.
