Mimi Washington to Hit the Bricks in Marathon

Mimi Washington of Orange will be hitting the pavement in September to help raise funds for veterans’ causes.

The inaugural Suffolk (NY) Marathon & Half Marathon in Support of Veterans is scheduled September 13. The races will raise funds to expand and enhance veterans’ services in Suffolk County, and the marathon is a last-chance qualifier for the Boston marathon.

“I started running when my son was in 5th grade ( He now is in Junior in high school ),” Washington said. “Suffork will be my second marathon. I want to run Suffork Marathon because Suffork is the place where running became more than just running for me. I started help out Summer Running Camp for Rolling Thunder Special Needs Program 5 years ago. All the athletes and coaches in the team were so inspiring and the experiences with Thunder made me want to involve with running in different way. Currently, I am a member of Milford Road Runners, and the running coach for Couch to 5K in Woodruff YMCA. I am planning to go back to Rolling Thunder every summer for the camp to run with Thunder kids and adults.“

The marathon has a distinctly planned route that was designed to showcase and drive tourism toward downtowns along the Great South Bay. The race will begin and end at Heckscher State Park in East Islip with a Taste of Long Island wine and food festival to end race festivities and highlight local craft breweries, award-winning wines, and local food and produce. Free tastings will be given to all race participants. Suffolk County has partnered with New York State to host this inaugural event. The festival will also feature live musical entertainment.

The Taste of Long Island Festival is being made possible with the support and partnership with New York State, the Suffolk County Restaurant and Tavern Association, the Long Island Wine Council, and the Long Island Farm Bureau.

“The Suffolk County marathon is a mechanism to highlight the incredible communities, natural resources and businesses we have here in Suffolk County,” said County Executive Steve Bellone, who is also running the Suffolk marathon. “Suffolk County is a world renowned destination. From the Hamptons to our wine country to our amazing downtowns and world class beaches, we are a destination for tourism, businesses, recreation, and living. Our marathon will give us an opportunity to showcase all of that.”

For some race participants, the Suffolk marathon is their first full marathon, while other registrants have been competing in marathons, tough mudder races and triathlons for years. Runners from around Long Island and beyond are participating, including wheelchair and hand cycle competitors, veterans and supporters of veterans, as well as many others eager to enjoy Suffolk’s natural beauty and participate in the inaugural race.

North Shore-LIJ Health System has been named as a presenting sponsor. The Suffolk marathon is part of the veterans series of races that began May 23 with the Annual Cpl. Christopher G. Scherer “I DID THE GRID” Run/Walk Pulaski Elementary School, East Northport. Other races in the series include:

June 27, 2015: Lt. Michael P. Murphy 4-Mile Run Around the Lake, Lake Ronkonkoma

July 4, 2015: Firecracker 5k, Dowling College, Oakdale

September 12, 2015: Cow Harbor Warriors’ Captain Joseph J. Boccia Jr. USMC 4- Mile Warrior Run, Crab Meadow Beach Park, Northport

November 7, 2015: Long Island Run for the Warriors, Lindenhurst

Veterans and residents who run or volunteer in all of the six races of the 2015 Suffolk County Veterans Running Series will receive a special, commemorative challenge coin. Those who run or volunteer in a majority of the races in the running series will receive a commemorative participation medal.

The marathon is managed managed by the Greater Long Island Running Club at glirc.org

To learn more about the Suffolk marathon or to register, visit http://www.suffolkmarathon.com