Bellmore Striders Hosting Annual Independence Day Run

They've been running for over 30 years. No, not non-stop - that would take up quite some time, and quite the supply of jogging shoes.

Of course, if a three-decade run were physically possible, the Bellmore Striders would give it the old college try. Or in this case, the old Mepham High School try.

The Striders are a competitive running organization, started by Alex Cuozzo.  Cuozzo has lived most of his life in Bellmore, and ran track and cross country for Mepham. When his high school running career ended upon graduation in 1976, he and some of his teammates decided they weren't ready to hang up their sneakers quite yet.

"A bunch of the guys still wanted to run, it was mainly to be a summer club at first...we would think if we'd want to run after college we would get together a little further along," Cuozzo says.

It's certainly gotten further along, as the club is still running strong (pun intended).  The club is a sort of competitive running 'support group', that offers training, camaraderie, and financial resources for those looking to go (or run) the distance.

"All the people on the club are working slobs," Cuozzo says. "They work all day long, then they come work out, we get together three days a week and make it as palatable as possible."

Members train throughout the year to compete in local and national races. There's the Mayor's Cup in Boston and the annual National Cross Country Championships, for example.

While members do socialize with one another, and it's a great way to stay in shape, this is serious business. The club (usually numbering 30 or so) is largely made up of past collegiate runners, and anyone able to keep pace. Cuozzo says many runners last only a couple of weeks.

"It's a competitive club...it just doesn't make sense if we start our run, by the time we get down the block, the person's going to be gone...it wouldn't be enjoyable for them and worrisome for me because I have to go find the person," he said.

Most club members, and hundreds of others, can be found every July 4 in Bellmore, for the Striders' annual Independence Day Run. Since 1983, the club has put the run together - four miles for adults, one mile for kids, through the streets of Bellmore.

Last year, 527 runners finished. Prizes are awarded for men and women in a variety of age groups, and the race is dedicated in the memory of Matthew Warkala.  Matthew was a member of the Striders and a Mepham grad who died of brain cancer a few years ago.

There is a registration fee, but Cuozzo said anyone over age 70 runs for free. He added that runners in their 90s regularly take part.

Cuozzo said the club is boosted by money raised from the registration fees, as well as cash awards that members win over the course of the year. When it comes to money, Cuozzo said it's becoming more of a factor these days, in a good way for his club, and running on Long Island as a whole.

"I see this more as an economic thing, because it's a lot easier for people to bring a family of four to a road race than to an Adventureland-type park where they're going to spend [more]," Cuozzo added.  "A road race is $20 a piece [registration] at the most."

And a more effective way to stay in shape than cotton candy and a roller coaster.