Marie Travis Running the Suffolk Half-Marathon

Marie Travis went from her living room to the roads in a successful effort to improve her health. The Lindenhurst resident will extend her running experience to include the Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon in Support of Our Veterans on Sept. 13.

“I grew up an overweight, lazy asthmatic, who had been told her entire life not to run,” she said. “I woke up one morning in 2012 with an intense desire to complete a 5K race by the end of the year. I quickly started to enjoy the feeling after a good run, as well as the feeling of overall camaraderie in the running community. Since starting to run, I’ve also noticed numerous health benefits, including weight loss. I’ve also noticed that my asthma is much more controlled since I started running, and I rarely have to use an inhaler. Running has become a way for me to clear my head, and it’s my time with me, as well as good exercise, and something I never though I’d enjoy.”

She followed a couch-to 5k program, designed to move people who couch potato status to runner.

She is currently training for her first and second marathons (Toronto Waterfront and NYC, respectively.

The The inaugural Suffolk County Marathon & Half Marathon in Support of Veterans i will raise funds to expand and enhance veterans’ services in Suffolk County. It also is a last-chance qualifier for the Boston marathon.

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. Suffolk County has partnered with New York State to host this inaugural event.

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.

“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.”

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