Miriam Fein to Line Up at Marathon

Miriam Fein of Plainview will join thousands of other runners led by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone at the inaugural Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon to Support Our Veterans on Sept. 13.

North Shore-LIJ Health Systems is the title sponsor of the race.

The races will raise funds to expand and enhance veterans’ services in Suffolk County. It also is a last-chance qualifier for the Boston marathon.

“I’m a single mom to three awesome kids, and finishing up my doctorate this year in Cancer Biology (with a focus on breast cancer). And I run. Mostly, it’s to maintain my sanity, but I’m not so sure it’s working.”

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.

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.

Catholic Health Services will provide nearly 100 personnel to take care of runners at the race.

The marathon is 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