Jamie Flood Takes Up Suffolk Marathon Challenge

Jamie Flood will join thousands of others running Sept. 13 in the Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon.

The former college athlete from East Islip will make the half marathon her first running experience. The race will enhance veterans’ services in Suffolk County.

“As a former collegiate athlete, I have decided to sign up for the Suffolk County Inaugural Half Marathon as an opportunity to be competitive again,” she said. ”Being an athlete came with “built-in” goals already, whether that be to win your next game, fine-tune a skill or beat your own personal best time. That’s what I miss most about athletics. Post-college I am finding what drives me to compete again and seeking out the camaraderie that athletics has always given me.”

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