Long Island races, walks during summer and fall
A colorful clan at the Bubble Palooza 5k in Calverton: mom Jen, son Brody, 7, and dad Jay Clark of West Babylon. Credit: Jen Clark
Running is at the top of popular sports on Long Island. By the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, runners of all ages and abilities step up to starting lines almost every Saturday and Sunday morning, and weeknights, too. Their nervous chatter becomes quiet as they wait for a blast from a starter’s horn. Then they’re off, colorful shoes flashing forward in road races from one mile to ultramarathons.
Here’s a list of races through mid-October.
SEPTEMBER
5K RUNNING OF THE BULL AND 1K FAMILY FUN RUN, school, 26 New York Ave, Smithtown, 631-979-8069, active.com Fun run 8:45 a.m. Fee $20 by Sept. 21, $25 race day, $10 fun run. Date 9 a.m. Sept. 23.
HAMPTONS MARATHON, HALF-MARATHON, 5K, school, 70 Leland Lane, Southampton, 917-841-2752, hamptonsmarathon.com Marathon, half-marathon 8 a.m.; 5k 8:15 a.m. No race-day registration for full or half marathon. Fee marathon $85-$125; half-marathon $70-$110; 5k $25, $35 race day (limited). Date 8 a.m. Sept. 23.
DOG JOG 5K, Isaac Dog Park, Route 25, Calverton, strongislandrunningclub.com Run with leashed dog. Fee $25, $30 race day. Date 9 a.m. Sept. 24.
OCEAN TO SOUND 50-MILE RELAY, Jones Beach State Park, 2400 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh, 516-349-7646, glirc.org 5 to 7 miles per runner, 8 per team. 8:30 a.m. start at Jones Beach; second wave at 8:30. Benefits Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Fee $450 for teams of 8. Date 8 a.m. Sept. 24.
SACRED HEART ACADEMY 5K RUN/WALK, 47 Cathedral St., Hempstead, 516-483-7383, nwsdy.li/sacredheart5k Fee $25, $30 race day. Date 9 a.m. Sept. 24.
OCTOBER
DIVAS HALF MARATHON AND 5K, Eisenhower Park, 1899 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow, 516-572-0348, runlikeadiva.com 5k waves start at 7:45 a.m., half-marathon at 8:15 a.m. Fee See website. Date 7:45 a.m. Oct. 1.
5K RUN/WALK FOR HOMELESS TEENS, Smith Point County Park, County Road 46, Shirley, 631-447-3978, mercycenterministries.org Benefits shelters for teen girls, mothers. Fee $25. Date 9 a.m. Oct. 7.
INWOOD 5K RUN, Inwood Park, Bayview Avenue, Inwood, 516-239-5405, inwood5k.com Fun run, tot trot 9:45 a.m. Benefits scholarships. Fee See website. Date 9 a.m. Oct. 8.
OYSTER BAY SUPERVISOR’S 5K, Townsend Square, Oyster Bay, 516-349-7646, glirc.org Fee See website. Date 9 a.m. Oct. 14.
6-HOUR 60TH BIRTHDAY RUN, Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park, 516-349-7646, glirc.org 2.1-mile trail loop, honors individuals born in 1957, all ages welcome. Fee $45, $50 race day. Date 8:30 a.m. Oct. 15.
