McGraths are longtime Islanders diehards

Between them, Dan and Shaun McGrath have run major marathons in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. All of those experiences were great, but not one of them could offer those two Islanders diehards from Lynbrook what the Long Island Marathon can, a chance to start in the shadow of Nassau Coliseum.

They would say it is cool, except nothing was cool along the humid 26.2 miles Sunday. You get the drift, though. The Coliseum is legend to Dan, a 27-year-old lawyer working for Catholic Charities, who heard about the dynasty years from his father, Tom.

"Me, I got to see the Mike Milbury years," the younger of the McGrath brothers said after he had won the men's marathon in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 44 seconds. Still, he is an Islanders diehard. "When you've grown up with all those stories, there's something special about Long Island."

Shaun, a 31-year-old engineer working on the World Trade Center site, finished eighth. He said his favorite part of the Long Island Marathon course is "the first four or five miles," while the Coliseum is still fresh in his memory. "I mean, I was only 4 when we won that fourth Cup. But to have that culture as a kid, it's huge."

Multiply that by about 6,000 and you see the appeal of Long Island Marathon Sunday, which includes the half-marathon and 10-kilometer race. The event doesn't have the cachet that the New York City or Boston marathons have. It does mean something personal to each of the runners, the vast majority of whom are Long Islanders. This marathon is like the Islanders were in their glory years - nothing flashy, just very earnest.

"It's local, so it's fun," said Jodi Kartes-Heino of East Quogue, who placed second in the women's marathon in 3:25:36. She is as reflective of the race as anybody. She isn't a pro or Olympic distance runner. She works in the ICU trauma unit at Stony Brook University Hospital and she trains near her home.

"Anywhere from Hampton Bays to Speonk," she said. "Usually, I'm pushing the baby. So out here, I feel like I'm flying."

One can assume that 18-month-old Aimee is going to be a runner? "She already is," her mother said.

You'll never hear a story like that from the runner-up at the Boston Marathon. You could argue that it would be better for tourism if the Long Island Marathon invited elite runners from all over the world. As it is, the early-May run has evolved into a low-key, hands-on block party.

Nassau high school track athletes wear their team uniforms as they hand water bottles to runners. Volunteers and fans sing to the competitors as they pass by. Runners enjoy the sight of Westbury's shops.

Men's half-marathon men's champ Mike Nehr of West Babylon heard cheers from the runners he coaches at Syosset High. Women's half-marathon champion Jodie Schoppmann of Levittown, an elementary school band director in Herricks, was cheered on by fellow teachers as she approached Merrick Avenue. The McGrath brothers received updates on each along the course from their uncle Mike Connolly.

"With the economy, I think people are focused on health and fitness and on coming together as families and friends to help each other out," developer Scott Rechler said after finishing his fifth half-marathon, having covered familiar ground. "We ran through all of our properties. It was great. I was thinking about which leases I have that are maturing or expiring. I was glad to run past the Coliseum real fast."

Only kidding. Rechler actually posed for photos and spoke amiably with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who last week proposed a casino on the Coliseum grounds, potentially threatening the Lighthouse project that Rechler and partner Charles Wang have long been fighting for. Rechler remains optimistic. "It's a process," he said. "I went in expecting a process and it is a process."

You don't have to be a developer to appreciate the Long Island Marathon's strengths: location, location, location. Families can show up and get close. Runners like the feeling, too.

"I'm a 2:20-something guy and here I get a chance to [start] up front," Dan McGrath said. "You get a chance to go in knowing that you can maybe win a marathon."

Plus, you get to know you're home.