Thousands of people are signing up to run in the Catholic Health Services’ 2nd Annual Suffolk County Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K on October. 29. From people participating to meet health goals to teams of veterans running in honor of their colleagues, all have inspiring stories to tell about why they’re running in the Catholic Health Services’ 3rd Annual Suffolk County Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Run on October 29.
To share your marathon story with us, email Pam Robinson at Pam.Robinson@SuffolkCountyNY.Gov.
To see the 2016 Faces Of The Race, click here.
To see the 2015 Faces Of The Race, click here.
2017 Faces Of The Race
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Team MAD DaSh
Mecca Baker - Islip NY
Alegra Eidelman-Williams - Montclair NJ
Darlene Abraham - Laurelton NY
Sherrika Fuller - Salisbury NY
Working Moms who bonded through running! With our husbands and children cheering us on, we will participate in the relay to complete our first Marathon together!! Fitness, friends and fun!
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Susan and Mike Hanner
Vero Beach, FL
My husband and I did the Suffolk Marathon 2016 . I did the half marathon. My daughter ran the 5k with friends. Mike ran his 1st 26.2 marathon. I did my first marathon the year before in Key West 2015 . We both are in our 60s. We’ve only been running for a few years now. We enjoy this race so much . We are going to be doing this race once again this year . I’m doing the full and Mike the half. This is one awesome race . See you all there...
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Stephen Norris
Coram, NY
This'll be my first time running the Suffolk County Marathon, but I've previously run the Long Island Marathon and it will be my 3rd marathon overall. The reason I'm running the Suffolk County Marathon is because I love the challenge and sense of accomplishment from running this benchmark distance. I have aspirations to run the Boston Marathon one day and I'm hoping to finish in a qualifying time this time or in the near future. I started running five years ago in an effort to be more active to help lose weight and then maintain the 80 lbs I had subsequently lost. As I lost more weight running became easier and easier, which prompted me to run longer distances, leading to participating in road races about three years ago, and becoming a marathoner in 2016.
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Filomena Scholl
Massapequa, NY
I am running the half marathon. My first ever half marathoner was the first Suffolk half. I have been running it ever since. This will be my third year running it. I started running because it was something that I could do for myself after becoming a mom. Running was my quiet time and still is. I have my best thoughts and ideas when I am running. Running has taught me that I am strong and I can do hard things. I love running this race because it supports the veterans.
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Joseph Huber
Pine Brook, NJ
As a 67 year old I still love running marathons - over 120 of them - and running in support of our veterans is a special honor. I ran this race last year and found it to be one of the most enjoyable, relaxing courses I’ve experienced. Running keeps me young, or at least sustains the illusion that I am!
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Amanda Leigh Strong
East Patchogue, NY
I am running this Half Marathon for health, well-ness , fitness, and to see my friends! I never liked running as a child, felt like it was a chore, something I had to complete. As soon as I ran my first 5k, which was The Liz Kelly ,Run for the Sun, it certainly changed the way I see things today, a different perspective!
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Juliet Meltsner
Bay Shore, NY
I started running sophomore year of college to lose the weight I had gained freshman year. I started to get into a rhythm with my breathing and suddenly, running didn't seem like a chore but rather part of my routine. I participated in my first half marathon in 2013 and didn't do much training but the feeling of crossing that finish line was unbelievable--the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. After that, I participated in three more half marathons before signing up for a full marathon and began legitimately training. I had run 18 miles on one run and then got peroneal tendinitis a week before my marathon and was devastated. I then signed up for the Catholic Health Services Suffolk County Marathon as motivation to get better and complete a marathon. This marathon is close to family and home which I think will help keep me motivated and in the end, succeed. I am also running this for my grandpa, Papa as he was an avid runner. He will be at the race as well as the rest of my family cheering me on!
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Robert Shimonski
Plainview, NY
I am currently signed up for the Half Marathon in Suffolk as well as all of the other Veteran series races in 2017. My reason for running this race is simple: it supports Vets and brings community together to celebrate a great cause. I have been running since I enlisted in the Marine Corps back in 1992. I continue to do so to stay healthy and active and participate in about 30-40 events per year. As an active supporter of the military, their families and those who paid the ultimate price for their service, I run this race for you.
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Julie Noonan
Boyertown, PA
I had started running (and losing weight) just 6 months before my breast cancer diagnosis in November 2014. I kept running during my treatments because running was the one thing I could control. I even ran a 10k the day before my 30th radiation treatment. Exactly 1 year and 1 day from the diagnosis, I ran my first half marathon and was hooked. I’ve set a goal to run a half marathon in every state. I grew up in Kings Park and though I moved away 15 years ago, LI will always be “home” to me. When I saw there was a race right in Suffolk County, and it benefited a great cause, I knew I had to come home to run it. Having my stepfather, Jim Kelly, who is a veteran, there to cheer me on will be an added bit incentive for me.
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Franklin Padilla
East Patchogue, NY
I live in East Patchogue and I love my community I try and support the local merchants as much as possible and go to all the events. Last year I did the 5k; this year I am doing the full marathon. It will be my second one (last year I did the Air Force Marathon) . I am running this for my love of running. I generally do runs to support all kinds of causes but this race is a bit extra special due to the fact I am an active duty veteran and it’s in my town.
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Kristin Anderson
North Bergen, NY
I ran a race in Suffolk County last year and enjoyed the area; I wanted to explore other races and other communities. I have been a runner all my life. When I was in graduate school, I wasn't able to run as much as I wanted. After I finished school, I started running again. In the past I have run for Team in Training (Leukemia Lymphoma Society) and Autism Speaks. My dad was and my niece currently is in the military (Army), so veteran services are important, especially for veterans who are dealing with the long-term psychological effects of military service.
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Rachel Toolan
Rensselaer, NY
The 2017 Suffolk County Marathon will be my 14th full marathon. I am excited to run this marathon as the race start and finish are in my hometown of Patchogue.
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Gigi Becker
South Huntington, NY
I started running 5 years ago because I was overweight and getting older. I knew I needed to do something since I was no longer skating on a roller derby team and that was my only physical activity. So I started signing up for a 5k run/walk just about every weekend and that progressed to 10ks, then half marathons and marathons. I have now run in over 310 races since I started. I run as part of Team Chris and with them I feel like I am using my running not only to better myself but to help our troops and veterans with the efforts put forth by Team Chris.
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Jules Winkler
Medford, NY
I’m running the Suffolk marathon for the first time because I want to support veterans. I served in the U.S. during the Korean War.
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Steven Winckler
Riverhead, NY
I have run 5k and 10k and my next goal was to do a half marathon. Since I turned 55 this year I thought it was time.
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Mary Kelly
Holbrook, NY
I have done a bunch of 5K’s, several 10K’s and 2 half marathons over the last 15 years. I started running in my late 30’s to what else, LOSE WEIGHT. I have three other sisters that also run –so I caught the “bug”. Having been a big yo-yo dieter losing and gaining large amounts of weight over 20 years – it was running and keeping active that has changed my life. I signed up for the 2017 Suffolk County Half Marathon to give myself a challenge. It’s been a few years since I did a Half Marathon and it’s time. I turned 50 last year and you know what? Why the heck not. Do it while I still can. That’s what I have learned after all these years.
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Janine Logan
Hauppauge, NY
I am participating in the 5K race as a member of the @lihealthcollab team to promote the Long Island Health Collaborative’s Are You Ready Feet? walking initiative and because I know the health benefits of walking are far reaching and help with the management of all sorts of chronic diseases. I am also walking in support of my daughter who has type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition that is better controlled by the steady pace walking affords.