Last Saturday, almost 200 runners from across Long Island refused to let the rainy weather dampen their spirits. Instead they took part in the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk’s 13th annual 5K race/walk, “Run for the Health of It.” The race, which benefits an annual children’s bereavement retreat, boasts the distinction of being part of the 2013 United States of America Track and Field Long Island Grand Prix Road Race Series.
According to VNSHS Special Events Coordinator, Barbara Sorelle, 187 runners completed the challenging race which offers a scenic tour of the Village while incorporating part of the historic Cow Harbor Run. The race starts on Main Street, brings runners past the Skidmore House, Northport’s oldest home, whips around Norwood Ave. onto Waterside Ave. and back onto Main Street again.
Timothy Murphy, 41, of Ronkonkoma, was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 17:14.
It was the first time that the longtime member of Huntington’s Super Runners Club had participated in the race. Despite the fact that the “rain was a hindrance and the streets were slippery,” Mr. Murphy said that he “felt good the morning of the race” and also had a strategy. As the first mile is downhill, he felt it was important to get off to a quick start and then “ease into the second half of the race where more hills come into play.”
Mr. Murphy, who has participated in the Great Cow Harbor 10K Run for the last nine out of ten years, was the 10K run’s male master champion in 2011. “It has been a couple of years since my last win so I am happy with it,” Mr. Murphy remarked of his performance on Saturday.
Una Broderick, 46, of Wantagh, was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 19:46. According to announcer Terry Bisogno, aka “the voice of Long Island racing,” Ms. Broderick also came in first in 2006 and 2007, as well as placing in the top three on numerous other occasions.
Kathryn Martin, of Northport, the renowned master runner known for breaking both national and world records, finished second with a time of 20:52. It was the first time that the Signature Premier Properties realtor whose catch phrase is “miles ahead of the competition,” had raced locally since suffering knee fractures last year. “What a great way to celebrate fitness. VNS does a phenomenal job.”
Other fleet-footed local faces who placed included Torie Kramer, 49, who was the female master’s winner with a time of 22:30. Erik Hansen, 15, whose parents Flemming and Stacè own Copenhagen Bakery, took first place in the 15 to 19 age group with a time of 20:16.
Oksana Foster, a Signature Premier Properties realtor and a Great Cow Harbor Run participant, said that she took part in the VNSHS race because she was deeply moved by the cause. “It is such a wonderful cause that I had to participate. It touched my heart,” Ms. Foster said of the children’s bereavement retreat, adding that the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice is also very dear to her because her dad received wonderful care there before he passed away.
