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SUFFOLK COUNTY MARATHON

October 19th & 20th, 2024
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OCTOBER 18th & 19th, 2025. BAY SHORE, NY 11706 US

FAQ

RACE DETAILS / START

  • What time does my race start?
    • The 5k starts at 9:00 am, Saturday, October 18th.
    • The 1k starts at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 18th.
    • The 10k, Half Marathon & Full Marathon Start at 7:30 am, Sunday, October 19th.
  • Where are the start lines?
    • The 1k & 5k starts inside Gardiner County Park.
    • The 10k, 13.1 & 26.2-mile races all start by the Babylon, LIRR Train Station. The actual Start line is on the corner of Railroad & Deer Park Ave.
  • Where are the restrooms located?
    • We will have portajohns located adjacent to the start lines.
  • Can I get dropped off at the race site on race morning? If so, where?
    • The best place to be dropped off is at Babylon Train Station, the North Side of the tracks (Park Ave). 

PACKET PICKUP / EXPO

  • Where is Packet Pick-up? We have a few locations! PLEASE PAY ATTENTION...
    • Friday before the Race 5:00 p.m. - 7:35 p.m. All Athletes can pick up their BIBS & Race Packets at the EXPO tent, located at the Finish line at Gardiner County Park. 
    • Saturday before the Race 7:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. 5k Athletes ONLY can pick up their BIBS & Race Packets at the EXPO tent, located at the Finish line at Gardiner County Park. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Athletes participating in the 1k, 10k, Half Marathon, Full Marathon can pick up their BIBS & Race Packets at the EXPO tent, located at the Finish line at Gardiner County Park.
    • Sunday VIP ONLY before the Race 6:15 am - 7:15 am VIP ATHLETE RaceDay Packet Pickup. Athletes who paid for the VIP RaceDay Pickup can pick up their BIBS the 10k, Half & Full Marathon at the VIP Tent located near the start line at Babylon Train Station. Athletes will receive their t-shirt/race packet in the post-race tent at the finish line after their race.
  • I need to add on the VIP packet pickup! How do I do that?
  • I can't make it to Packet Pick-up. Can a friend pick up my race number?
    • Yes, but your friend will need a printout of your registration confirmation.
  • You said we need to know our BIB# to pick up our packet. Where do I find my BIB#?
  • Can I register at packet pick-up?
    • Yes, BUT NOT ON SUNDAY. We will have registration and will accept CREDIT CARD ONLY. However, NO PERSONAL CHECKS or CASH will be accepted.
  • Can I change the event distance at packet pick-up?
    • Yes, just ask for assistance at the registration table, BEFORE PICKING UP YOUR BIB#. We will need to assign you a new BIB# that coincides with that race distance.
  • Can I defer my entry?
    • As per our refund policy, there are no refunds or transfers. Please see the published policy at https://runsignup.com/Race/43489/RefundPolicy Thanks to the iRUNthisISLAND Foundation, if you volunteer on RaceDay we will defer to 2026. Please email RaceAwesome@RaceAwesome.com

PARKING / SHUTTLE BUSES / TRAIN TRAVEL

  • I am coming for the 5k or 1k run or Picking up my race packet on Saturday. Where do I park?
    • There is no shuttles on Saturday. Please park in the streets across from Gardiner County Park. 
  • I am racing the Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10k on Sunday. Where do I park?
    • There is no parking at Gardiner County Park. Athletes and Freedom Festival visitors must park behind the Great South Bay Shopping Center. Located at 895 Montauk Hwy, West Babylon, NY 11704
  • My family is coming later to see me at the finish line. Where do they park?
    • There is no parking at Gardiner County Park. Athletes and Freedom Festival visitors must park behind the Great South Bay Shopping Center. Located at 895 Montauk Hwy, West Babylon, NY 11704
  • I am coming by train on Sunday to the Babylon LIRR, how do I get back after the race?
    • Shuttle buses will run both to the Babylon LIRR and the Great South Bay Shopping Center Parking Lot on Marathon Sunday.
  • What time do the shuttle buses run?
  • I see the race starts near a train station, can I take the train?
    • Yes, the train is a great way to get to the race! You need to take the LIRR to the Babylon Train Station.
  • What time does the train get there, how far is it from the start line?
    • It is about a .2 mile walk to the start line, under 5mins.

COURSE QUESTIONS

  • Where can I find the course maps?
  • I am trying to qualify for Boston, is this a qualifying course?
  • Are there cut-off times?
    • Yes, the 26.2 Mile Marathon will enforce a strict 15-minute mile minimum pace. There are no cut-off times for the 1k, 5k, 10k or Half Marathon.
  • Are there pacers?
    • We do plan to have pacers.
  • What is the course elevation?
    • Click on the course map links above and use the interactive maps. They have the elevation!
  • Your course maps show the wrong distance, don't you know how long a 26.2mile, 13.1mile, 10k etc. actually are?
    • Yes, the maps show the actual distance. These maps are using Google Earth routes via various platforms. We can not manipulate the mileage that it shows without cutting out some of the course. Use the maps to identify and learn the route; that's all they are for. The measured distance by our USA Track and Field course measurer (Gary Westerfield) is accurate.
    • The marathon has an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26.219 miles; 26 miles 385 yards).
    • The half marathon is 21.0975 km (13 mi 192½ yd)—half the distance of a marathon.
    • The 10k run is 10,000 meters or 6.2137 miles (or approximately 32,808.4 feet).
  • Are jogging strollers allowed?
    • Not in the 26.2 mile, 13.1 mile events.
    • YES, the 5k & 10k run welcomes jogging strollers. (Please note: there are no age group awards for athletes running with strollers).
  • What's on the course for Nutrition? How often are there water stops? Are there portajohns?
    • There will be water, Gatorade, bananas, and coke at each aid station. Aid stations are located roughly every 2 miles. Yes, every water stop has a portajohn.
  • Are Camelbaks allowed?
    • NO, CAMELBAK's, as well as Backpacks, are not allowed on the course. They are viewed as a security risk, and if you use either, you will be removed from the course by the Police.

ATHLETE TRACKING & TIMING

  • Can my family track me?
    • Yes, they can. Please https://runsignup.com/Race/FindARunner/?raceId=43489 to learn about The RaceJoy tracking app.
      Are there Timing/split mats? Yes, there are timing mats at critical points on the course (10k Uturn, 13.1mile Uturn & Marathon Uturn.
  • How do I get my results and splits?
    • Race results are posted LIVE online at https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/43489# If you signed up for TEXT messaging, they will be sent to you soon after you cross the finish line.
  • Is the race chip-timed or gun-timed?
    • All races are timed using timing chips. The start line for the 1k is on gun-time; the 5k, 10k & 13.1 mile and 26.2-mile start line use chip-timing.

BAG DROP

  • Is there a bag check/drop for these events?
    • We will have a bag check ONLY for the events on Sunday.
  • Where and how do I drop my bag on Sunday?
    • Bag drop is located on Railroad Ave at the Babylon Train Station near the start line. See FULL DETAILS for bag check at 
  • Will the bags be secure?
    Yes, very secure. All bags will be checked and transported to the post-race recovery tent/expo tent. Please note that bags will not arrive or be ready for pickup until after 9 am. Please note, you will need your race BIB to claim your bag.

SPECTATORS. 

  • PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR THE BEST VIEWING.
  • Can my family/friends see the start of the race?
    • YES, this a great place for spectators, they will get to see you start and see you go by again at mile #2.
  • Can my spectators bring pets?
    • Only service animals are allowed.
  • Can my kids/family/friends run down the finish line with me?
    • As much as we love this, the answer is NO. The finish line is a SECURE AREA.
  • Can my spectators get into the park after the race starts?
    • Yes, by using the shuttle buses. There is no parking at Gardiner County Park.

ROAD CLOSURES

  • What Roads are closed & what time will they open?
    • All road closures are ultimately decided by the Suffolk County Police Department. Roads may be closed earlier, may remain closed longer, or may reopen sooner than the times posted. CLICK HERE for full details 
FAQ

PHOTOS & RESULTS

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