35th LI Marathon Couldn’t Go On Without CSEA Members

Nassau County Public Safety Workers Frank Ambrosini and Joe Wigdzini hammer down a Marathon Parking sign at Eisenhower Park.

The 35th edition of the Long Island Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K took place on a brisk Sunday morning, May 6th throughout Nassau County. The race started at Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale across from Nassau Coliseum, venturing throughout the county, and finishing up at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

The race was followed by free giveaways from the likes of Dunkin Donuts, News 12 and Michelob Ultra, as well as a live performance by the Billy Joel cover band “Big Shot”. The 2 days preceding the race consisted of a Fitness Expo at Mitchel Field where dozens of companies set up booths with information and giveaways, as well as a Pasta Party and free IMAX movie for all runners.

4,463 runners, from 25 different states and 5 different nations crossed the finish line on May 6th and took part in the overall festivities. People traveled from near and far to encounter a course and overall event that would not have gone on without the great work of CSEA Local 830 members. The course was packed with DJ entertainment, hydration posts and signs directing runners on where to go and how far they had gone thus far.

Finish line where 4436 runners finished on Sunday, May 6th.

Local 830 members from Nassau County Parks, Recreation & Museums, and from Public Safety worked endless hours, not just for days and weeks in preparation, but for months to get ready for this extravagant event.

“There’s about 5 months in preparation that goes on,” Teddy Bial of the Parks Department said. Bial is an Equipment Operator III for the county and has been involved in the marathon for 20 years. “From pre-registration, getting mechanisms in place, ordering clothes, filing permits for paperwork, and getting graphics for materials you ordered, it’s all things that nobody thinks of.” They were also accountable for putting up 12 tents that would be used for different companies and for first aid and massage services following the race.

Mark LaMarr, who was the Race Team Director for the first time, oversaw dozens of Parks employees who helped out getting the course together. LaMarr is the ParkDirector at Cantiague Park. “We have been working about 8am to 10pm all week,” LaMarr said of the week leading up to the race. “We will even be going later tonight (Friday, May 4th) because of the Fitness Expo and Pasta Party.” LaMarr was also distributed awards at the ceremony following the race.

Pete Cimino was the other main member of the Race Team, who has been in the county for 35 years part-time, and was also a huge help to the effort.

Parks workers hammer in signs along the home stretch towards the finish line at Eisenhower Park.

Nassau County Public Safety was just as essential in getting things together. Whilemarathon runners were resting up, long-time CSEA member Frank Ambrosini along with most of the crew reported no later than 5am on race day to put the final finishing touches on the course. “We expect to have about 60 guys here on Sunday,” Ambrosini said. Public Safety was responsible for putting up fences, barriers, signs for parking, and working on the command post at Eisenhower.

The maintenance crew from the Parks also assisted in those efforts, led by Maintenance Superintendent Mike Fritz, and Supervisors Mitch Brumberg and Don Kink.

When it was all said and done, there was a great sense of accomplishment not just for the runners who completed the rigorous race, but for CSEA members who gave them the opportunity to do so.