Patti Clifford to Run 15th Marathon

Patti Clifford will strike out for her 15th marathon, joining thousands of others at the inaugural Suffolk County Marathon & Half Marathon in Support of Veterans, scheduled September 13.

The Flanders resident has run 14 marathons, including three times in Boston, three in New York City, the Marine Corps,Chicago, Philadelphia, Steamtown, New Jersey Shore and Long Island.

She runs with a group of friends called SAST--Saturdays at six-thirty.

“I am really excited to run the Suffolk Marathon because I grew up in Sayville and attended Connetquot High School so I am looking forward to running familiar roads and reminiscing,” she said. “My brother is also running this race with me and while we have run other marathons together we are determined to stay together for this one and really make a cool memory! He is also now living in New Jersey so this will be meaning to him as well. We both love Long Island summers and spend as much time as we can near the water on Long Island. We will have a lot of family there rooting us on.”

The races will raise funds to expand and enhance veterans’ services in Suffolk County. It also is a last-chance qualifier for the Boston marathon.

The marathon has a distinctly planned route along the South Shore of Long Islandthat was designed to showcase and drive tourism toward downtowns along the Great South Bay. The race will begin and end at Heckscher State Park in East Islip with a Taste of Long Island wine and food festival to end race festivities. Suffolk County has partnered with New York State to host this inaugural event.

For some race participants, the Suffolk marathon is their first full marathon, while other registrants have been competing in marathons, tough mudder races and triathlons for years.

“The Suffolk County marathon is a mechanism to highlight the incredible communities, natural resources and businesses we have here in Suffolk County,” said County Executive Steve Bellone, who is also running the Suffolk marathon. “Suffolk County is a world renowned destination. From the Hamptons to our wine country to our amazing downtowns and world class beaches, we are a destination for tourism, businesses, recreation, and living. Our marathon will give us an opportunity to showcase all of that.”

To learn more about the Suffolk marathon or to register, visit http://www.suffolkmarathon.com or facebook.com/stevebellone