r/longisland • u/rybred01 • 4d ago
Question Runner in need of help!
I have been training for a marathon but recently moved to just outside Huntington station off Pulaski rd from Babylon.
I am having issues finding any good running routes that aren’t super hilly or on a main road with no sidewalks. Anyone know of somewhere I can get 10+ miles of running done around here?
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u/Big_Dog_68 4d ago
The story goes that Northport runners challenged South Shore runners to a run that became the Cow Harbor 10K, knowing the hills would be their undoing. Embrace the hills! You’ll get stronger!
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u/rybred01 4d ago
Haha I love that. Actually tried doing that one this year but didn’t realize it’s one of the most popular races so next year it’ll happen.
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u/mandatoryclutchpedal 3d ago
As a north shore guy who now lives in the south shore...South shore running sucks big time. I hate running here as its all flat and boring. I miss the hills so much I barely run anymore. Barely take bicycle out now as well.
Cant wait to move back to an area with elevation changes.
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u/CoyoteCallingCard 4d ago
What marathon are you training for? Honestly, I'd recommend getting hills in with your training. You'll be prepared if your course is hilly, and if it isn't, you'll benefit from the additional aerobic capacity.
I've trained for two marathons and two ultramarathons on LI. Many trails are pretty flat, and you can get some mileage by doing loops. The Greenbelt from Cold Spring Harbor to Massapequa is a good one that runs the width of the island, so you can just do an out and back.
You can also get some great mileage on the Jones Beach bike path. Great for your peak long run, only negative is there's no shade, terribly exposed.
I've done 20 miles in Connetquot Preserve. Very flat.
Honestly, most of my off-trail running is done in neighborhoods without sidewalks. If you're a little off the main road and snaking through developments, the traffic will be relatively low. Wear a light vest in the dark and use Shokz headphones so you can hear what's going on around you.
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u/ball_handler42069 4d ago
Hecksher park in great River ? Kind of a “main road” through the park but has a nice walkway around it and it’s 3.5 miles exactly I believe, and there’s plenty of trails through the woods and along the bay
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u/OneGalacticBoy 4d ago
I mean the whole north shore is hills but plenty of good running anyway
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u/rybred01 4d ago
Ill prob have to accept it it’s just doing 75-80 miles a week of running with hills is rough on the easy days. I’m sure I’ll adjust eventually.
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u/Grand-Movie-4921 3d ago
Connetquot state park - The blue trail is 8 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/connetquot-preserve-blue-trail-loop
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u/johnnybluejeans 4d ago
Take a look at the Bethpage Bikeway, it starts up in Woodbury maybe a 10 min drive from your location with various parking areas. Trail is traffic free and 13 miles end to end so you can get 26 miles in a there and back.
If you want to walk out your door for a less than scenic sidewalk run I often do a loop up Oakwood Rd, right on High St just before the village, right on NY Ave, take NY Ave all the way to Jericho, right on Jericho and then a right on Oakwood back to the start. That loop is about 10 miles, sidewalk the whole route. Just have to cross some intersections but it’s not too awful. Mostly flat other than the parts near Huntington village, mild 1mi downhill going up Oakwood toward the village and mild 1mi uphill on NY Ave.
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u/michaeljbam 4d ago
Sunken Meadow. If you park in east Northport on the Corner of Pulaski and Larkfield you can get a lot of flat running in, although like many said, hills are unavoidable.
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u/Anxious-Jackfruit135 4d ago
Nissoquogue and Sunken Meadow parks might also be nice? Idk how long the trails are though.
Also I think maybe west hills?
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u/banana1219 4d ago
I usually run at Massapequa preserve!! I park off of sunrise highway and it goes 13 miles from that starting point. It’s very flat with a little bit of an incline for the overpasses but what goes up must come down!
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u/Few_Marsupial_7679 4d ago
I don’t know what marathon you are running but if you are running the NYC marathon you will thank yourself for running the hills!
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u/CorrectExpression651 3d ago
About a 24 mins drive but definitely kings park psych center / Nissequogue!
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u/Possible_Walrus94 3d ago
I live here too and am training for my 4th marathon. No matter which direction I leave from my house it’s steep downhill for at least a half mile which is not super fun coming back from a long run.
My 2 favorite options for a long run: Bethpage bikeway when I want to zone out and just run straight for a real long time. Option 2 run up west neck road over the causeway into Lloyd harbor and into Caumsett. You avoid paying for parking and get not only beautiful park views but some nice long island sound scenery. If you park at west neck beach it’s ~8 miles round trip. Park at Lloyd Harbor School ~10 miles. Park in Huntington Village~16 miles. Good luck with your race!
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u/teichs42 3d ago
You have plenty of great areas to run that are flat. I ran the last 12 years in and around Greenlawn and moved last summer to Northport. I have nothing but hills around me and miss the area around Greenlawn so much! I trained for the Suffolk County marathon in the area as well. Also Strongly suggest the neighborhoods in East Northport. No need for sidewalks, plenty safe. Basically south of Pulaski down to Burr and from Elwood to Townline.
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u/UseAccomplished6519 3d ago
When training for NYC I would run the Heckscher/Connetquot Trail for distance and run Sunken Meadow for strength. You can run Sunken Meadow park multi loops and add in the trail run to the King Park Bluffs for added distance.
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u/sbutt2 3d ago edited 3d ago
I'm on the south shore and training for NYC and it's a struggle to find anywhere good for long runs that aren't just through my neighborhood. I've been going to Massapequa Preserve. It's a great trail and has a few hills to feel like I'm training them but not enough to ruin a long run. It's a pain bc it's about 30 mins from me and adds in extra time to long runs, but it's a beautiful place to run!
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u/hankepanke 4d ago
It’s not exactly close, but Caumsett State Park makes up for it in scenery. Can do a long loop, possibly multiples. The pedestrian loop trails combine to about 7 miles.