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August 30, 2007
Overwhelming Response To Hamptons Marathon
By Kerry Monaco
The estimated number of entrants for the inaugural running of the Hamptons Marathon: a conservative 250.
The reality: 700, with a waiting list of more than 120.
The event, which will include a marathon, a half marathon and a fun run for kids, will be run on Saturday, September 29, with the starting line and finish line at the Springs School on School Street in Springs, East Hampton.
The Hamptons Marathon is the brainchild of distance runners Amanda Moszkowski and Diane Weinberger. The two, who are both residents of Manhattan and summer on the East End, decided to create the event because of their desire for longer distance events in the area.
The main beneficiary is Project Most, which provides after-school services to students in the elementary and middle schools in East Hampton and Springs. The Springs Fire Department will also receive proceeds from the event.
The course is a USA Track and Fieldsanctioned and certified course, and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, which will be run on April 21, 2008.
Faced with an overwhelming response, the two organizers had to close registration more than a month ago when more than 500 runners signed up. A waiting list was established, and the organizers decided to expand the field to 700 runners. With 120 on the waiting list, registration has been closed. However, the kids race is still open for registration.
The number was limited to 700 runners to not overcrowd the course.
“We’re really quite sad that we couldn’t get everyone into the race,” Moszkowski said. “Who knew it would be so popular? It’s really exciting.”
She also noted that if they had left the registration open, the number of entrants could have reached 1,000.
“For us, it’s been kind of a thrill ride, and at the same time we’re so preoccupied with making it perfect,” Moszkowski said. “We wanted to make it controllable for us, and that was why we didn’t go with more people. It’s a firsttime race, and we wanted to make sure it was the best event it could be for the runners.”
As of early June, 120 runners from around the country had signed up, and the number grew exponentially from there, an increase credited to the group nailing down two major corporate sponsors, Jet Blue and Nike.
While the opportunity has passed to run this year’s race, there is a way to keep from getting closed out of next year’s event. Anyone who volunteers at this year’s event is guaranteed a spot in the 2008 race.
Volunteers are needed for various tasks, ranging from a week before the run to the day of the event. Help is needed to fill goodie bags for entrants, for registration the night before as well as at water stations during the race.
People who want to help out can send an e-mail to volunteers@hamptonsmarathon.com.
Moszkowski also said that the Hamptons Marathon web site, www. hamptonsmarathon.com, is the first marathon site to offer a video of the course to give runners a feel for what they will face on race day.
The top male and top female finishers will win $500 plus a pair of roundtrip tickets from Jet Blue Airlines as well as a three-night stay at the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas or Bachelor Gulch in Colorado.
The second-place finishers, both male and female, will win $500, and the thirdplace finishers will bring home $375. The top local male and female finishers will each win $250.
In the half marathon, the top male and female runners win $250 with $200 for second and $150 for third. The top local male and female runners will each win $150.
All winners also receive trophies. Trophies will be awarded to each age-group winner and the top finishers in the kids race.
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