"The hills of Long Island" attracted 76 runners to the starting line of the 1998 edition of the Long Island Endurance 50 Mile and 50 Kilometer Runs on May 16.

However, those hills, coupled with the oppressive heat and humidity of the first summer-like day of the season, took a real toll, as only 55 hardy souls made it back to the finish line at Fireman's Field on Oyster Bay.

One of the outstanding athletes who did make it to the finish line was 49-year-old John Kaufman of Farmingdale. Kaufman successfully navigated the hills and conquered the weather conditions to finish the 50 mile run in 10 hours, 4 minutes, 40 seconds, good for 12th place in the Men's Division of the run.

Three centuries of history are connected with the Long Island Endurance Run. Early on in both races, the runners pass Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay, where Sally Townsend learned of Benedict Arnold's plot to turn West Point over to the British and got word to General Washington in time to foil the scheme. Later on, both courses pass immediately through "TR" country -- wandering past the Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Sanctuary only a mile from Teddy's home at Sagamore Hill. The latter stages of both the 50K and 50 Mile course weave through Huntington, home of Long Island's Poet Laurerate Walt Whitman.

However, most of the field was more-or-less oblivious to the historical background of the course. It was hot, oppressively hot, and by the time the runners reached the last big hill (the mile long "Fish Hatchery Hill" 26 miles into the 50K and 45 miles into the 50 Miler) their only concern was getting enough fluids and nutrition for the last push to the finish.

The Long Island Endurance Runs were administered, as in the past, by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club (POBRRC), and co-directed by the club's Nick Palazzo (who will be joining Dick Opsahl in attempting the Grand Slam later this year) and vice-president Don Butchin. POBRRC co-vice president Mindy Davidson put together a crew of over a hundred volunteers who kept things moving smoothly throughout.

The club has extended a welcome to all to join them next year for the 5th annual Long Island Endurance 50 Mile and 50 Kilometer Runs on Saturday, May 15, 1999.