The Long Island running community celebrated the holiday season in style once again this year with the traditional Ho Ho Ho Holiday 5K run on the roads of Bethpage on Sunday, Dec. 17. Runners from the Farmingdale community were very prominent in the list of finishers.

Although the freak storm that made for a very rainy and windy morning kept the turnout slightly below record levels, the 840 finishers in this year's run, including several Santas, assorted elves and reindeer, and even a team of penguins, enjoyed a very festive morning of family fitness and fun. The 3.1 mile main event was preceded by a quarter of a mile fun run for youngsters 12 and under on the Bethpage High School track.

The top Farmingdale finisher was the indomitable Donna McMahon, who was the first female finisher overall in the run, capping a year that saw her score as the top woman in most of Long Island's major races, earning her the Greater Long Island Running Club and Long Island Track and Field awards as the top female runner of the year. Donna crossed the finish line at Bethpage High School in 18 minutes, 26 seconds, comfortably ahead of her nearest competitor.

Also putting in an award winning performance at the run was Farmingdale High School student Tia Wofford, who finished in 22:37, taking top honors in the women's 14 and under age group.

Other Farmingdale residents successfully completing the 3.1 mile Bethpage course included Brian McMahon (19:55), Brian Devito (21:23), John Devito (22:38), Mike Gattus, running as part of the Runner's Edge Reindeer centipede team (25:13), Denise Slane (25:40), Karen Schechter (26:29), William Slane (26:59), Fred Benlein (27:26), Sal Scimeca (29:04), Frank Agovino (30:45), Carol McBride (31:45), Janine Dreizn (31:45), Steve Kinney (32:26), Karen Ann Devito (33:02), Kristen DiLiello (38:05), Gregory DiLiello (38:07), Ann Martin (42:08), 10-year-old Joseph DiLiello (43:32) and Danielle DiLiello (43:35).

The run was conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC Executive Board members Bob Sherman and Joe Sturgess serving as co-directors. Primary sponsors of the run were Vitamin World and Nutrition Warehouse, with a big assist from the real estate brokerage firm of Grubb and Ellis. The net proceeds of the run are divided between the ASPIRE Program for the rehabilitation of young amputees and the Bretton Bowl Fund for the needy families of Bethpage.

Among those on hand to show their support for the event were Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Oyster Bay Town Councilman Len Symons, Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs and Bethpage's own Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano.

"This was the 13th running of the Ho Ho Ho Run," observed Co-Director Bob Sherman, "and each one seems to be even better than the year before. We are thrilled that so many people turned out in spite of the nasty weather conditions and are especially happy that we were able to once again raise some significant funds for local charities."