One can never be sure about November weather, but Nov. 9 brought bright blue sunny skies and crisp fall temperatures to Jones Beach State Park to create perfect conditions for the inaugural Racing for Recovery Five Mile Run and One Mile Fun Run/Walk. The sun certainly smiled down on Racing for Recovery CEO and founder Todd Crandell and Long Island Racing for Recovery chair Kathleen Hannan, as 345 finishers helped further the fight against drug and alcohol abuse on Long Island and all over the nation.

Local finishers included Eunice Lipinski of Farmingdale, who scored third in the women's 160 pound plus Clydesdale division; Geza Feld of Farmingdale, who scored first in the 70-74 age group by a margin of nearly four full minutes in front of his nearest competitor; and Donald Moffat of Farmingdale, who earned third place honors in the 75 and over age group.

The event was administered by the Greater Long Island Running Club, and conducted for the benefit of Racing for Recovery, a national organization whose mission is to prevent all forms of substance abuse and to provide positive alternatives for those currently battling addictions by encouraging a lifestyle of fitness and health through run/walk events across the nation. The Nov. 9 event was Racing for Recovery's first venture into the New York metropolitan area.

Thanks go to Kathleen and Craig Hannan, who put their heart and soul for well over a year into making this event happen, to primary sponsor Chase Auto Finance, to Bob Cook and the gang at The Runner's Edge, who can always be depended on to support events like this, to Joe and Lori Polansky of Williston Park Deli and to G&M Wolkenberg, Inc. for their much appreciated support. Thanks as well to Finish Line Road Race technicians for handling the technical chores, to Linda Ottaviano for coordinating the volunteers, and to Bob Sherman for his tireless efforts as course set-up coordinator.

"I want to say thank you to everyone who supported Racing for Recovery while I was in New York," stated Crandell. "I enjoyed meeting all of you and look forward to seeing you all again soon. I had many people ask if I lived in Long Island and although I do not, I still like to call Long Island home. Remember this my friends, with sobriety anything is possible."