The 15K Run to the Port Jeff Brewing Company is unofficially titled the “run you love to hate” and after running it myself I can say that that is quite accurate. This race is located in Port Jefferson, New York on Long Island. It’s sponsored by the Port Jeff Brewing Company and put on by the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC). This race is for runners who love and welcome a challenge. The course was purposefully designed to be mile for mile the toughest course on Long Island. It is nothing but steep hill climbs with smaller rolling hills in between them.

One of the great things about this race is the beautiful views of the Long Island Sound that runners will have in several locations along the course. Running through the hills of Belle Terre and looking out onto the water was breath taking (in more ways than one). For those runners that tough it out and finish the race, a party fit for the challenge you just completed is waiting for you. This well organized event ends with a wonderful finisher medal (that, given that it’s sponsored by a brewery, incorporates a bottle opener into its design), live music, free food, free drinks (including beer provided by the Port Jeff Brewery), and some great raffle prizes await all finishers. The finishers’ awards for this race were Port Jeff Brewing Company beer mugs mounted on wooden stands with a small plaque stating the winners’ finisher place. The race also offers free race photos taken by “Long Island Running Photos”.

Along this 9.3 mile course there are four water stations. Normally this might seem like enough but considering this was designed to be the toughest course on Long Island I would suggest trying to add at least one more. (Which is currently being considered by the directors.) I am thankful however that there were several families outside their houses with children handing out small Dixie cups of water along the course. It was really cute and very helpful. Water stations were located just before Mile 2, Mile 3.5, Mile 5, and a little before Mile 7. There were also mile markers at each mile along with a time clock which was nice.

The race starts off on East Broadway in Port Jefferson and heads up into Belle Terre. Runners will hit the first and biggest hill of the race right out of the gate in Mile 1. Keep those legs pumping. This hill is long and steep. Some runners may think it’s great that the toughest hill is at the start because you have all of your energy and fresh legs while others will feel that you are using a lot of energy right at the start and the rest of the race may be more difficult for it. (But remember, this race was designed to be hard!) There are a few different locations in this course that give you a beautiful view of the Long Island Sound. After the 5K mark you hit a out and back that takes you downhill to the water (smile for the cameraman!). (Out and backs are when you run to a “dead end” and turn back and run back the way you just came.) The hill you are now running again, up this time, is long so pace yourself. Things progress nicely with several smaller rolling hills throughout the course until you come on to Mile 7 and start approaching the third hill which is the second biggest of the course. This is where many runners began to walk. This hill is long and brutal. In fact, it’s the longest hill of the race. I kept my legs pumping but even still, given the steepness of the hill I was still going at a slow pace. The tricky thing about this particular hill is that when you got to what you thought is the top and make a left turn onto another street you realize that the hill continues going up. When you make it up this hill you have a nice steady downhill for a while along with several more small rolling hills. You then approach one last steep hill climb followed by a downhill run all the way to the finish that will pass the Port Jefferson Library on Thompson Street and East Main Street. Runners will then finish in front of the Port Jeff Brewing Company on Mill Creek Road. When all is said and done you finish a course with a 921 foot elevation gain! GREAT JOB!

Given the location of the race the town couldn’t close every single road along this route but they had volunteers and police officers positioned at roads and intersections stopping any traffic so that runners could get by. I have to say they did a great job. There was one moment however where a driver came out of their driveway and got stuck behind the runners who (obviously) kept running their race and wouldn’t move out of the way. A volunteer eventually ran over to the honking car and instructed it to pull over until the runners went by.

One thing that I loved was that as you crossed the finish line an announcer called out your name and hometown over the PA system so that runners and spectators could cheer you on. This was really nice. Finishing this race is known to be a badge of honor among runners on Long Island. A big thank you goes out to the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) for hosting such a great race. I’m definitely looking forward to it next year!