Sports
Long Islanders To Run 50 Miles For Fallen Local Hero
A dozen men and women will continue a grassroots tradition of running overnight across Long Island to honor Navy Seal Michael Murphy.
LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY — For the eighth year in a row, a small but growing contingent of Long Island runners will spend all Friday night running 50 miles to honor Long Island hero Lt. Michael Murphy.
The heroic actions of Murphy, a Navy Seal from Patchogue who was killed in Afghanistan and received the Medal of Honor, has inspired other athletic competitions including an infamous Crossfit workout called Murph and a popular road race, the Run Around The Lake in Ronkonkoma. The 50 Miles For Murph may be even more extreme, however: approximately 14 men and women including several military veterans from Nassau and Suffolk counties will run 5o miles overnight, ending in time to join the Run Around The Lake Saturday morning.
Freddy Rodriguez started the 50 mile run in 2013, after hearing the story of Lt. Murphy. He started the first 50 mile run at an FDNY firehouse in Harlem in honor of a patch Murphy wore when he was deployed, to remember a friend who died during the 9/11 attacks.
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Each year the run, always held on the night before the Run Around The Lake, grew as people heard about Rodriguez's feat and wanted to join in. Before his first 50 Miles For Murph, Rodriguez had only run 13 miles, but he wasn't deterred.
"I just go out and do it," the Little Neck resident told Patch. "I feel like it's more a mental challenge than anything."
Find out what's happening in Patchoguewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This year, due to the coronavirus, the run will take place all in Suffolk County. Rodriguez asked the same sponsors to stay on this year, but decided to not ask for any financial commitment because of the recent economic circumstances.
The 50 Miles For Murph raises money for the LT Michael Murphy Scholarship Foundation and the Lone Survivor Foundation. Two runners participated in 2013, but 2020 will have three teams and support vehicles and will be broadcast live on Facebook.
Rodriguez continues to be inspired by Murphy's story.
"He was a personal hero of mine—he gave up a career [to join the Navy]. He's a local hero. I wanted to make sure his name wasn't forgotten."
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