That changed in 1976, when the NYC Marathon expanded to five boroughs. Also in 1978, an event had been run under various names since its inception as the Earth Day Marathon in 1970, was held for the first time as the Long Island Marathon, in Eisenhower Park. Calvano was one of a cadre of talented marathoners who emerged on Long Island out of the 1970s running boom, and began to dominate the sport locally in the 1980s. The best was a lanky Ronkonkoma native with an odd, rocking gait named Pat Petersen. Petersen was the most consistent American performer in the New York City Marathon in the mid-1980s, finishing in the top five three times.
Long Island continues to produce top quality distance runners.
The majority of runners today, however, don't have the talent of a Petersen, a Kuscsik or even a Stephen Talkhouse. Still, the estimated 5,000 Long Islanders who run at least one road race a year represent one of the most cohesive and visible sports communities on Long Island.