The Great Cow Harbor 10K was created by John Rakucewicz, with its initial run in 1977. 1,002 runners finished the first Cow Harbor 10K. The race steadily grew throughout the 1980s; in 1985, due to the rapid growth, the race instituted a staggered start, which is still in use today. The 1986 race fell victim to its own popularity - it had grown so large that the organizers could no longer handle it. Supporters regrouped and the Great Cow Harbor 10K resumed the next year. Since then, the race has steadily seen around three to four thousand competitors annually. The 2001 edition was canceled in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks; Northport is east of Ground Zero. Three years later, in 2004, the race was run in a driving downpour, the results of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. Over half of the finishers' times weren't recorded because the timing equipment became waterlogged.
Course layout
The entire 10 Kilometer race occurs in Northport. The race begins in front of Laurel Avenue School; runners proceed south until making a right turn onto Scudder Avenue. After a short climb, the remainder of the first mile is downhill, leading to a right turn onto Woodbine Avenue. Runners continue onto Bayview Avenue, passing within sight of the finish line, until they turn right onto James Street - a steep climb. At the summit of James Street, the course turns right onto Northwest Drive, left onto Lewis Road, then left onto Ocean Avenue, offering runners a view of the Long Island Sound. Just past the halfway point, runners turn right onto Eaton's Neck Road, then right onto Waterside Avenue. The 1.5-mile stretch on Waterside, a slight incline, is where the race is often won or lost. At the five-mile mark, the course turns right onto Main Street, where after one last climb, runners coast downhill into picturesque downtown Northport. The race finishes just west of School Street, in front of the Northport Hardware Company. In recent years, a 2K Fun Run/Walk has been instituted, finishing at the intersection of Scudder and Woodbine Avenues.
According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, an arbitrator found that Mo Trafeh had used the banned substance EPO on numerous occasions. .
Prize money
Cash prizes of US$3,000 are awarded to the top male and female finisher. Since 1984, a $5,000 bonus has been offered to a winner who sets a course record; this bonus is awarded by title sponsor North Fork Bank. The Masters men's and women's champions are awarded $500 each.
