Thousands of runners hit the pavement for the inaugural Suffolk County Marathon and half-marathon on Sunday.

The 26.2-mile run began and ended at Heckscher State Park, and stretched all the way to Patchogue. Most of the route was along Montauk Highway, and it crossed through downtown villages like Sayville and Blue Point.

A New York City man completed the men's marathon first, while a Rhode Island woman finished first in the women's full marathon.

More than 3,400 runners participated. There was a special category for active military members, as well as a component for racers with disabilities.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says all of the net proceeds from the race will go to help local veterans. Organizers say the race raised about $100,000 for the cause.