More than 5,000 runners hit the pavement Sunday in the 36th Long Island Marathon.

The race started in Uniondale under cloudy skies. Chopper 12 was overhead as the race wound around Wantagh Parkway and other roads to Eisenhower Park. Participants had their choice of running a 10K, half marathon or the full 26.2 miles.

News 12 Long Island morning sports anchor Erin Colton, President Patrick Dolan and meteorologist Rich Hoffman were among the runners.

The defending champion in the wheelchair division, Peter Hawkins, of Malverne, was also there to gain his 15th victory. "You never get used to it," said Hawkins. "It's always fun. Every time it's fun."

Lynbrook's Dan McGrath blazed through the race in two hours, 25 minutes and four seconds, making him the male winner of the full marathon. "I've trained on Long Island forever and Long Island is my home," McGrath said. "I feel like I wanted to win my hometown marathon and winning it today is definitely a good feeling."

Sachem art teacher Jessica Allen sprinted across the finish line in two hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds to win the full marathon among the women.

Lyndsey Webber, of Sayville, and Felipe Garcia, of Brooklyn, won the half marathons.