Milo’s 5K for the Homeless

Milo’s 5K for the Homeless is a community 5K at Belmont Lake State Park benefiting the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. It’s a casual, welcoming event with a good cause behind it, and it’s one of the more dog-friendly races you’ll find on Long Island. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to bring your pup to a 5K, this might be it.

Belmont Lake State Park is a nice setting: water nearby, tree cover, and easy to navigate. The course map is on the registration page and the layout looks like a standard park loop. It’s not a big production race, but there are community vendors and nonprofit organizations on-site after the finish, which makes sticking around worthwhile. T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 100 registrants, so early registration matters if you want one.

Awards are a little more personal here: top 1 male and female overall, age group winners across a broad range of brackets, and separate awards for the fastest dog and best dressed dog. That last category alone makes it worth showing up to watch even if you’re not running.

What to Know:
• Dogs are welcome on leash. They must stay leashed at all times and their human must start at the back of the pack if participating in the 5K.
• T-shirts guaranteed only for the first 100 registrants. Register early.
• Awards: top 1 overall M/F plus top 1 per age group. Also: fastest dog and best dressed dog awards.
• Community vendors and nonprofits are on-site after the race.
• Register 3 weeks in advance for a personalized bib.
• Check the race website closer to race day for any parking or logistics updates specific to this event.