Shannon Szymanski, 35, of Manahawkin, is training to run the Philadelphia Marathon next month. Generally, training for a marathon means doing some longer runs, 15 and 20 miles in the weeks leading up to it. So, the LBI Commemorative 18 Mile Run is a perfect way to make one of those more grueling runs a little more enjoyable.

BUZZING: Rory Escobedo (center) ran the 18 miles with her Greenheads Run Club friends. The group, which has as many as 30 members in the summer, runs weekly throughout the year. (Photo courtesy Rory Escobedo)

She was disappointed when race officials announced last Friday that Sunday’s 18-miler would be canceled because of the brutal nor’easter that lashed LBI this week.

And so Szymasnski, who has run the Chicago, New York City, Philly and the Every Woman’s Marathon in Georgia, decided to…