Everyone is invited to the 32nd annual Runner’s Edge-Town of Oyster Bay Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 25.
This is a “sprint” triathlon, which consists of a half-mile swim in calm (most of the time!) Oyster Bay Harbor, a one loop 15-kilometer bike ride over hill and dale through beautiful Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove and Laurel Hollow, and a 5-kilometer run through Mill Neck and Brookville, “up” to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back “down” to the finish at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay. It is a perfect first timers event at the same time as it presents a significant enough challenge to be enjoyed by veteran triathletes.
There is an early start for this event. The first wave will go into Oyster Bay Harbor at 7 a.m., so plan on getting to Roosevelt Park no later than 6 a.m.
Thanks to the continuing generosity of Bob Shaw, there will be a special prize of $595 in gift certificates to The Runner’s Edge presented to the participant who finishes in 595th place overall. This prize is in memory of Bob’s brother Tom, who passed away unexpectedly at age 46 in November of 2016. In his last Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Triathlon in 2015, Tom placed in 595th place overall. This award is a celebration of Tom’s life and of all participants whose determination to persevere inspires us all.
For those who aren’t ready to do an individual triathlon, teams of two or three are most welcome.
The triathlon will be followed by a post-race BBQ courtesy of Western Beef, with plenty of hot dogs, hamburgers and all the trimmings, plus the chance to enjoy Great South Bay Brewery’s finest potables.
The triathlon is being conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay, with the enthusiastic support of Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the Oyster Bay Town Board, and the Oyster Bay Town Parks Department. Race management will be handled by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with Ray Farrell, Mindy Davidson and Sue Fitzpatrick serving as event coordinators.
The new presenting sponsor is NYU Winthrop Hospital.
Other sponsors include Farmingdale Chiropractor Dr. Lawrence Lembo, the Farmingdale law firm of Carman, Callahan & Ingham, LLP, Western Beef, Brickwell Cycling, Jonas Chiropractic Sports Injury Care, and Congregation L’Dor V’Dor of Oyster Bay (“Generation to Generation”).
The charitable beneficiaries of the event are once again The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay, the Gerald Kaufman Memorial Fund and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Get your application in early to avoid the late entry fee. Register online at www.glirc.org or download the hard copy application booklet on that site. Volunteers are most welcome; contact Mindy Davidson at mindy@glirc.org.
The Sunday “main event” will be preceded by the Runner’s Edge-Town of Oyster Bay JUNIOR Triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 24, and youngsters ages 8-13 are encouraged to (literally) get their feet wet with a 200-yard swim, 2.5-mile bike and 1-mile run, all within the confines of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park.
For more information, call the GLIRC office at 516-349-7646.
—Submitted by Greater Long Island Running Club
