Applications are now available for the 23rd anniversary Runner’s Edge – Town of Oyster Bay Triathlon, Long Island’s largest triathlon, and perhaps the most athlete-friendly multisport event in the country. Approximately 1,500 athletes representing 12 States participated in the 2009 edition of the Tri, and an equally big turnout is expected for 2010.
The date is Sunday, Aug. 29, the place is Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, and the distances are a ½ Mile swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, a 15 Kilometer bike through Oyster Bay Cove and Laurel Hollow, and a 5 Kilometer run up to the Planting Fields Arboretum, and back to the exciting finish at Roosevelt Park. This is an event that is perfect for first-timers, but yet is challenging enough to satisfy the veteran triathlete.
Both the bike and run course of this year’s triathlon have been changed in order to minimize the inconvenience to local residents. The newly designed bike course will avoid South Street entirely, and make it possible for churchgoers and others to drive up South Street to Townsend Square without difficulty. The run course will finish with the participants heading up Lake Avenue and straight up West Shore Road to a right turn into the back end of Beekman Beach with a 300 yard straightaway to the finish, eliminating the need to go onto Bayside Avenue and cross the LIRR tracks to the finish.
The Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Triathlon gives athletes an opportunity to have some fun and do some good at the same time, since major portions of the proceeds of the great event will once again be distributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, and to the Gerald Kaufman Memorial Fund whose sole purpose is to provide assistance to local athletes and their families in times of personal financial emergency. In addition, the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center in Oyster Bay has been selected as the third major beneficiary of the event, bringing a distinct local flavor to the beneficiary list.
The Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Triathlon will be conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay and its Department of Parks and Recreation, Race management will once again be conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with Ray Farrell and Jose Lopez with Bob Cook reprising their roles as Co-Directors of the event, and Mindy Davidson and Linda Ottaviano serving as the Event Coordinators.
The Runner’s Edge Running and Multisport store in Farmingdale has signed on once again as the corporate title sponsor, Steve Kristel once again joining us as the corporate presenting sponsor, and Babylon Bike Shop, the Intellectual Property law firm of Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt LLP, and Zoot Sports are stepping up once again as supporting sponsors.
The entry fee for the Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Triathlon is $60 if you register by March 31, The entry fee jumps to $70 on April 1, to $85 on May 1, $100 on June 1, and $120 on July 1 until entries close. Town of Oyster Bay residents are entitled to a $10 discount on all entry fees. The event closed out in early June last year, so don’t delay!
The event is once again dedicated to the memory of Gerald Kaufman, one of the founding members of the Greater Long Island Running Club, as well as an outstanding triathlete and good friend.
Not up to a full Tri? The event also features a team competition, with each team member doing one of the three legs of the Tri, so talk to your buddies and come up with a team for the Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Tri-Relay. The team entry fee through Match 31 is only $40 per team member. The team fee goes to $45 per team member on April 1, $55 per team member on May 1, and $65 per team member on June 1st. Town of Oyster Bay residents can deduct $6 from all fees.
There’s something for the younger athletes as well. The 6th annual Runner’s Edge – TOBAY Junior Triathlon for youngsters ages 8-13 will be held at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park on Saturday, Aug. 28, the day before the main event. It consists of a 200 yard swim, 2.5 mile bike and 1 mile run –all within the confines of the Park. The entry fee is only $20.
Please join Co-Race Directors Jose Lopez and Ray Farrell Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and the Oyster Bay Parks Department, Runner’s Edge proprietor Bob Cook, and the Greater Long Island Running Club, for Long Island’s #1 triathlon on Aug.29 ….and Long Island’s #1 junior triathlon on Aug. 28!
Registration is now open online at runnersedgetobaytriathlon.com or glirc.org. For more info and/or a hard copy entry booklet, call Linda at the Greater Long Island Running Club office at 349-7646 or Diane at the Town of Oyster Bay Recreation office at 433-7465.
Not yet ready to “Tri”? Experience the event as a volunteer by calling Coordinator of Volunteers Mindy Davidson at 520-9481 (before 9 PM) or email her at mindyruns@aol.com. Don’t miss the Runner’s Edge-TOBAY Triathlon Clinic on Thursday, May 20. This is a perfect evening for first or second time triathletes, or for anyone else who wants a heads up on how to do their best race possible on Aug. 29.
