Runners and walkers of all ages and levels of ability from Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Mill Neck, Bayville, Locust Valley, and all over Long Island are invited to test their training and endurance levels by being a part of the 14th annual Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run. The Run will take place on Saturday, March 19, starting at 9 a.m. at the New Discovery Elementary School on Lawrence Road in Kings Park. (Additional parking is available 3/8 mile away at Kings Park High School).
The Melville law firm of Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, P.C. has stepped forward to be the title sponsor of this 14th edition of the Run once again, and several of the partners in the firm will themselves once again be taking the challenge of the hills of Kings Park.
The Kings Park 15K Run is a perfect tough training run for those who are setting their sights on a Spring Marathon or Half Marathon. It features 9.3 miles of some of the most beautiful vistas – and most challenging hills – on Long Island’s North Shore. Kings Park is very much not your usual fast, flat course – but for those who want to test themselves, the place to do it is Kings Park on Saturday, March 19. The revised course adopted this year at the urging of the Suffolk County Police Department may prove to be even more challenging than the old course.
For the youngsters – and anyone else who isn’t up to the 15 Kilometer distance – there will a be a ½ mile Fun Run/Fun Walk a half hour before the main event.
Race management is in the capable hands of the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC’s Steven Toto serving as the Race Director once again.
Athletes from the local area have always been prominent in the Kings Park Run. In the 2010 edition of the Run, Mable Wong of Mill Neck, Allen Green of Locust Valley and Alison Suarez of Oyster Bay led a strong contingent to the finish line. Race management looks for these fine athletes to be back on March 19, and would love to see lots of other local runners join.
Proceeds of the Run will once be made to the American Brain Tumor Foundation to benefit people whose lives are affected by brain tumors. The Run will once again serve as the 15 Kilometer Championship event for the Long Island Association of USA Track & Field.
Every entrant in the 15K Run will receive one of the distinctive high quality sweatshirts specially designed for the Kings Park Run, and every entrant in the Fun Run will be presented with a special commemorative medal when he or she crosses the finish line.
There will be $250 cash prizes for the first place Male and Female runners, $100 for the first place Male and Female Masters runners, $50 for the first Male and Female Senior Masters (age 50 plus), and $100 for the first place Male and Female Wheelchair finishers. Special plaques will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each of 14 five-year age groups, up through age 75 and older, and the top three male and female finishers in each of two “Clydesdale” weight divisions, and the top three male and female wheelchair racers.
The entry fee for the 2011 15K Run has been set at $20 ($18 for members of the Greater Long Island Running Club) if you sign up in advance, and $25 for those who wait until the day of the Run to register. (50 percent discount to all runners age 16 and under who pre-register). The entry fee for the Fun Run is only $4 for preregistrants and $5 for latecomers.
For entry forms or more information, call Run Director Steven Toto at 349-7646.
