Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay will once again be the site of the Long Island’s premiere multisport event – the 27th annual Runner’s Edge – Town of Oyster Bay Triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 23, and the Runner’s Edge – Town of Oyster Bay Junior Triathlon for youngsters ages 8-13 on Sunday, Aug. 24.
The Saturday main event is a “sprint” triathlon, which consists of a half-mile swim in 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 Planting Fields Arboretum and “down”to the finish at back at Roosevelt Park.
The triathlon is being conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay, with the enthusiastic cooperation of Town Supervisor John Venditto and the Town Parks Department. Race management chores will be handled by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with Jose Lopez and Ray Farrell as the co-directors and Linda Ottaviano and Mindy Davidson as the event coordinators.
In addition to The Runner’s Edge and Western Beef, other valued business sponsors of the triathlon are Bo’s Kitchen & Bar Room, Babylon Bike, Jonas Chiropractic, & TYR.
The primary charitable beneficiary of the event is The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay, with other funds going to the Long Island Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Gerald Kaufman Memorial Fund for assistance to multisport athletes and their families in times of personal emergency.
The first “wave” of triathletes will enter Oyster Bay Harbor at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the 23rd. After completing their half mile swim, they will hop on their bikes and proceed through Oyster Bay Cove and Laurel Hollow before heading back down Berry Hill Road to South Street and Audrey Avenue back to the park, where they will leave their bikes and run up to Planting Fields Road and back to the finish line at the park. The first triathlete will reach the finish line shortly after 8:30 a.m. and the final stragglers should be off the roads shortly after 10 a.m.
The Saturday “main event” will be followed by the Runner’s Edge-TOBAY JUNIOR Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 24, and youngsters ages 8-13 are invited to (literally) get their feet wet with a 200 yard swim, 2.5 mile bike and a one mile run.
For more information….or inspiration, call the GLIRC office at 516-349-7646.
