Oyster Bay to Host 2 Weekend Triathlons

Two triathlons will draw about 1,700 athletes to Oyster Bay this weekend.

The Runner's Edge TOBAY Junior Triathlon, for youngsters age 6-13, will launch at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The course consists of a 200-yard swim, 2.5-mile bike ride and a one-mile run.

All athletes who finish get a medal. While times are recorded, awards are not given based on finishing times, said Mike Polansky, president of the Greater Long Island Running Club. "Our theory is to make this a non-competitive introduction to the sport," he said. "Participation is its own reward -- or at least it should be for that age!"

The Sunday event,  features about 1,400 competitors, with athletes hitting the water at 7:30 a.m. at the park. It consists of a half-mile swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, a 15-kilometer bike route through Oyster Bay, Laurel Hollow and Cove Neck, and a 5k run through Mill Neck and Brookville to Planting Fields Arboretrum and back to Roosevelt Park.

Polansky answered questions about the Sunday event.

Q.  How many are participating?

A. We have about 1400 individuals and 50 relay  teams of three athletes each.  

Q. What are the age ranges?

A. The age range will be from 14 (the minimum age to participate) and 80 something. 

Q. What sets triathlon athletes apart from others?

A. Multisport athletes are generally more adventurous, less ready to pursue ho-hum activities.  It's different, kit requires multi-skills....and some people are just afraid of the water!

Q. How do you select the sites?

A. There's got to be water for the swim and a useable course for the bike and the run.  

Q. What should people watching the triathlon look for?

A. There's a lot going on at the same time  in a lot of different locations within the park -- swimmers going in the water and  coming out, bikers going out and coming in, and runners going out and finishing.  There's a lot to see!