Tri and Tri Again . . .
Looking to try a triathlon? Rich Barkan of Long Beach, who runs a website that covers the local tri scene (metrotri.com), estimates that there are now about 20 established swim-bike-run events on Long Island, as well as a number of "duathlons" -- bike-runs, without the swim. In addition, many of the tris offer a relay division, so you can participate as part of a three-person team, and either swim, bike or run.
So finding an event to enter should be easy, right? Wrong. The demand for the sport, Barkan says, is exceeding the supply of events. "Triathlon is almost too successful, in that the races sell out fast." (Such is the case, for example, with the Montauk Lighthouse Sprint Triathlon which closed its registration over two months prior to the event date, July 13.)
With that in mind, here are six quality multi-sports coming up over the next four months that are still open as of now. If you're interested in participating, don't delay.
Long Island Gold Coast Duathlon, Triathlon and Relay
June 15, 7:30 a.m. start.
Bar Beach Park, Port Washington: Duathlon is 3-mile run, 12-mile bike, 3-mile run. Triathlon is half-swim swim, 12 mile bike, 3-mile run.
ligoldcoasttri.com
Mighty North Fork Triathlon
July 13, 6:50 a.m.
Cedar Beach, Southold: 500 meter swim; 8-mile bike; 3.5 mile-run
eventpowerli.com
Runner's Edge TOBAY Triathlon & Tri-Relay
Aug. 24, 7:30 a.m.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Oyster Bay: 1 kilometer (.62-mile) swim, 15K (9.3 miles) bike, 5K (3.1 miles) run.
516-349-7646,
glirc.org
Town of Hempstead Triathlon
Sept. 6, 8 a.m. (Registration deadline: Aug. 29)
Town Park, Lido Blvd., Point Lookout: ¾-mile ocean swim; 10-mile bike, 5-mile run
516-292-9000, ext. 219,
toh.li
Mighty Hamptons Triathlon
September 14, 6:40 a.m.
Sag Harbor: 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run
eventpowerli.com
Cedar Beach Sprint Triathlon
Oct. 12, 7 a.m.
Cedar Beach Park, Miller Place: .75 mile swim, 17 mile bike, 3.1 mile run
triandduit.com
