Six Long Island triathlons still open

BY JOHN HANC | Special to Newsday

May 13, 2008

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