Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay

Bethpage Federal Credit Union to Sponsor the Greater Long Island Running Club’s 28th Annual Ocean to Sound Relay

1,000 Runners Expected to Cover 50 Scenic Miles Though 15 Different Towns Stretching From Jones Beach to Oyster Bay

Bethpage, NY – September 13, 2013 – Bethpage Federal Credit Union, a dedicated supporter of health and wellness initiatives on Long Island, announces its sponsorship of the Greater Long Island Running Club’s 28th annual Ocean to Sound Relay.  The Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay, which takes place on Sunday, September 29, 2013, will take runners across both Nassau and Suffolk Counties with 120 teams of eight runners each traversing a 50-mile scenic course stretching from the South Shore to the North Shore of Long Island.  This will be the fourth consecutive year Bethpage has sponsored the event. 

Nearly 1,000 runners are expected to participate in the relay, which will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services, money raised from the relay will go directly to support the organization’s Long Island Chapter.  Long Island runner Alan End, who founded the relay back in 1985, is the relay director.  

According to Greater Long Island Running Club President Mike Polansky, “The Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay is an exciting race for both runners and spectators.   We invite you to come down and cheer on your family, friends and neighbors sprinting across Long Island.”

The Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay starts at Jones Beach State Park and finishes on the grounds of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay.  120 eight-person teams will navigate their way through 15 different Long Island townships starting in Wantagh, traveling through Seaford, Massapequa Park, Massapequa, Farmingdale, Old Bethpage, Plainview, Woodbury, West Hills, crossing into Huntington and hitting the Long Island Sound in Lloyd Harbor, returning to Nassau County via Cold Spring Harbor and Syosset, reaching Oyster Bay Cove, and finally hitting Oyster Bay.

“The Ocean to Sound Relay is one of the most unique and anticipated events of every year, attracting runners from the entire tri-state area,” said Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President, Bethpage.  “We’re happy to participate again, and witness some amazing athletic abilities, organized impeccably by the Greater Long Island Running Club, and all for a deserving cause.”

There are 15 different categories for runners including men’s, women’s, mixed open, men’s masters, women’s masters, mixed masters, men’s seniors masters, women’s seniors masters, men’s super seniors, women’s super seniors, corporate, law enforcement/firefighter, physically challenged, one person team, and running for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  A gala post race party affectionately called the “Best Post-Race Party in the Northeast” will take place immediately following the relay at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park on the shoreline of beautiful Oyster Bay Harbor near the finish line, where awards will be presented in each of the individual categories to each member of the top three teams in each category.

“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is extremely grateful for the generous support of the Greater Long Island Running Club and Bethpage Federal Credit Union,” said Sara Lipsky, Executive Director of the Long Island Chapter.  “It is because of organizations like them, LLS can continue to fulfill its mission - to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”

The entry fee for the Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay is $400 per team ($50 per runner) through September 16, 2013, which covers entry into the race, a special commemorative t-shirt for each runner, and entry into the post-race party.  If received between September 17 and September 28, 2013, the entry fee is $440 per team.  No day of race entries will be accepted. For more information, or to register, go to www.glirc.org.