The threat of rain and snow didn’t stop more than 250 intrepid runners from braving the cold elements in Brooklyn Sunday to compete in the New York City Holiday Half Marathon sponsored by City Tri Runs.
This year’s winner of the Holiday Half Marathon 10k was Charlotte Bowling followed by her friend John Ryan; both are residents of Glen Cove, Long Island. Separate winners were announced also for completing 5k, from the American Veterans Memorial Pier at 69th Street to the Verrazano Bridge and back.
City Tri Runs sponsors 15 runs during the year. George Reagan, a race director and co-founder, said runners were lucky that the weather held up for the most part for the race as they were expecting rain and possibly snow. Despite the wind and occasional rain drop, the runners finished mostly dry.
“This is the 14th race we’ve done this year and another one next week,” Reagan said. “We had 250 athletes out here in the morning and so far, they have been awesome.”
Reagan said the race raises money for Riverkeeper, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as the watersheds that provide New York City with its drinking water.
City Tri Runs is a multi-sport event organizer with a focus on the meaning that events have for the athlete, their family and friends, the sponsors, community where the event takes place, and the sport. They organize triathlons and duathlons in New Jersey and New York.
Race Directors are athletes and officials who have an extensive history in distance and multi-sport events. They have each completed the NYC, NJ and Philadelphia Marathons, one Ironman, 6 Half-Ironman, and numerous Olympic and Sprint distances triathlons and duathlons on the East Coast. They have competed for nearly 20 years and fully understand the experience of the age group athlete.
The next race, the Manhattanite Run, will be Sunday, Dec. 7, in Riverside Park. For more information, visit citytri.com.
