Garden City Runners And Walkers Invited

Runners and walkers from Garden City and nearby communities are cordially invited to register for the 2007 Arrow Exterminating Company Long Island Women's 5 Kilometer Run.

This will be the 24th anniversary edition of the Women's Run, and it will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007 once again on the roads of Farmingdale. The proceeds of the Run will once again be dedicated to the fight against ovarian cancer, through the good work being done by "Long Island Oceans" whose mission is "bringing light to all GYN Cancers."

"We are thrilled to be able to welcome such a responsible and community minded Long Island based business as our title sponsor, as they celebrate their 60th year of serving the people of Long Island," observed Race Director Rosemary Camilleri of the host Greater Long island Running Club. "Arrow Exterminating is well known for deploying nature-based methods when appropriate, and using pesticides judiciously to keep customers safe. Best of all, they rely on real science to get the job done, with a staff entomologist to teach workers how bugs behave in order to most effectively devise tactics that actually work! And Arrow is a business managed by women (two sisters, Jackie Grabin and Debby Tappan), making it an especially perfect sponsor for a race dedicated to women!"

The Running Club is also thankful to have the support of New York State Senator Carl Marcellino of Oyster Bay for this important event. "Senator Marcellino is a firm supporter of health and fitness, and has been instrumental in our efforts to promote women's fitness generally," noted Ms. Camilleri.

Garden City runners and walkers have always been prominent in the Run. In the 2006 edition of the Run, the top local finisher was 19 year old Katie Di Camillo of Garden City, who crossed the finish line in 17 minutes, 38 seconds, scoring in 12th place overall and 2nd place in the Long Island Division, and won the Paula Wunderlich Memorial Award as the first member of the Greater Long Island Running Club to cross the finish line.

After much soul searching, the Running Club has decided to totally revamp the prize money structure for this event. The goal: to de-emphasize nationally ranked "elite" athletes and to provide a greater opportunity for Long Island women to win prize money! We will award prize money to the first TEN finishers overall, ranging down from $750 for first place to $150 for tenth place, plus $350 for the first Masters finisher. We will award $150 to the first place finisher in each age FIVE YEAR age group from 20-24 to 75 plus, and in each of the two Clydesdale Divisions. There will be no duplication of awards. Unchanged from the past are the ten cash awards for Racewalkers and the $200 prize for the first Wheelchair finisher. In all, the Club will be awarding cash prizes to thirty-six athletes, most if not all of whom will be local athletes!

For applications call Linda in the Club Running Club office at 516 349-7646, or register online at www.glirc.org as soon as possible. Volunteers are being coordinated by Carl Grossbard; contact him at (631)587-0895.