What’s happening with the Westchester triathlon? On some third party sites, it seems to be scheduled for Sep 22. I can’t access their website. It seems to be defunct. Anyone has any insights?
Best I could find was a 2023 post on FB, but not related to the Westchester Tri itself. Did the race once, great course and race! As an RD you’d think i’d be up on this but I don’t know any of the current race staff, athough i used to. Good luck Lafayette.
Tom Wilkas - USAT Certified Race Director
www.PatGriskusTri.com
Thank you, Tom
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Lafayette, i did check in with a former board member, and even he doesn’t know. Figured i’d bounce this one back to the top in case somebody has current info, i think the regular date would’ve been next weekend.
Tom Wilkas - USAT Certified Race Director
www.PatGriskusTri.com
Thanks, Tom. A buddy of mine well connected into the local tri eco-system confirmed it was gone. I think an issue with the new management of Rye Playland that got more demanding for the use of their parking lot. Such a shame. It was a great event. I did it a dozen times…
Understood. Pat Griskus Tri’s are also held at an amusement park, www.Quassy.com.
If not for some great sponsors, this may have been toast a few years back as well. I’ll stick with it, since I’m committed to offering my fellow triathletes current racing opportunities. I can’t race anymore, so I can do this for them still!
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I just realized that I did this ages ago (it is a few miles from my sister’s home). So I looked things up online and it was 2002 and I had a nice round 2:07.00. I see a 20.55 swim…no idea how I pulled that off unless it was short. Wetsuit and salt water helps but not that much. I remember a really windy up and down bike course that I could never get into a groove on (looks like my bike was 1.06) and the run from what I recall was lots of turns and zig zagging but no big climb (37.28).
Too bad the race is gone. I recall a great venue in Rye :-(, If you raced a dozen times were you there in 2002?
you’re right on the bike course, few spots to get into any rhythm. still, a great olympic distance race. swim was routinely a bit short it seemed.
That race was my very first tri, back in the 80’s. Raced it a few times over the years after that as well. It seems to have a history of a few years of being on, then off, with different organizing teams running it over the years.
Good contact on info, scoop might be the organizer/owner of the Toughman series, Izzo. He was closely involved with Westchester Tri before Toughman. Looks the Toughman event now has an olympic distance (in addition to the 1/2 iron), and 2024 race was last week. 2025 dates have been announced. So that could be an olympic alternative in the area if Westchester isn’t on next year either.
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TOUGHMAN and Toughkids Year 18 in the books! As with Tom W my racing days are done so giving athletes a choice to race locally is what drives our staff every year. We now offer an Olympic tri, du, relay and AB additional to our Long Course Tri, du, AB and relay and kids races.
The venue is amazing and close to NYC
With a lake swim, rolling bike and challenging run. Lots of affordable lodging close to the race site. And Former USAT LC Nationals location. Registration is now open to athletes that raced 2024 and will open on Monday with an early bird special for everyone.
See you in 2025!
Rich www.Toughmantri.com
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Disclaimer, I am part of the race staff, but did many duathlons here when Dan Honig ran the events. Unlike many other races at Harriman which did numerous laps on a brutal course, we really offer a scenic view of Sevens Lakes drive. With deer, turkeys and now a black bear which are spotted annually, athletes often comments on the beauty of Harriman State Park.
Hi Richard, is the Westchester Toughman over in Harriman now?
Thanks for putting all these races on!
Wait, wait, wait… Dev, right? Yeah, I remember! 2:07! Wow, quite a performance! This was before I started my triathlon streak, but I think you might have played a role in getting me on the bandwagon! You stayed with your sister, you said? Remember a French guy there? Lafayette, you know, Frenchman in America? Get it? 
haha, yeah, my sister is married to a French guy from France and they live a few miles from the Rye race start…so if you were over, then I was there in 2002.
The Toughman races of various distances is at Harriman. The Westchester Triathlon, which has not gone on in years, is traditionally held at Rye Playland.
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Just saw this Dev. Yes we moved the Toughman venue to Harriman state park 8 yrs ago. Getting the permits and full
Road closures in Westchester became incredibly hard and very expensive. Ultimately our current venue in a State Park is great bc there is virtually no car traffic for the bike course. The one issue had been a stretch of road (lake Welch parkway) which had been pretty chewed up due to frost heaves. The good news is that it is all newly paved! So with no USAT Nats the race weekend this year and no NYC tri (no date announced), we expect a big rebound in athlete numbers.
Hi Richard, what date are you targetting in 2025
@Lafayette let’s have a look at what date Richard comes back with
Dev our dates are: Sept 13 for NE Collegiate Conf Triathlon, and Toughkids Tri and Toughman Long Course Sun Sept 14.
It is back for 2025.
https://toughmanwestchester.com/
Dang. It’s a shame that it is the same weekend as Jones Beach 70.3, as I’m signed up for that.