WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. (WBNG) — Over 100 racers descended on Dorchester Park for the 19th annual Broome County Parks triathlon. The race was comprised of a half-mile swim, followed by a 12-mile bike ride and finished with a 5K run.
“You have to put time in, you can’t just go out there and do all of it without having any training involved,” said Amanda Florance, Recreation Youth Services Coordinator for the Broome County Parks Department. “So they work hard to get to this point.”
Kara Gorgos, the race director, is no stranger to competing in triathlons. She explained to 12 News the training that goes into competing.
“You’re swimming a couple of times a week, you might be running a couple of times of week, and then also biking a couple of times a week,” Gorgos told 12 News. “So it’s a great way to get your body in shape by doing different types of exercises.”
A competition fit for any athlete, the annual race also brings the community together.
“It brings the community together. Some people are training, some people have done it all 19 years,” Florance said. “So it’s pretty much an event for any athlete that wants to get involved in the community. We’ve got spectators, families, and animals. Even if you’re not participating, it’s a group effort.”
Participants pay an entry fee as part of the race’s fundraising.
All of the money raised goes back into the parks, with a large portion of it going towards new adaptive playground equipment.
“We enjoy our sports of playing, so it’s great to be able to give back to allow everyone to enjoy what they do and have fun playing on the great playgrounds of the Broome County parks,” Gorgos said.
With new adaptive equipment, Gorgos says people of all abilities can enjoy what the parks have to offer.
Since the first race, the park department says it has raised tens of thousands of dollars to reinvest in its parks.
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