Plainview-Old Bethpage runners and walkers of every age and ability are cordially invited to be part of the 13th annual edition of the Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run, to be held on Saturday morning, Oct. 14, as the kickoff event of this year's Oyster Festival. The run will start in Fireman's Field in Oyster Bay at exactly 9 a.m. on the morning 14th.

This year's run has been carefully planned to make sure that it is a "fun" event for the entire family and everyone is urged to stick around after the run to enjoy the Oyster Festival.

Distinctive commemorative T-shirts will be given to everyone who registers, and all registrants will be eligible for the massive door prize drawing that will take place at the post-Run Awards Ceremony. Awards will be presented to the top five male and top five female finishers overall, the top five male and female finishers in each of 14 5-year age groups (through age 75 and older), the top three wheelchair finishers, and the top Clydesdale runners in two male and female weight divisions.

The entry fee will be $16 for those who preregister ($14 for residents of the Town of Oyster Bay), and $20 for those who wait until the day of the run to register. Post-registration and number and T-shirt pickup will be at the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Oyster Bay from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the run, but you can also pick them up in advance at The Runner's Edge on Main Street in Farmingdale on Friday, Oct. 13 from noon to 6 p.m.

The primary sponsors of the event will, once again, be the State Bank of Long Island and the Town of Oyster Bay.

The Oyster Bay Run will be conducted under the direction of the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC President Mike Polansky serving as the race director, once again, this year. Technical support will be furnished by Finish Line Road Race Technicians, utilizing the new "Champion Chip" race scoring technology.

This year's run is part of the KeySpan Energy Grand Prix Series of Long Island road races conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track and Field.

Runners from Plainview-Old Bethpage have always played a major role in the Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run. In 1999, the top local performers were Plainview's Anita Chen, who scored first in the women's 35-39 age group in 23:07, Plainview's Alan End, who was the eighth place finisher in the Men's 55-59 age group in 23:32, and Plainview's Odd Sangesland, who took second place honors in the Men's 70-74 age group in 27:42. Oyster Bay Town Councilman Len Symons, a Plainview resident, crossed the finish line right in front of Odd in 27:40.

"This is a great run and a great challenge for Long Island recreational athletes," observed Race Director Mike Polansky. "The hills around Oyster Bay are a stunning venue for an early morning run in October, and we are looking for a crisp, clear autumn morning that will make it possible for everyone to have a picture-perfect run. "We are very much appreciative of the Town of Oyster Bay and its outstanding Department of Recreation and Parks, of the support of Town Supervisor John Venditto, and of Mary Durkin and all the other wonderful folks from State Bank of Long Island for making this event a reality, once again, this year. We hope that every runner and walker on Long Island will join us here in beautiful Oyster Bay for a great morning run - and that they will stick around to enjoy the Oyster Festival afterwards. The Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival Run is what recreational running and racing on Long Island can - and should - be all about."

For entry forms or more information call Mike at the Running Club at 349-7646

Injuries are the bane of any runner's existence and avoiding them is the key to any successful running program.

In hopes of helping runners to avoid injuries and, if they do get injured, to get back on the roads as soon as possible, the Greater Long Island Running Club has invited Dr. Michael C. Schwartz, a prominent Long Island orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine practitioner, to be the featured speaker at the club's Sept. 19 meeting. His talk will center on "Running Injuries How to Prevent them and how to come back from them." The meeting will be held at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Road in Plainview, starting at 8 p.m. on the evening of the 19th. The general public is cordially invited to attend.

Dr/ Schwartz completed his pre-medical studies at Binghamton University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in psychology. He received his medical training and degree at NYU School of Medicine. As a medical student, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and served as chapter president.

Following completion of an internship in Surgery at NYU and Bellevue, he completed his orthopedic surgery training at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. His interest in a sports medicine specialty was fostered as he participated in the medical coverage of such events as the U.S. Tennis Open, New York City high school football and the New York City Ballet.

Dr. Schwartz completed a sports medicine fellowship at Temple University. This included the clinical and surgical management of college and professional athletes. Additionally, he served as the covering physician for several Division I athletic events and as a ringside physician for USA amateur boxing.

Currently, Dr. Schwartz is a member of Prohealth Care Associates, a multi-specialty group based in Lake Success. Aside from participating in the care of college and professional athletes, he continues to provide medical coverage for athletic events in the region. In addition, he maintains his busy practice caring for patients with all varieties of orthopedic complaints and injuries.

"We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Schwartz has found some time in a very busy schedule to address our club on Sept. 19," stated Club Vice President Mindy Davidson. "He is an entertaining speaker as well as a talented physician and is prepared to answer questions from the audience. This is a meeting that every runner who has ever been injured or is concerned about the possibility of running injury definitely won't want to miss!"

For more information about the program, call the Greater Long Island Running Club at 349-7646.