Long Island runners of every age and level of ability are cordially invited to become members of the Greater Long Island Running Club.

GLIRC is Long Island's largest and most active running club, with a membership of over 2,200 people that spans all of Nassau and Suffolk counties and beyond. It has a lot to offer every runner: monthly meetings with interesting programs, special clinics, regular group road runs and track workouts, and discounts to local running stores.

Footnotes, the club's monthly magazine, includes a complete calendar of local races and other events of interest to runners. The club's office/clubhouse provides full service to the Long Island running community. Events staged by the club include last week's Bethpage State Park Trail Relay, the Kings Park 15 Kilometer Challenge, the 10 Kilometer Run for ASPIRE in Plainview, the Long Island Police Appreciation Run, the TOBAY Triathlon, the Vytra Long Island Women's Run, the Chase Corporate Challenge at Jones Beach State Park, the Ocean to Sound Relay, the Long Island Endurance Runs, the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Run at the Oyster Festival, the South Shore Sprint, the Kids Helping Kids Run in Plainview, Rob's Run (a cross country run), and the Ho Ho Ho Holiday Run in Bethpage. The club also stages fun runs, "road trips" to out-of-town race, picnics, and parties, all of which means a full calendar of activities for local runners.

There also are competitive teams for those who are interested - the club's men's racing team and women's "Fast Feet" racing team, and the club's new "Senior Feet" team for its members age 60 plus.

But most of all, GLIRC offers the ready availability of friendly people to run with and compare notes with. Club members support each other and help each other to more rewarding running experiences.

The next general meeting of the club will take place on Tuesday evening, Oct. 17, at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, starting at 8 p.m., and everyone is cordially invited to attend. For more information, or to get a complimentary copy of Footnotes, the club's monthly magazine, call club president Mike Polansky at 349-7646 or visit the club's website at www.glirc.org.