Brookhaven Lab Hosts Earth Day Run, April 17

March 30, 2004

UPTON, NY - The U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory will host its fifth annual 4-mile Earth Day Run at its site on Saturday, April 17, at 9:30 a.m. Walkers are also welcome for the same fee as runners. Children 12 and under are invited to participate in a free one-half-mile Fun Run at 10:30 a.m. Race day registration/check-in will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. in the Laboratory's Berkner Hall. All entry fees from the 4-mile run will benefit Long Island Cares, Inc., a regional food bank. All visitors to the Laboratory age 16 and older are required to bring a photo ID to be admitted on site.

This year, the Long Island Track & Field Association, in conjunction with Vytra, has awarded the race Grand Prix status, a distinction that is bound to draw some of Long Island's top runners as they vie for Grand Prix points and subsequent prize money for the winners of the most points at the end of the year.

The race will be held on a U.S. Track & Field Federation-certified course consisting of a combination of road and wide trails through the Pine Barrens on the Brookhaven Lab site. The course is relatively flat with some slight rolling hills in the last mile. Miles will be marked, mile splits will be posted, and a two-mile water stop will be available.

Applications to enter the race may be downloaded from www.bnl.gov/eday, or call 631 344-5660. For those who pre-register before April 12, the entry fee is $18, which is discounted to $15 if you bring a nonperishable food item for the local food bank. The entry fee for applications postmarked after April 12 will be $21, or $18 with a nonperishable food item. Checks should be made payable to BSA and application forms should be sent to: Peter Pohlot, Brookhaven National Laboratory, P.O. Box 5000, Bldg. 130, Upton, NY 11973-5000.

The top three male and female runners and the top three masters (over 40 years old) males and females will receive prizes from Super Runners Shop of Huntington, Long Island. All registered runners and walkers will be treated to a free T-shirt and a free post-run hot breakfast provided by Flik International. All children who participate in the Fun Run will take home a tree seedling to plant in honor of Earth Day.

Long Island Cares, Inc., is a not-for-profit, community-based, regionally responsive organization working in partnership with charitable agencies in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The anti-hunger organization and food bank was founded in 1980 by the late singer and activist Harry Chapin in response to the immediate needs of hungry Long Islanders.

Brookhaven Lab is located on William Floyd Parkway, one and a half miles north of Long Island Expressway Exit 68.

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