Women of all ages and levels of ability from Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Bayville, Locust Valley and surrounding communities are cordially invited to be part of the 21st annual Vytra Health Plans Long Island Women's 5 Kilometer Run, to be held on Saturday morning, July 10.

This will be the eighth straight year that Vytra Health Plans has been the title sponsor of the event, and race organizers are most appreciative of their continued sponsorship. Other supporters of the Run include The Runner's Edge running specialty shop in Farmingdale, New York State Senator Carl Marcellino, who has once again secured a Legislative Initiative Grant to help support Women's running and fitness on Long Island through this event, the Town of Oyster Bay, through the good offices of Town Supervisor John Venditto, Long Island Candleworks, and Fitness Incentive of Babylon Village.

The Vytra Run has attracted many of the top female athletes in the world to test their skills on the roads of Long Island over the years. Women's world marathon record holder Catherine Ndereba of Kenya was the winner in both 2001 and 2002, Roumanian national champion Luminita Talpos took first place honors in 2003, and such United States champions as Anne Marie Letko, Cathy O'Brien and Kathy Franey Fleming are on the list of past winners of the Run.

Award winners from the local area in 2003 included Jean Bohan of Oyster Bay, who scored third in the 30-34 age group, and Elizabeth Penagos of Oyster Bay, who was the fifth place finisher in the 55-59 age group.

The 2004 Run will once again be held on a lightning fast course through the roads of Farmingdale, finishing on the track at Farmingdale High School. Every entrant will receive a special commemorative women's shirt, along with special gift bags, and every finisher will receive a rose at the finish. The 2004 Run is a proud partner in the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Village of Farmingdale.

This year's Run will be once again be conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club, and will again directed by GLIRC's Ellen Weinstein, with GLIRC's Dawn Farina serving as the Coordinator of Elite Athletes. The 2004 edition of the Run will again be part of the Vytra Grand Prix of Long Island Road Races, conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track & Field, and will be the 2004 Long Island Track & Field Women's Championship event.

The $7300 in prize money will be up for grabs this year - including $1000 to be split among the top three Long Island residents to cross the finish line - courtesy of Bob Cook and The Runner's Edge. The Run will also be be awarding a total of $1000 split among the top five open and top five masters racewalkers, $200 to the first wheelchair finisher, and $150 each to the top runners age 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 plus. There will be award plaques to the top finishers in each of 14 age groups, plus racewalkers and Clydesdales.

The main event will be preceded by a 1/4 mile fun run for future female Olympians age 12 and under, with special Vytra Fun Run Medals presented to all Fun Run finishers. Free massage will be available for all participants.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, and its mission to promote the positive growth and development of Long Island's children by providing families with quality mentoring, education and support service..

For entry forms or information, call the Greater Long Island Running Club at (516) 349-7646, or visit the Club's website at www.glirc.org for online registration.