Organizers cancel Saratoga Lake race
A June 29 half-triathlon that was to wind its way through the eastern end of the city was canceled by its organizers because they failed to get the proper permits.
HITS Endurance, the host of Ironman races around the country, is refunding the entry fees to athletes who had already registered. The company wrote in an email to entrants: “the city will not issue a permit this year despite prior assurances. Consequently, much to our disappointment, we must cancel the event.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin said he is not aware of any assurances. He said the organizers could not get clearance from the city because they did not get the necessary prior permit from state Department of Transportation. That is needed, he said, because the race crosses state Route 29.
“They did not follow the process laid out in the permit application,” Martin said. “They didn’t get a permit from DOT or provide us with any permit from the DOT; so we would not be able to allow it for that reason.”
Martin also said that police staffing for the event would have required “a good number of police officers.” That would be a problem, Martin said, as it coincides with the first day of the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
“That would have been a significant issue for us,” Martin said.
Julie Cuneo, who was set to swim, bike and run the endurance race, was disappointed when her $140 entry fee was refunded.
“I’ve done the HITS series for many years,” said Cuneo, who planned a vacation to Sweden around the half-triathlon. “When I saw they were going to be in Saratoga, I was so excited. I’m a resident, I live by the (Saratoga) lake. It would be so great to swim here and ride the roads we love. I could have rode my bike to the starting line.”
Commissioner of Accounts John Franck said the only hurdle HITS Endurance cleared was the insurance one. Franck also said that the city needs at least 90 days before an event to ensure that the permits can be issued in time for the event.
“They have been advertising this since day one, before they got the permits,” Franck said. “There was like 600 or 700 people signed up.”
Martin said that should not have happened. He said the city cautions all event organizers to not advertise before the permits are finalized.
HITS Endurance, which operates out of Saugerties, invited athletes to participate in another triathlon on July 13 at Williams Lake in the Hudson Valley. The organizer, which also has Ironman races planned for Sarasota, Fla., and Napa Valley, Calif., did not respond to a Times Union request for comment.
If HITS Endurance wants to run a half-marathon through the city next year, Martin said the city is happy to work with the organizers, but they must secure state approval before seeking city permits. The city would also be willing, he said, to help them book an appropriate date.
Cuneo hopes that is the case.
“I would like to see the city host healthy activities that bring athletes of all different caliber,” Cuneo said. “It would be a big win for our community. We have a beautiful lake, beautiful roads. It’s disappointing that it didn’t work out.”