A northeaster that has already brought strong winds and some rain to the East End and threatens to bring more rain and wind and coastal flooding this weekend has led to the cancellation of two big weekend athletic events that set out from Southampton: the Hamptons Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday and Tour of the Hamptons, a cycling outing, on Sunday.
"The latest forecast indicates that the storm is expected to track closer to the coast, increasing concerns about strong winds, downed trees and power lines, blocked roads, and flooding. At the same time, local emergency management and public safety resources will be focused on preparing for and responding to the storm and maintaining public safety throughout the area," organizers of the marathon said in an Instagram post. Given the forecast, "we cannot safely hold the event."
It will not be rescheduled this year, but those who registered will have an opportunity to defer their entry until next year or use their entry fee toward another Capstone Race. These include a marathons in Raleigh, N.C., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and half marathons in Charleston, S.C., White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Fernandina Beach, Fla., and Chapel Hill, N.C., and races in Durham and Boone, N.C.
Tour of the Hamptons, run by the Massapequa Park Bicycle Club, is not a race but a self-paced, supported ride with routes of 25, 53, 70, and 105 miles (and 30 miles for vintage bikes). Cyclists set out from the Southampton Intermediate School off Narrow Lane, with those on the longest route heading all the way to Montauk Point. "The potential for significant rain, strong winds and gusts, and hazardous road conditions creates unnecessary risks for riders participating in any of the Tour of the Hamptons routes, as well as for our volunteers, ride leaders, and support teams," the group posted on its website. Registrants will receive refunds.
The club also organizes a more self-guided event, the North Fork Classic, set for Oct. 10, with a rain date of Oct. 17.
