Community Corner
Levittown Native to Compete in Ironman Triathlon
Bob Calabritto moved to Indonesia in 2000, but is competing in honor of his hometown.
Levittown native Bob Calabritto is returning to his roots to participate in the first-ever Ironman Triathlon Championships in New York and New Jersey this Saturday.
A 1989 graduate of Division Avenue High School, Calabritto holds his hometown close to his heart. Since moving to Indonesia in 2000 and training through several triathlon events, Calabritto feels privileged to complete his first full Ironman back in New York.
"Coming home to do my first full Ironman distance on my home soil is beyond special," said Calabritto, who works as a freelance writer and magazine editor in Indonesia. "I am racing in honor of a number of friends and their loved ones from Levittown who have battled cancer."
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Calabritto is competing to raise funds for the Stomp the Monster, a charity dedicated to assist those fighting cancer as well as their caregivers.
"My hope was to raise $7,000 for the charity, which I have already accomplished," Calabritto said.
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The 140.6-mile race takes place in parts of both New York City and New Jersey. The course includes a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson River; a 112-mile bike ride on the Palisades Parkway in Bergen and Rockland Counties, and a 26.2-mile run beginning in Fort Lee, New Jersey and finishing in Riverside Park in Manhattan, according to the Ironman website.
In preparation for Saturday's event, Calabritto has dedicated the last six months to intense training.
"Preparation for me consisted of 15 to 20 hours per week of various training -
swimming, biking and running," he said. "[I've] been training, focused on this race for about six months with culmination of years of training for other events, which prepare one for longer events such as this."
After Saturday, Calabritto will begin training for the Asia Pacific Championship in Phuket, Thailand in hopes of qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Las Vegas.
For more information on Stomp the Monster, or to donate to the cause, please visit their website.
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