Claire's Climb is a long, ascending hill along Riversville Road on the Bike Course and is named after Claire Gormley Collier. Claire is the sister of Phil Gormley, Westchester Triathlon's Chairman and lead organizer.
Claire was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in late 2003 and has been fighting not only a personal battle with her illness but also a public battle to improve the lives of all ALS patients. It was in this public battle that Friends of Claire Foundation was created and why it is one of the partner charities of our race since 2004.
Those close to Claire and those who know of her efforts continue to be inspired by her resilience and strength to fight despite her illness.
So it was a natural decision to pick out the most challenging part of the course, a hill where many athletes feel like giving up, and naming it after a true hero who has NEVER given up. Claire's strength and courage will inspire and motivate each triathlete to make it to the top of that hill.
Claire's Climb Challenge
We will have a timed split of the Claire's Climb portion of the bike course (in Greenwich American Corp.) and prizes will be awarded to the fastest man and fastest woman up that hill! Prizes supplied by Cannondale and Tri-Trainer. Winner must be participating in the Age Group category (individual or relay), but not the ITU Pan American Cup, and you must finish the complete triathlon. No purchase necessary.
We want to thank the sponsors of Claire's Climb for their generosity:
Thank you Claire for your radiance, relentless strength and killer hill!
