Posted: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 02:41 PM - 7,640 Readers

By: Pamela LeBlanc

Lake Travis Relay: The “Best Dam Open Water Swim Around” gets under way at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at Mansfield Dam Park on Lake Travis. The six-person relay finishes at The Pier on Lake Travis. Each person swims a 20-minute leg, then a 15-minute leg, then 10-minute legs until their team has completed the 12-mile course. Entry is $60 per swimmer ($20 for alternates) by Oct. 1; fees increase by $10 after Oct. 1. Swimmers may race solo for $110. Race is on drought or no drought. For information, call 512-327-2260 or go here www.laketravisrelay.com.

Texas Mamma Jamma Ride: Chose from 10, 25, 45, 65 or 100-mile routes in this inaugural ride against breast cancer, which starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at Reunion Ranch, 850 County Road 255 in Georgetown. The ride aims to raise $400,000 for 10 local non-profit organizations that provide services to Central Texans with breast cancer. Routes go through Williamson County and the towns of Liberty Hill and Bertram. All routes are fully supported. For more information, go here www.mammajammaride.org or call 512-371-7433.

Walk MS: Austin 2009: More than 1,000 walkers will walk or run a 1-mile route inside the Dell Diamond or a 5K through Old Settler’s Park starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 during the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual fund-raiser. Proceeds go to research, programs and services for an estimated 20,000 Texans affected by MS. Go to www.walkmstexas.org to register for free or make a donation. Participants may also register on-site at the Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd. in Round Rock, starting at 9 a.m. on event day.

Austin Oyster Urban Adventure Race: Teams run, bike, paddle, climb and perform other crazy athletic stunts as they race 30 to 40 miles around the city in a combination triathlon/scavenger hunt. Start time is 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Dr. Registration is $75 per person for the full race; $65 per person for the half. Each team also must raise $100 in donations, which benefit the Austin Parks Foundation. For more information go here www.oysterracingseries.com.

Run Austin Run Half Marathon, 5K and 10K: The Run Austin Run events kick off at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at The Triangle, 45th and Guadalupe Streets. Registration is $70 for the half marathon, $40 for the 10K and $30 for the 5K. Online registration closes Oct. 9. A portion of proceeds benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. Packet pickup is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at The Triangle Park, 4700 N. Lamar Blvd. For more information, go here http://www.usaproductions.org/events/run-series/run-austin.

Bike station: REI will man the Bike Safety Check/Trail Etiquette Station from 7-9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. Shop employees will help bicycle commuters make basic adjustments to their lights, tires, chains, brakes and shifters, plus provide information about bicycle laws and safety, bike theft and trail etiquette. And down the road…

Tour de Fat: New Belgium Brewing’s celebration of all things biking gears up with a costumed bike parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Also on tap (pun intended)? Bicycle performances, a funeral procession for the car belonging to one lucky person who is giving up their car for a year in exchange for a free commuter bike, and lots of wacky bikes. Admission is free, but beer and merchandise proceeds benefit Yellow Bike Project, Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders. For more information go here http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat.

*  Story Contributed by: Pamela LeBlanc