Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Trek Triathlon Update

Race Course

·         On the swim, there will be a lot more buoys across the lake, on the sides making a “lane” for you to swim. Buoys might be up early Saturday, but the guard platforms will be put up later in the day.  Two large buoys at swim start and swim exit.
·         Lasers!! So at the swim exit there will be two strobe light lasers to help you see the exit point better, along with flags, etc.
·         Transition: Swim Out at the small beach; Bike In and Out will be the main entrance to the RecPlex (by the building), and Run Out will be the south parking lot exit where the gates are.
·         Bike Course – Cue sheet can be downloaded here.
·         Run Course – you’ll run out of transition on the road, turn on the road to go down to the beach, continue on road up to about Hwy H, then reverse and run back on the path.
·         Finish line – a bit past the flagpoles, across from the softball field parking. 

Saturday

·         Registration & packet pickup - 10am to 3pm @ RecPlex.
·         You’ll need photo ID
·         If you’re doing a team, all team members must be together to pick up packets
·         Parking is in Prairie Springs Park.

·         Course Overview talk: 10:30 and 12:30
·         Race Day Preview talk: 11:15 and 1:15

Bike Racking on Saturday

·         You can rack your bike on Saturday or Sunday morning.
·         There is security in transition all night, so don’t worry about leaving your bike overnight.
·         The “advantage” on racking is that you can get a better spot on the bike rack.
·         If you get a good spot, consider bringing a small chain combination lock and locking your bike to the rack. This is to keep someone who comes later from moving your bike and taking your good spot.
·         You MUST go through registration first, before racking your bike, since you must have your race number on the frame of the bike to enter transition.
·         Transition is open 10am until 4:30pm.
·         Only athletes with race numbers allowed in transition Saturday and Sunday. No kids, husbands, significant others, etc. This is a very strict rule.
·         You can get body marked Saturday or Sunday.

Bike Racking on Sunday

·         Park at the Outlet Mall and ride your bike in.  Transition is open 4:30-6:30am, so plan to arrive with plenty of time to ride down Hwy 165 to the RecPlex, with your gear, rack your bike, and set up transition.
·         Remember transition closes at 6:30, so this is your deadline, NOT your wave time. Regardless of when you start, everyone has to be out of transition at 6:30.
·         After the race, they are not going to let you exit transition and ride back to the Outlet Mall until almost everyone is off the bike course. Otherwise, people riding back will interfere with those still doing the race.

Parking on Sunday

·         Main parking will be at “The Shoppes at Prairie Ridge” on Hwy 50. This is the shopping center with Target, JC Penny, Famous Dave’s, etc.
·         If driving, exit I-94 at Hwy 50 and go east.
·         Bus transportation available 4am until 1pm, but bikes are NOT allowed on the buses. If you park here and have your bike, you have to ride it down Hwy H to the RecPlex.
·         Athletes have priority on the buses over spectators. Spectators are being asked not to take the buses until 7am.
·         Outlet Mall parking is an option on Sunday. Typically this is for people who are riding their bikes to the race that morning. There is no bus transportation in the morning; if you don’t have your bike or have folks with you, they’ll have to walk the 1.5 miles down to the RecPlex.

After the race

Hwy 165 and Terwall Terrace (the road inside the park) are expected to open to traffic about 11:30am.

If you park at Prairie Ridge on Hwy 50:

1.   Ride your bike back to your car, riding north on Hwy H.
2.   Take the bus back to your car, drive back to the RecPlex, pick up your bike, and head home. BUT you’re not going to be able to do this until after the roads are opened.

If you park at the Outlet Mall:

1.   Ride your bike back to your car. But, as noted above, they’re not going to let you do this until most if not all the participants are off the bike course and on the run.
2.   After the roads reopen, there will be LIMITED bus transportation back to the Outlet Mall – take the bus to your car, drive to the RecPlex, and pick up your bike. 

Good luck to everyone racing. I’ll be seeing you at the swim start.

Coach Ken