Participant's Guide

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 A triathlon is a combination of swimming, biking and running – in one race. In triathlons, you are really performing in four separate events. How? Well, triathlons are timed as three separate races (swim, bike and run) and then the final time is the combination of each of those three races together as well as your “transition time”. The transition time refers to the time it takes a participant to get out of the pool and on to their bike as well as the time it takes him/her to get off their bike and on to the running course. So, you will see the results of each time broken down individually. 

1. The first time represents your swim time. 

2. The second time represents transition one/your bike time/and transition two. 

3. The third time represents your run time. 

4. The fourth time represents the total of all these together. This is your race time.

As stated above, this race will be timed and recorded but winning should not be the goal – finishing should be. As you participate in this triathlon and others in years to come, you will be able to measure your success, so HAVE FUN!  Remember, you are not racing to be in front– we time each participant separately – so you are racing AGAINST THE CLOCK – not another racer who might be in front of or behind you. Just enjoy the experience and excitement of something new and encourage your fellow triathletes as you see them on the course. Everyone who finishes will be awarded a medal and you will also receive a nylon bag when you pick up your packet which will include an event t-shirt. 

This document covers all the details you need to know about each of these segments of the triathlon (swim, bike, run) as well as everything you need to know about what happens when you get there. So, please read through this carefully and review it with your kids. It will help make them feel comfortable about the total course. And, to begin, listed below is a suggested list of things to bring with you. 

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING TO THE TRIATHLON? 

Bike

Tennis Shoes

Helmet (Mandatory)   

Socks 

Swimsuit      
Goggles (Optional)   

Water or Gatorade 

Towel 

RACE TIMELINE

FRIDAY (Optional)
Jones Center on the Campus of UNCP

5:30- 6:00 PM *Packet Pick Up
6:00 - 6:15 PM Pre-Race Meeting 

SATURDAY (Morning of the race)
Jones Center on the Campus of UNCP

6:30 - 7:15 AM *Packet Pick Up; (If you didn’t attend Friday night)
6:30 - 7:15 AM Triathlete Check-in
6:30 - 7:30 AM Body Marking
6:30 - 7:30 AM Bike/Gear Setup in Transition Area (Transition opens at 6:30 AM and closes promptly at 7:30 AM)
7:30 - 8:00 AM Opening Ceremony
8:00 AM Lining up of athletes
8:10 AM Swim Start 

DO NOT BE LATE (Remember, you need time to park, unload your bike and get set-up in the transition area – so plan to be early.)

We will CLOSE check-in at 7:15 AM, so if you are not there by then, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate you. Our apologies. 

*Registration will close at 6:30 AM race morning.

PRE-RACE

RACE / BIB NUMBER: 

DO NOT ATTACH OR WEAR RACE NUMBERS (BIB NUMBER) FOR THE SWIM. 

Every participant is assigned a number automatically by our registration system. When checking in at registration on Friday night or Saturday morning, you will receive this number to wear on your shirt during the bike and run. This same number will be marked on your body (see Body Marking below). The bib number MUST be attached (we will give you pins to attach them) to the kid’s shirts or whatever they will put on after their swim to bike and run in. 

Once again, make sure you attach your bib number to the front of the shirt you will be riding and running in. 

BODY MARKING: 

In triathlons, each participant is marked (using a sharpie) with their age and their bib number. This will be done from 6:30 AM Saturday until 7:30 AM. 

NOTE: You will be required to show your race number (bib number) to volunteers for body marking.

TIMING STRAP

This race will be timed using adhesive timing straps. Each participant will be issued a strap that matches your bib number (race number you put on your shirt) during packet pick up.  The strap will track the participant on each section of the race and records separate swim, bike and run times (as well as the amount of time they spend in the transition area). It is the responsibly of each participate to place this adhesive strap on their left ankle.

TRANSITION AREA (SEE MAP ON WEBSITE): 

PARENTS, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR YOUTH PARTICIPANTS, ONLY ATHLETES, RACE OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE TRANSITION AREA. 

The transition area is where your bikes and gear will be placed before 7:30 AM on the day of the race. Place your bike on the rack and allow space between bikes for placing your gear. No bike storage the night before the race. 

The transition area will have two entrances and two exits. One entrance will be the entrance from the swim. Kids will use this to ENTER the transition area after the swim to get their bike. The second entrance will be the entrance from the bike. After you finish the ride and dismount your bike kids will use this to ENTER the transition area to rack your bike and start your run. The other exit will be used to EXIT the transition area to start the run. 

THE RACE

SWIM: 

There are two separate entrances to the pool. One is ONLY for participants and the other is for spectators. The entrances will be marked. 

For SAFETY reasons, we will start the 11-15 group PROMPTLY at 8:10 AM first (with a 15-20 second separation between kids) and then start the 6-10 group immediately after the last 11-15 group (again, with a 10-15 second separation between kids). 

Parents are not allowed on the pool level. All spectators must sit in the balcony. All participants must be prepared to line up for the swim start a minimum of 10 minutes before the race starts. You will be lined up based on age. 

BIKE (SEE MAP ON WEBSITE): 

ATHLETES WHO DO NOT HAVE AN APPROVED HELMET ON RACE DAY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE

6-10 year old participants will make one loop around the 3 mile bike course. 

11-15 year old participants will make two loops (for a total of 6 miles). 

Hard shell helmets must be worn and fastened before leaving the transition area. Only helmets approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may be used. If unsure if child's helmet meets this requirement, please take to a bike shop to have it checked. Children may not leave the transition area without their helmet on, and strap securely fastened.  Bike and helmet numbers will be provided in your packet. A bike along with a helmet will be on display during packet pick up for placement.  

Bike Rules/Information 

• Stay to the right to allow faster cyclists to pass on the left. 

• For safety reasons, no headphones, earphones or any radio-type devices will be allowed. There are plenty of volunteers and police officers along the course but please review the course with your kids to make sure they know and understand it. 

• There will be one water stop on the bike course, but participants must pull over to the side of the road and come to a complete stop to get water. 

• Even though the roads will be closed, always be aware of your surroundings and look out for other cyclists and debris on the roads. 

RUN (SEE MAP ON WEBSITE): 

6-10 year old participants will run 1 mile. 

11-15 year old participants will run 2 miles. 

The run course is totally flat, with a part of it being on the sidewalk. There are also speed bumps along the course. None of the speed bumps are severe or dangerous; just be alert that they’re on the course. There will be two water stations located on the course. For safety reasons, no headphones, earphones or any radio-type devices will be allowed.

Participants must have their race/bib number visible on the front of their shirt as they cross the finish line. 

POST- RACE

RESULTS & AWARDS: 

Results will be posted at the finish line within 20 minutes after the final racer crosses the finish line. As stated earlier, every racer will receive a Triathlon Finisher Medal. In addition, we will award trophies to the top three (3) male and female finishers of each four age groups 

6-8   
9-10  
11-13   
14-15 

Finally, the Tri-Warriors would like to thank you for your support in our Youth Triathlon. We hope your experience is one that will lead you will to want to race in this triathlon every year and that you bring two friends with you next year to compete also! 

Have a great race and most importantly, have FUN!