2009 Winterlude Triathlon Instructions
Start time-Saturday, February 7th, 2009, 9 a.m. sharp!
Start location--Dows Lake, near the Pavilion
PRE RACE LOGISTICS
Parking-Park across Prince of Wales Drive in the pay parking lot or at Agriculture Canada, a little further up the hill. Please do not park at H.M.C.S Carleton. You will be towed.
Numbers
To be worn on the outside of your clothing on the front of either your jacket or leg. Individual numbers will be white with blue lettering. Relay Teams-will have two numbers-one for the front and one for the back of each competitor. Team numbers will be blue with white lettering.
ChampionChip
You'll pick it up at the start line on Dows Lake from the green tent that says ChampionChip. It is to be worn on your ankle or as the 'baton' for the relay teams. Remember, no chip means no time. Relay teams will use it as a 'baton' but the chips must still be around the ankle before you leave transition. Remember all teams must do the same and you miss a detection you could be disqualified.
TRANSITION ZONE LAYOUT
We now have two t-zones: skate to ski and ski to run. This worked wonderfully to reduce the mayhem in the t-zones with a uniform flow of athletes.
Skate to ski: simply put your skis and poles in the snow bank and your ski boots on the ground in front, unless you wore them in the skate. First come, first served. You are not allowed to ski in the transition zone. You must walk/run with your skis to the start of the ski course, which will be clearly marked.
Ski to run: take your skis off at the location indicated by all the volunteers yelling at you to "take your skis off here!" and run to your t-zone spot. Plunk your skis in the snowbank, lace up your running shoes and away you go.
There will be a separate entrance and exit to the Arboretum so skiers finishing up won't be skiing into oncoming traffic at the end of the ski, nor will skiers have to stop on a dime in the middle of the people who are putting their skis on.
We've re-designed the t-zone to have 15-18 smaller snowbanks with 10-15 feet between them to allow for better access to individual spots.
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Clothing suggestions-Warm clothing for before and afterwards. Skates, skis, boots, poles, running shoes, and a bag to put your equipment in. The organizers are not responsible for your equipment. Mark your equipment accordingly.
SKATE
Skate 8-km-The skate is 4km out to just past Pretoria Bridge and 4km back to Dows Lake and the transition zone. Expect an aggressive start, so please line up according to your skating ability with the long blade skaters in front. Keep to the right side of the Rideau Canal and your head up at all times. Keep your eyes open, the Canal Skateway is open to the public and they are not always aware of the triathlon. You are responsible to avoid collisions with the public and other competitors, not the other way around.
IF YOU FALL DURING THE SKATE, you will be surrounded by many people, so tuck your arms and hands in and cover yourself until you are sure it is safe to get up. Get out of the way as quickly as possible and re-enter the group when you have gotten back up to speed.
IF SOMEONE AROUND YOU FALLS, WARN EVERYONE AROUND YOU WITH "SKATER DOWN!!"
TRANSITION 1: SKATE TO SKI
Skate/ski transition-the t-zone will be on hard packed snow. You can most likely skate to your transition spot, take your skates off, grab your skis and poles, run/walk to the start of the ski course and put your skis on.
Relay exchange-will be just across the ice to snow line. Skiers will have to run through the t-zone then put their skis on at the designated spot.
SKI
Ski 5-km-Follow the markers and volunteer instructions. You can skate ski or classic ski, just keep going forward with the boards on your feet. If you wish to pass on the course, please be considerate of your fellow competitors. Yell "track!" and pass on the left. Likewise, if someone yells "track", please move to your right and let them pass.
TRANSITION 2: SKI TO RUN
Ski/run transition zone-You will be required to take your skis off before entering the T-Zone. There will be volunteers there to assist you. Walk/run to your equipment, put your skis and poles in the snow bank and boots into your plastic bag on the ground in front of your skis. Put on your running shoes. Grab some water if you wish. Exit the T-Zone on the right.
Relay exchange-will be just after the ski finish. Skiers will have to take their skis off before the ChampionChip is handed off to the runner.
RUN
Run 5-km- You will exit the T-Zone in the same direction you came from on the skate, run around Dows Lake and along the Canal to Hartwell Locks (please stay on the right side of the Canal-- DO NOT GO DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE ICE, up the stairs, then turn right and run along the pathway for about 400m to the turn around, then back along the path past the stairs towards Bronson, down the handicap ramp, then back towards the Hartwell Locks, staying on the left side of the Canal-- DO NOT GO DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE ICE, then back to the finish line. There will be a water station at the turn ramp. Please be careful while running on the ice. Be even more careful to watch out for pedestrians. Again, they may not be aware of the event.
FINISH AND POST RACE
Finish-Under banner beside the t-zone on Dows Lake. Awards Ceremony-As soon as possible in HMCS Carleton. Awards for individuals will go 3 deep and overall winners are not eligible for age group prizes. Awards for teams will go to the fastest team in each category. You must be present to win a draw prize. Results-Will be posted at http://www.sportstats.ca/
Sponsors
Thanks to The National Capital Commission, The Administration of the Dominion Arboretum for supporting this years race.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the Winterlude Triathlon, rick@zone3sports.com
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