Rattlesnake Triathlon August 16th & 17th, 2008 Aurora Reservoir

Race Information

Olympic

SPRINT

Schedule:

Packet pickup will be on race morning only as we go Green this year. There will be registration areas for bib�s 1-99, 100-199, 200-299, etc. Get body marked in the transition area and then head down to registration to show your photo ID and USAT card if an annual member. Don�t worry if you are running a bit late (but make sure you get to bib/chip pickup before 7:30am). This is a time trial start and when you get to the starting line, really doesn�t matter.

Registration will close at least a week in advance of each race (if not sold out before (note: which it did)). We will publish the final bib order on Thursday evening, August 14th around 9pm. We will publish a list of all racers on Tuesday evening, August 12th (again around 9pm).

Race contact information:

For Packet Pickup, you must bring photo id to check in. that includes RACE MORNING if picking up your bib race morning. Every year, many people come expecting us to allow them to race without photo id. This could jeopardize our insurance and is a critical part of our race policy. Please bring photo id. You cannot pickup someone else's bib for the same reason.

First: Please bring your USAT card with you if an annual USAT member. NO EXCEPTIONS to this. You can print off a card from the USAT site if you cannot find your card.

Email: jimflint@spamarrest.com Note racers: This is a two step process and you must verify a return email from Spam Arrest in order for the email to go through.

Phone: Race hotline: 720-232-8669 (recorded info, but will go live on August 15th during the day).

For last minute changes: No refunds will be offered but you can sell your spot to someone else if unable to attend the race. To complete a transfer of your spot, have the new person come to the Aurora Arapahoe Crossings Runners Roost (not at the Colorado Blvd store) on Thursday, August 14th and pay a $10 transfer fee and bring with some written verification that they have your approval to buy your spot (printed email will be fine). If you have not paid a $10 one day fee and are not an annual member, they will also have that $10 cost. They settle directly with you for your race fees on the spot they are buying. This opportunity to sell your spot is a year to year basis and if abused may be removed at any time so please be considerate when coming to the Aurora store as it will take time to process changes.

No race morning changes or transfers. There is not time.

Chips will be distributed race morning at the race venue and will only take a second. Body marking and chip pickup will be under the shelters at the park next to the transition area.

If volunteering and it looks like rain, please bring a rain jacket with you. We'll have tents at the run aid stations to protect volunteers from sun or rain, but still it's better to be prepared as the race will only be cancelled for lightning. It's possible the swim could be cancelled if there are high winds but that's unlikely and never happened in the morning at Aurora Reservoir in all the years we've been holding events there. We've never had lightning either but last year was our first rain morning ever too. Cross your fingers. It's usually calm and beautiful as the sun comes up. I'd recommend everyone get there early and chill. Volunteers won't be ready to go until 6am, but the park does open at 5:30am.

Parking Information:

We are going to cap the race like in years past at park capacity of 500 racers, so that everyone can park inside the park. We know we could sell many, many more spots this year but won't to make sure we maintain a quality race experience.

Packet Pick up:

Morning of the race at the venue. If you are picking up your packet race morning and did not receive your pass through email, no worries. Just enter the park on the right hand side, explain you are racing and they will check to make sure you have a bike and then give you a pass. Spectators will either have to pay a $7 park entrance fee or enter the park by foot from the Beacon Point housing subdivision from the south (Smoky Hill Rd exit off E-470) to avoid paying a park entrance fee.

New Triathlete Category. For those that have raced no more than 2 triathlons before, enter our Newbie' category and be eligible for the same age group awards (just picked up our Polar Water bottles).

Aid Stations: There is an aid station at the bike turnaround like last year and aid stations on the run at the Start, 1 mile, 2 mile and the finish on the Sprint. For the Olympic, aid stations every mile of the run. Again, in 2008 will see a return of paramedics on mountain bikes cruising the run course. 3 ambulances in 07 plus 6 EMT's. Can't be safe enough. We even have a dedicated sheriff's deputy on a motorcycle cruising the course just for your safety (as well as officers with cars and lights flashing at every intersection). The roads are swept by a street sweeper a few days before the race and we have a singer for the National Anthem start.

Parking Information:

The park opens at 5:30am. It will be dark until around 6:10am. The transition area will be open for placing your bike in ANY slot you like. This actually has an advantage in that it's less crowded when you come out of the water with others in the same age grouping which leads to less congestion in the Transition Zone (TZ). There are 700 parking spots at the race and we have a bit over 500 entries, plus volunteers and family coming. Please CARPOOL if at all possible so everyone can park in the main two lots. DO NOT park in the coned off area next to the boat ramp. The rangers may tow your car if you do and you will make me and the rest of the volunteers very unhappy with you. You don't want that. To get to the Aurora Reservoir, the best way is to come out E-470 (have exact change for the Quincy exit (1.25 cents) as it's a toll road. Head EAST on Quincy (last year a couple people headed west and ended up at Quincy Reservoir and wondered where everyone was at). :-) really. So, go EAST 2 miles to the park entrance then turn south into the park. Pick one of the two main lots and be there by 7am at the very latest. If you come later, we will still probably be able to let you race but again, you'll make everyone unhappy with you. If you are late, don't panic, but just start at the back of the line. It's a time trial start, so when you actually start doesn't matter. You won't be DQ'd like other wave starts. Head to the registration area and get body marked. Number on upper left arm and left thigh, age on lower left calf. See you race day. Jim and 100+ volunteers. :-) And say THANK YOU to every volunteer, policeman, ranger and helper you see. And smile for everyone. Let them know you are having a great day even if you hurt like heck. :-) It will bum the other racers out which might move you a slot higher in the finish.

Water Temperature:

Water temperature is expected to be 69-71 degrees. It is still recommended that you swim in a triathlon wet suit as they are faster and warmer. Runners Roost has them in stock (if you are a registered racer, they have a special sale for you). We understand Campus Cycles may rent wetsuits. 2006 saw 73 degrees which is warmer than normal (except it rained on the Saturday race).

Transition Area:

Post race activities take place in the Longs Peak shelter at the park with the Transition Area just above in the main parking lot.

There are many benefits to using the main part of the park including SHADE, tables to sit on, more restrooms, a way cool playground for children, grass to sit on, and a new improved swim course. The park has been out recently pressure washing everything for us. The sand on the beach was smoothed and I have to tell you, I am so impressed with the park and Ranger support that if you see any Ranger out there, please tell them thank you so much for letting us have our race there. Heck, tell any volunteer, police officer or Ranger thank you for being there.

Family Support:

Remember, there will only be meal service for racers. Please either pre-purchase additional meals ($7)for your family or bring food and beverages for a picnic with them.

The beach has two volleyball courts and the soft sand is wonderful for kids and a picnic. There is no swimming at the park though, outside the triathlon as the park does not have lifeguard support for the general public. The water quality though is of the highest caliber as this is Aurora's water supply and is piped in from the mountains. Thus it's cool temperature. Compare the visibility in Aurora Reservoir to other local reservoirs and you will see what we mean. :-)

Please try to stay off the grass unless sitting on it as some new sod has been installed at Aurora Res and we promised the park, we'd be easy on the sod. There will be a few orange snow fence barriers to keep people off high traffic areas. Please respect the grass out there.

Your park entry fee is included race day. Any visitors entering the park after 8am race day will have to pay the park entry fee of $7.

Swim Course:
The Sunday Sprint swim course is straight out 300 meters to the Bayliner boat with flashing warning light, then makes a right turn to the finish beach. You will always keep the buoys and rope on your right (rope only on Saturday). The Saturday Olympic goes out the same straight leg to the Bayliner ski boat and flashing light, only ~375 meters, makes a 180 degree turn, comes back to the starting beach (again, keeping the rope on your right at all times (prevents head on collisions), exit the water, jog 5 feet around the rope starting point and then back out again a second time to the catamaran, then makes a right turn into the finish beach. Check out our new maps page for more detailed info on the courses.

We will also make announcements prior to the race start about rules and where to exit the swim course, or just follow the wet footprints in the sand and on the smooth concrete path up to the TA. All routes for the bike and run will be clearly marked with RattleSnake Tri signs. The swim course should be set by 5pm Friday evening with small marker buoys (except for the rope which gets placed into position race morning).

Transition Zone & Body Marking:

Ok, race morning. The parking lot opens at 5:30am but we won't be ready for you to get body marked until 6am. So put your bike in a slot (and please remember only racers in the TZ marked off bike rack area) and chill until the body markers are ready. These are high school volunteers helping with Transition Zone responsibility, so please say thank you to each and every volunteer you see on the course. It's so hard to recruit volunteers and your kind words do wonders for our race. We also have the best darn volunteers. You will see several Multisport clubs out there as well manning aid stations, like Team CWW and Rocky Mountain Tri Club.

Start Order:

The starting order will be by bib number. A list of bib order numbers will be posted on this site Friday morning, August 15th.

Timing Chip:

Remember to have your timing chip on your ankle. No chip, no time. There are no manual methods available.

More Transition Info-Swim to Bike:

Once you have completed the swim, just after you exit the beach and head up the concrete path to the bike transition zone in the parking lot. There will be two small wading pools to run through that you can rinse your feet off. There will be thick rubber mats in the bottom so you don't slip. Next, there will be an optional wet suit stripping area. If you want someone to finish taking your wetsuit off (remember no nudity), just pull it down to your waist, then flop down on your back, stick your legs up in the air and they'll pull it right off and hand it back to you. You think I'm kidding about the nudity but at Ironman Canada a couple years ago, a foreign racer didn't realize what the wet suit strippers were doing, and surprise, surprise. Don't let that be you. :-)

You will follow the chalk marks on the sidewalk from the beach exit to the TZ area. You will also be directed by volunteers, to enter the TZ up a ramp (so our wheelchair athletes can compete as well), then go to your bike, then BUCKLE your helmet, exit the TZ to the north while either running or walking your bike out the transition zone. Remember that bicycle cleats don't do well on hard surfaces, so don't fall in front of everyone. BE CAREFUL. Do not mount your bike until well outside the TZ and past the MOUNT LINE clearly marked. When returning to the TZ for the run, you MUST DISMOUNT YOUR BIKE before the DISMOUNT line. That's not ON the line but before. Don't come skidding in, ruining your $50 tire. It doesn't impress anyone and it might cost you a penalty for going one foot too far. Officials will be at this race monitoring USAT rules compliance. There will be one aid station on the bike at the turnaround which is 5.5 miles east on Quincy. If you want a water bottle handed to you, then SLOW DOWN. Also, dispose of any trash or used water bottles at the turn around. Tossing used water bottles or litter anywhere else on the course is a penalty and will be strictly enforced.

Once you have finished the bike, you will rack your bike, then exit the north side of the TZ (same side you came in from the swim on). This ensures that everyone travels the same distance through the TZ. This also means that all bike rack slots are almost exactly the same regarding best position. There will be no bad spots in the TZ.

The run course will take you on a path out the south side of the park, around the reservoir for 1.59 miles and then back to the finish, retracing the same path. There will be an aid station at the start, 1.0 mile mark, 2.1 mile mark and at the finish. Now I shouldn't have to say this but drink lots of water on both the bike and run course (as well as the night before). It could be hot and if you get thirsty, it's too late to prevent dehydration. Drink early and often. There will be water, Gatorade, GU, and grapes available on the run course. You know, even if it rains, you still need lots of water as that just makes you feel cool.

Bike Course: The bike course will exit the park entrance road, then travel east on Quincy for ~ 4.5 miles to the bike turnaround. Please slow down before attempting the turn. Also, there will be an aid station at the bike turnaround, so if you'd like a sport water bottle handed to you, SLOWLY discard your old bottle in this area, off to the shoulder and SLOWLY stick your hand out for a replacement. DO NOT try to grab a water bottle at 20MPH. It just doesn't work. Also, do you know how bad a water bottle damages car body work (not to mention human bodies) at 20MPH. About $500 worth and they'll have your number. Really, SLOW down at the turnaround for everyone's sake. This is the most common area for a person to take a tumble on the bike.

Remember this is an open road course triathlon. Even if directed by a police officer that it's clear to continue, remember not all motorists will obey an officer at a race. I have often seen motorists who may not love bicyclists on the road, just pull out and drive through. I think they know the officer can't really chase them down, but that's why we have a spare motorcycle police officer out there. :-)

You will see four Arapahoe County officers on the course race day. Please obey all officers and race staff if motioned to stop. Failure to do so, will result in a DQ or a penalty. Please do not mount your bike until well clear of the MOUNT line OUTSIDE the Transition Zone (area). When returning from your bike ride, SLOW DOWN coming down the ramp into the TZ and dismount well before the DISMOUNT line. Even crossing over 1 foot beyond the DISMOUNT line is a possible penalty (if an official sees you). Plus, you paid good money for those tires, so slow down slowly and save your tread.

Head on into the TZ, change, then exit the TZ at the same end you came in from after the swim. This ensures that everyone travels the same distance through the TZ.

Officials: This race is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and will have USAT officials on site monitoring the race. Remember officials do not give warnings. Please stay on the right and read the rules web page.

Remember: This is an open road course triathlon! Please be very aware of traffic not only oncoming, but behind you. Do not pull out to pass someone without looking in both directions first. Also, do not cut the corners on any turns. Going over the yellow double lines will also result in a DQ, as will not having your helmet buckled. That really puts a bummer on the day.

Run Course:

After changing into your running shoes, head on out the opposite end of the TZ that you came in from the bike and follow the chalk markings around the shelter area to the path out the south side of the shelter area and around the end of the reservoir. Volunteers will be directing you out the TZ. You will run out 1.55 miles, then back into the finish area.

There will be an aid station at the start of the run in the TZ area, then another at 1.0 miles, then 2.0 miles, again at the FINISH LINE near the LONGS PEAK SHELTER. The DJ will be playing great Rock-N-Roll (at least my favorite Rock-N-Roll). :-) Have an Einstein Bagel Sandwich, fresh fruit and grab a slice of Ice Cold Watermelon along with that ice cold water bottle waiting for you at the finish. Oh yeah, the popsicles return.

Thank you for racing the RattleSnake Tri RD-Jim & family, and all the wonderful volunteers.