 |  |  |  |  |  |
NEW: Registration is now available the fifth annual Happy Valley Sprint Triathlon, to be held on June 24th, 2012 2012 Race Information: The race begins with a 750m swim in the Penn State outdoor pool set up for "long course" (50m per length). We will have 7 heats with the fastest athletes in the last heat. The first five heats will have two swimmers starting at each end of each lane and the last two heats will have three swimmers at each end. After picking up your bike in the nearby, secured transition area, you will complete a 20k (12 mile), out-and-back bike course past PSU's Beaver Stadium the University Park Airport. After returning to the transition area, athletes will complete a 5k (3.1 mi) out-and-back run on paved, moderately rolling roads adjacent to campus. It is a fun course that is perfect for first timers and experienced triathletes alike. This will be a USAT-Sanctioned event. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Interested in helping out with the event? We would really appreciate your help! Please contact us by filling out our volunteer form. Additional Details: PARKING: The best place to park is the Shields building parking lot, which can be accessed from either Univerity Dr or Curtin Rd. Once that lot is full, additional parking is available in the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot (across University Dr from the Shields building). CHECK IN PROCEDURE: • You can check-in on race morning at the tables located just outside the entrance to PSU’s outdoor swimming pool. • Check-in for the first three heats is from 5:30-6:30am Heat 1 will start at 7:00, Heat 2 at 7:30, Heat 3 at 7:55 • Athletes in Heats 4-7 may check in between 7:15-8:00am (or during the earlier check-in time, if preferred) Heat 4 will start at 8:20, Heat 5 at 8:45, Heat 6 at 9:05, Heat 7 at 9:25 • You will need to bring a photo ID to check in, as well as your USA Triathlon membership card if you are an annual member. If you forget your USAT card, you will need to purchase a 1-day membership. • Everyone will be required to sign two waivers upon checking in: one from USA Triathlon and one from Penn State. New for 2011: PSU Natatorium Lockerrooms will be open at 5:30am PRE-RACE MEETING: • We will hold a quick meeting on the lawn inside the outdoor pool area at the following times: o 6:45am for participants in heats 1-3 o 8:05am for participants in heats 4-7 HINT: If you have read this document thoroughly, you will probably already know almost everything that we say at the meeting. TRANSITION AREA: • The transition area is located on the grass across Curtin Rd from the Natatorium Building. It will be fenced with orange fencing off this year for security. Only participating athletes are allowed in the transition area (no spectators, family, friends, etc). There will be three entrances into it: 1. One at the corner closest to the Natatorium Building. You will enter here after the swim and exit the same opening to start the run. 2. One at the opposite corner from the above opening. You will exit here to start the bike portion of the race and enter through the same opening when you have completed the bike ride. 3. One additional opening to allow access before and after your race while the other heats are in progress. WE CANNOT ALLOW ATHLETES TO WALK OVER THE TIMING MATS UNTIL THEY ARE ACTUALLY RACING – DOING SO MAY MESS UP YOUR RESULTS. • If you need to be in the transition area while other athletes are racing, please be careful to stay out of their way and try not to spend more time in the transition area than absolutely necessary. • When you wish to take your bike out of the transition area after the race, a volunteer will verify that the number on your arm matches the number on your bike sticker (which you will receive at check-in. • Spaces are not assigned, but PLEASE DON’T TAKE A SPACE THAT IS ALREADY IN USE BY SOMEONE WHO IS CURRENTLY DOING THE BIKE PORTION OF THE RACE. If there is a pair of running shoes and no bike, that’s a good clue that someone is already using that space. START/SWIM INFO: • There will be 7 heats of competitors, with 4 athletes per lane. If registration sells out ahead of time again, we may have 6 athletes per lane in the last two heats). Your lane assignment will be posted on the front page of our website, www. happyvalleysprinttri.com about a week prior to the race. Typically, we seed the slowest swimmers in the earlier heats and the fastest swimmers in the later heats. All relays will be in heat 3, regardless of swim seed time. • Two (or possibly three) athletes will start from each end of each lane and everyone circle-swims counterclockwise. Passing is allowed, of course, but please do so with caution. • Wetsuits are not allowed at the Happy Valley Sprint Triathlon, and you will need to use the swim cap that we give you at check-in. • Flip turns are allowed but not required. • Athletes are responsible for counting their own laps. We have lap-counting volunteers for each lane to ensure that everyone completes the distance, but please do not expect them to tell you how many laps you have remaining. • If you do not complete the swim by the time the next heat needs to start, you will be asked to exit the water and complete the race and a reasonable time penalty will be added to your result. • After completing the swim, you will run (or walk) to the transition area opening #1 (see above) and cross a timing mat there. BIKE PORTION: • Make sure your helmet is on your head and buckled before leaving the transition area. Penalty for not doing so is Disqualification. • You will begin and end the bike portion through transition area opening #2 (see above). • Stay to your right throughout the bike course. You do not have to ride in the bike lane/shoulder of the road, but you need to stay to the right of the main traffic lane of all roads. Pass other cyclists only on the left. Time penalties may be assessed for failing to stay to the right/pass on the left. • Drafting is prohibited during the bike portion of the race. You must keep at least 3 bike-lengths between you and the cyclist ahead of you. Drafting will result in a time penalty. • There is an aid station just after the turn-around at the halfway point of the ride. We will have bottled water there for you if you want it. Please do not discard any litter anywhere on the course other than at the aid station. Time penalties may be assessed for littering, and it makes it more difficult for us to get approved for next year’s race. • If you see someone who is injured or having a mechanical failure during the bike ride, please notify the first volunteer you see so they can call it in and we will have someone come take care of them. RUN PORTION/FINISH/AWARDS: • You will begin the run through transition area opening #1 (see above). • Stay to the right during the run, and as with the bike portion, please do not litter anywhere other than at the aid station (which you will pass at approximately mile 1 and mile 2). • You may not use any MP3 players/iPods during the run. They will be confiscated and a time penalty will be assessed. • The finish line is on Curtin Rd near the northeast corner of the Natatorium building (closer than it was last year). After crossing the finish line, make sure you return your timing chip to the volunteers. • Preliminary results will be intermittently posted near the entrance to the outdoor pool. Awards presentation will take place around 11:15am. Awards will be given for Top-3 overall, Top-3 in each age group (in 10-yr increments), and Top-3 relays. RELAYS: • Relay participants will “pass the baton” inside the transition area by exchanging the timing chip (which will be on a Velcro strap around your ankle) from one participant to the next. Questions? Contact Us |
