Free Admission to the OutDoors Show at the NEC

Please read all the information on this page, it will make the race far more enjoyable for you and reduce the need to ask many questions on the day. You can view the cycle course map and the general layout map on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk

Good luck and have a great race! Vic Bickerton, Event Director.

FREE SUNDOG SHADES & ENTRY TICKET FOR VOLUNTEERS
If you have friends or family supporting you, why not ask if they would like to volunteer their help on race day for just a couple of hours? We’ll not only give them a marshal pack with food and drinks and the official race T shirt, we’ll give them a pair of designer Sundog sports sunglasses worth £45.00 and a free ticket to the Outdoors & Tri Live Show. To make the event successful we rely on marshals to help on all areas from timing through to feed station and no experience is necessary. If you would like to help out please email Julie at julie@uktriathlon.co.uk or call Keith direct on 07887 780553 they’ll be delighted to hear from you!

DIRECTIONS & PARKING
The NEC is located just off junction 6 of the M42 and is well sign posted. The postcode for satellite navigation is B40 1NT. There is a fee for parking at the NEC.

Eating at the race...
There are many eating places in the NEC offering good food if you wish to eat before or after the event.

Race Day Photography…..
The official race photographers will be at the finish line. Please make sure you have your race number clearly visible so you can check out your photographs on the screens at the finish line and purchase if you wish.

Massage...
Pre & post race massage is available on site. The massage team can help with niggling aches and strains and get you ready for the event, as well as aid recovery and reduce stiff muscles after the race!

FACILITIES
There are many toilets at the NEC.

BTF MEMBERS
We support membership of the BTF and therefore we recognize BTF members. In order to verify your BTF Membership please show your 2010 BTF licence at registration or you will have to pay the £5.00 difference. The £5.00 extra that none BTF members have already paid is the cost of a PRO TRI day license that allows you to compete.

REGISTRATION (Located at the TRI LIVE entrance, follow signs for Duathlon and Run registration)

Arrive at least 60 minutes before your start time. Please do not attempt to change your start time. It is recommended that all competitors arrive as early as possible to familiarize themselves with the layout of the event. You will receive your free ticket for the Outdoors Show and Tri Live Show at registration. Additional tickets will need to be purchased from the ticket office at the NEC. Under 11 are free.
The race is run from Hall 2 of the NEC next to the Tri Live show at 20 second intervals starting at 11:00am. First you must go to registration (Open Saturday from 9:00am till 12:00pm) to register and collect your event T-shirt and race envelope which contains your race numbers, safety pins, bike & helmet stickers.
Your race numbers must be worn, one on your front and one on your back and are not to be mutilated or re-sized in any way. Elastic number belts are permitted but you must still pin both numbers front and back in the top left and right hand corners. It is good practice to write your name, blood group and any allergies you may have on the back of your race number in the unfortunate case of an accident. Please note, for yours and other competitors safety, mobile phones, MP3 or any type of personal music system that restricts your hearing is not permitted whilst competing in the event.

You may rack your cycle in the cycle transition area from 9am until 3:30pm.
Once registered rack your cycle in the transition area opposite registration (any position is fine as long as it is on the marker tape) along with other items you require such as helmet, sunglasses, cycling shoes, cycling top etc.
You must have your race numbers with you to enter the transition area. When leaving equipment in the transition area, please note that we cannot be responsible for any items lost or stolen, although we allocate security staff to specifically watch the transition area. As a security precaution, you cannot take your cycle out of the transition area without your race number and corresponding cycle sticker.

Please be at the start line (next to the finish gantry) at least 10 minutes before your start time for your race safety brief.
The event is run on a time trial basis and competitors are started at 20 second intervals.

Fun Duathlon 1.25K Run - 10K Cycle - 2.5K Run
Tri Live Duathlon & Relay Duathlon 2.5K Run - 20K Cycle - 5K Run

FIRST RUN
Fun Duathlon 1.25 kilometres: 1 lap of short run course (signed).
Tri Live & Relay Duathlon 2.5 kilometres: 1 lap of long run course (signed).

The course is predominantly on tarmac footpath and road and is fast and flat. There are signs and stewards to help you along the way. When you have completed the run, filter through into the cycle transition area to collect your cycle for the cycle section of the race.

BIKE
Fun Duathlon 10 kilometres: 3 laps.
Tri Live & Relay Duathlon 20 kilometres: 6 laps.

When you finish your run, change into your cycling gear in the transition area (you must clearly display your race number on your back for the cycle section).
After collecting your cycle, walk or run to the cycle mount line where you commence the cycle section of the race. Follow the signs and cones around the course and do not turn until you see a marshal and or a sign. It is your responsibility to complete the required amount of laps.
Important! You will not be allowed to take part without a cycle helmet (NO HELMET NO RACE). Dismount your cycle at the end of the cycle course, a marshal will tell you. (Cycling is not permitted inside the transition area).

Be extra aware of vehicles or pedestrians at all times. Ride your bike in a responsible manner, obey the Highway Code and RIDE SAFELY! Irresponsible cycling will constitute an immediate disqualification.

DRAFTING
Cyclists must maintain a forward distance of 5 metres between each other at all times except when overtaking when it is the responsibility of the overtaken rider to drop back to maintain this gap. Drafting marshals will strictly enforce this rule and offending cyclists will receive a time penalty for the first offence and disqualification on the second.

COUNTING THE LAPS ON YOUR BIKE3 laps is easy to count but 6 laps can be confusing when you are “giving it your all” around the course. A couple of tips we recommend are 1. Strap a watch (ideally Timex Ironman) with lap counting on and every time you turn at the transition end turn point press the lap button, your watch will tell you the split time per lap and which lap you are on! 2. Cut 6 pieces of electrical tape (any colour you fancy!) into narrow short lengths and stick them to your handle bars leaving half of each one folded over so you can grab it. Every time you turn at the transition end turn point you pull off a piece of tape, leaving the remaining pieces of tape which represent the amount of laps left for you to do. We record every lap of every cyclist but cannot advise you of the amount of laps you have done whilst you are competing. It is done to check that competitors have completed the required number of laps on the cycle course!

SECOND RUN
Fun Duathlon 2.5 kilometres: 1 lap of long run course (signed).
Tri Live & Relay Duathlon 5 kilometres: 2 laps of long run course (signed).

When you finish your cycle, change into your running kit in the transition area (Make sure your race numbers are clearly visible front and back).

The run course uses the same route as the first run. Please turn around at the turn point where directed. There is a feed station on the run course that will be serving Gatorade isotonic sports drink and water. When you have finished the run, filter into the finish area and run through the inflatable finish gantry. Please keep to the left at all times except when overtaking and keep other runners in mind.

RELAY TEAMS
Each member of the relay team completes one of the disciplines in the triathlon. At registration you will be given a wristband that you have to relay to the finish line. After completing the first run, the runner then passes the wristband to the cyclist inside the cycle transition area next to where the cycle is racked, the cyclist must not take their cycle off the rack until receiving the wristband. The cyclist completes the cycle course and passes the band back to the runner in the transition area only when the cycle has been placed back on the rack. The runner completes the run and hands in the band at the finish line. Relay awards are based on all male and all female teams.

RESULTS
Will be posted on www.uktriathlon.co.uk the following day. Results will be available to view shortly after the event has finished.

PRIZES
There are prizes for the top 3 male & female competitors in both races. In addition there will be prizes for first place in all age group in the Tri Live Duathlon as well as spot prizes from our sponsors, so stay around for the prize giving which will take place shortly after the last competitor has finished.