Competitor Race Day Information

Thank you for entering The TRIUK North West Triathlon with over 1,000 competitors! Please take some time to read all the information on this sheet, 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 at race registration or on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk
Good luck and have a great race! Vic Bickerton, Event Director.

DIRECTIONS
From north or south M6 J16, follow signs for Nantwich, follow Nantwich bypass heading for Chester, at the 6th roundabout from the motorway (not including the motorway roundabout) turn left heading toward Nantwich town centre (Sainsbury's supermarket will be on your right hand side at 100 metres). The Barony Park is 300 metres on the left. Go past the park to the traffic lights and turn left, triathlon parking is 250 metres on the left (signed).

PARKING
Is available on the Barony Park, follow the signs for "Triathlon Parking". All day parking is £3 and covers possible cost of field damage if the grass is wet. There will also be a donation to the Special Baby Care Unit at Leighton Hospital.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Do you have family or friends supporting you at the TRIUK North West Triathlon? We always need volunteers for the race, on all areas from timing through to finish line refreshments. No experience is necessary and every volunteer receives a pair of designer Sundog sports sunglasses worth £45.00 or an Asics jacket worth £70.00, the official race T-shirt, food and drink for the duration and lots of thanks, as we rely so much on volunteers to make the event possible. If you would like to help out please email Julie at julie@uktriathlon.co.uk or call on 01270 842 800 and we'll be delighted to hear from you!

RACE DAY PHOTOGRAPHY
The official race photographers will be positioned at the finish line. Please make sure you have your race number clearly visible so you can check out your photograph on the screens shortly after you have finished.

REFRESHMENTS
There is quality on site catering at the event serving hot & cold food & drinks.

FACILITIES
Toilets and showers are at both the Barony Park Pavilion and Snow Hill Swimming Pool (Open from 7:15am).

HOTEL, B&B & CAMPING
For hotel, guesthouses, B&B & camping contact Nantwich Tourist Information
on 01270 537359 or http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/leisure_and_tourism/visitor_information/nantwich_tourist_information.aspx
There is free camping and caravanning on the Barony Park for Saturday night only. Just turn up and pitch!

MASSAGE
Pre and post race massage will be available on race day.

TRI UK Retail Stand
For all the best in triathlon bikes, clothing and equipment look no further. TRI UK will be located next to the registration marquee from Saturday afternoon through to Sunday for those last minute emergencies or just to treat yourself! For sales, product information, wetsuit hire or a mail order catalogue call 07000 874 854

BTF MEMBERS
We support membership of the BTF and therefore we recognise BTF members. In order to verify your BTF Membership please show your 2009 BTF licence at registration or you will be required to pay the £5.00 difference. The £5.00 extra that non BTF members have already paid is the cost of a PRO TRI day licence that allows you to compete.

THE RACE IN GENERAL
It is recommended that competitors arrive as early as possible to familiarise themselves with the layout of the event. The race is run from the outdoor pool at Snow Hill Swimming pool in intervals throughout the day, starting at 08:30am. First you must go to registration, located in the marquee on the Barony Park, (Open on Saturday 2pm-5:00pm & Sunday from 07:30am) to register and collect your race numbers.

Your race numbers must be worn on your front and back and are not to be mutilated or re-sized in any way; they must be pinned in all four corners. Number belts are permitted but both numbers must be displayed front and back and pinned 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.

Register at least 60 minutes before your start time. You cannot change your start time!

Once registered, lay out anything you require for the final run section of the triathlon in the transition area opposite the registration marquee (any position is fine) such as running shoes or maybe a cap. Then take your cycle to the pool (please note that the swimming pool is 500 metres away but is sign posted)
and rack it along with items you require for the cycle such as helmet, sunglasses, shoes, vest or T-shirt (with your numbers pinned on it!).

Please do not rack your cycle in the swim to bike transition area outside of the swimming pool earlier than 15 minutes prior to your start time.

Make sure you have your race number with you to enter either of the transition areas, as security will require it. When leaving equipment in the transition area, please note that we cannot be responsible for any items lost or stolen, although we are allocating security staff to specifically watch the transition area. Please be on the poolside 10 minutes before your start time (late comers will regretfully be turned away).

SWIM (Sprint & Relay 500M/Fun 200M)

Tumble turns or backstroke is not allowed. Competitors will be started at 20 second intervals for the Sprint and Relay Triathlons and 15 second intervals for the Fun Triathlon.

Sprint & Relay Triathlon
4 lengths in a clockwise direction in each 4 lanes to total 16 lengths

Fun Triathlon:
2 lengths in a clockwise direction in each 3 lanes to total 6 lengths

(The pool is 30.3 metres long)

The swim course is very straightforward and there are signs and stewards to help if you get confused, don't worry its easy! You swim the required amount of lengths in each lane and then switch into the next lane and so on. It is up to you to count your own lengths, there will be spot checks throughout the course of the race. A swim cap will be allocated to you at the poolside which you must wear, please take it off when you exit the pool (please don't make us chase you for it!). If you have your own swim cap you may use it. Please take extra care on the poolside floor and steps with wet feet, as it will be slippery!

When you finish your swim, change into your cycling gear in the transition area (make sure your torso is covered for the cycle section). Use the ASICS carrier bag with your race number on that you received at registration to put any items in from the swim (such as goggles or a towel), leave it next to where your cycle was in the transition area and a marshal will return it to the registration marquee for you to collect after completing the race (you must show your race number to retrieve your bag!).

BIKE (Sprint, Relay & Fun 20K)

You must fasten your helmet before taking your cycle off the rack. Walk or run to the cycle mount line where you commence the cycle section of the race. 1 lap of the course completes the distance

There is a slight change to the cycle course within the first 800 metres. Instead of turning left at Hobson’s Choice corner shop and going through the traffic lights, the course heads through the housing estate missing out that section eventually emerging back out onto the same road but further up*. Please take extra care as there is a very tight left turn on to the main road and a strip of uneven cobbles about a metre long to negotiate.

The course is mainly flat with some undulations. Follow the signs around the course and do not turn until you see a marshal and or a sign. Please take extra care at all junctions and roundabouts although there are marshals present, they are not there to stop the traffic. There are three coned lanes, two of which go through traffic lights, the first after the first 800 metres the second at 7.6 kilometres and the third at 9.7 kilometres, please stay inside the cones and take extra care! Failure to do so will constitute an instant disqualification. Beware of speed ramps on the first 300 metres.

*Course maps are available to view on the event website.

Dismount your cycle at the end of the cycle course, a marshal will tell you, do not unfasten your helmet until you have racked your cycle and do not ride your cycle in the transition area.
Important! You will not be allowed to take part without a cycle helmet (NO HELMET NO RACE).

Ride your bike in a responsible manner and obey the Highway Code, please consider other road users and above all RIDE SAFELY. Irresponsible cycling will constitute an immediate disqualification and possible prosecution from the Police!

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 then disqualification on the second offence.

RUN (Sprint & Relay 5K/Fun 2.5K)
When you finish your cycle, change into your running kit in the transition area (make sure your torso is covered for the run section).

The run is on grass
4 laps for Sprint & Relay
2 laps for Fun

Follow the posts and tape around the course. It is up to you to count your laps on the run, marshals will be taking numbers as a check in the case of suspected insufficient laps completed. There is a feed station on each lap that will be serving Gatorade isotonic sports drink and water. When you have finished the run filter into the sign posted finish lane and continue to the finish line.

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 swim, the swimmer 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 they have received the band. The cyclist completes the cycle course and passes the band over 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
Results will be available to view shortly after the event has finished and will be published on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk on Monday 21st September.

PRIZES
There are prizes for top 3 male & female in both races. In addition there will be prizes for all age groups in the Sprint Triathlon 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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to all that have made this event possible especially all at TRIUK, Cheshire East Council, 220 Triathlon, Sundog, Gatorade, ASICS, Crewe & Nantwich Police and anyone else that has helped in any way.