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2014 Triathlon Guide

Www.BluffCreekTri.com

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SPONSORS

THANK YOU!

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LETTER FROM THE RACE DIRECTORS

WELCOME RUNNERS

Dear Participants We are so excited to have you join us for the 2014 Bluff Creek Triathlon. Here are a few things to keep in mind for race weekend: You must pick up your own race packet and show a photo ID. USAT Members must show their USAT card (or use the new USAT app!) Packet Pickup: Saturday, August 9th from 2pm to 5pm at Bike World in Ames,

Iowa. 126 S. 3rd Street, Ames, IA 50014 Packet Pickup and Chip Pickup: Sunday, August 10th from 6-7:30am at Don

Williams County Park.

The swim course is a point-to-point. This means that you will ride a shuttle bus from the Transition Area to the opposite side of the lake. Please do not take items that you do not need for the swim on the bus! Shuttles will run from 7:00-7:40am. Smokin' Double R BBQ will be selling some fantastic food if you need something more substantial than the snacks we will provide when you finish the race. Bring some cash to try the pulled pork, chicken, brats, and hamburgers! We are looking forward to a beautiful weekend to race! -Alex and Brittany

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EVENT DETAILS

Aug 9, 2014 Packet pick-up - From 2pm to 5pm at Bike World in Ames,

Iowa. 126 S. 3rd Street, Ames, IA 50014. (You can also pick up your packet on race morning - please come early.)

Aug 10, 2014 6:00 a.m. - Packet pick-up starts

6:00 a.m.- Transition opens 7:00 a.m.- First shuttle leaves for beach (2 mile shuttle)

7:35 a.m.- Transition closes 7:40 a.m.- Last shuttle leaves for beach

7:50 a.m.- Pre-race meeting on beach 8:00 a.m.- First swim wave

9:10 a.m.- First Sprint finisher 10:05 a.m.- First Olympic finisher

**PLEASE PARK IN THE DESIGNATED GRASS

AREA NEAR THE PARK ENTRANCE**

SCHEDULE

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

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TARGET AUDIENCE

PLEASE REMEMBER to run on the RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD

Stay alert for car traffic within the park!

RACE COURSE SAFETY

Stay alert for traffic

Beware or steep downhill slopes on the course

Stay to the right of the road and pass on the left

You must wear a helmet at all times

Drafting is not allowed!

Cycling Safety

Swimming Safety

Swim caps will be provided and MUST be worn for visibility

If you need a break you may hang on to a kayak or canoe but DO

NOT make forward progress with boat assistant

IMPORTANT: If you have any trouble please roll on your back and

raise your hand to signal the attention of a nearby boat

Running Safety

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SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS 11 Most Commonly Violated Rules

USA TRIATHLON

1. Helmets: Only helmets approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Com-mission (CPSC) may be used in USAT sanctioned events. Helmets must be worn at all times while on your bike. This means before, during, and after the event. Penalty: Disqualification

2. Chin Straps: Chin straps must be buckled at all times when on a bicycle. DO NOT unbuckle your chin strap unless you are off your bicycle. Penalty: Disqualification on the course; Variable time penalty in transition area only.

3. Outside Assistance: No assistance other than that offered by race and medi-cal officials may be used. Triathlons and duathlons are individual tests of fit-ness. Penalty: Variable time penalty

4. Transition Area: All equipment must be placed in the properly designated and individually assigned bike corral. The wheel of the bicycle must be down on the side of the assigned space. All participants must return their bicycles to an up-right position in their designated bicycle corral. No person shall interfere with another participant’s equipment or impede the progress of another participant. All bar ends must be solidly plugged. No participant shall bring ANY glass con-tainers into the transition area. Penalty: Variable time penalty

5. Drafting: Drafting--keep at least three bike lengths of clear space between you and the cyclist in front. If you move into the zone, you must pass within 15 seconds. Position--keep to the right hand side of the lane of travel unless pass-ing. Blocking--riding on the left side of the lane without passing anyone and in-terfering with other cyclists attempting to pass. Overtaken--once passed, you must immediately exit the draft zone from the rear, before attempting to pass again. Penalty: Variable time penalty

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SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS 11 Most Commonly Violated Rules

USA TRIATHLON

6. Course: All competitors are required to follow the prescribed course and to stay within all coned lanes. Cutting the course is an obvious violation and going outside the course is a safety issue. Cyclists shall not cross a solid yellow center line for ANY reason. Cyclists must obey all applicable traffic laws at all times. Penalty: Referee's discretion

7. Unsportsmanlike-Like Conduct: Foul, harsh, argumentative or abusive lan-guage or other unsportsmanlike conduct directed at race officials, USA Triathlon officials, volunteers, spectators or fellow athletes is forbidden. Penalty: Disqualification

8. Headphones: Headphones, headsets, walkmans, ipods, mp3 players, or per-sonal audio devices, etc. are not to be carried or worn at any time during the race. Penalty: Variable time penalty

9. Race numbers: All athletes are required to wear race numbers at all times during the run. Numbers must face the front and be clearly visible at all times. Numbers may not be cut or folded or altered in any way. DO NOT transfer your number to any other athlete or take a number from an athlete that is not com-peting. Penalty: Variable time penalty for missing or altered number, Disqualification and one year suspension from membership in USAT for transferring a number without race director permission.

10. Wetsuits: Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wetsuit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, age group partici-pants may wear a wetsuit at their own discretion, provided, however that par-ticipants who wears a wetsuit within such temperature range shall not be eligi-ble for prizes or awards. Above 84 degrees, wetsuits are prohibited. 11. Abandonment: All personal equipment and belongings taken out onto the course must stay on the athlete the entire time. No garbage, clothing, etc. shall be thrown on the course.

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SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS Social Media

Make sure to check out our website for the results of the race

and a list of award winners at www.BluffCreeckTri.com

If you want to stay up to speed with other runners before and

during the race make sure to follow us on Twitter! Use the

#BluffCreekTri and follow us @BluffCreekTri.

Like us on Facebook to get exclusive news and meet other

racers at facebook.com/bluffcreektri.

Twitter

Facebook

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SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS EMERGENCY CONTACTS

**In the case of an emergency dial 911**

Hospital

Boone County Hospital

1015 Union St., Boone, IA

(515) 433-8160

Urgent Care Clinics

Boone County Family Medicine

1115 S Marshall St., Boone, IA

(515) 432-2335

Unity Point Clinic

120 S. Story St., Boone, IA

(515) 432-4444

Non-Emergency County Sherriff's Office

(515) 433-0524

Race Director Brittany Heard

(515) 229-6184

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500 Meters

The Sprint swim course starts at the park's only beach, which is across the lake

from the transition area and boat ramp. Participants will take a shuttle to the

beach and then swim across the lake to the

Transition area.

The sprint swim course has only one turn,

which is near the boat ramp exit.

Swimmers will leave in waves, which will be

announced the week of the race. Swimmers

will keep buoys on their right. The turn will

be marked with a tetrahedron/triangle-

shaped buoy. Buoys for the sprint course

will be a different color than buoys from the

Olympic swim course.

We can say with reasonable certainty that wetsuits will be legal. Race officials will

measure the temperature two hours prior to the start of the race. Anything be-

low 78 degrees is considered wetsuit legal.

If you need a break during the swim

course, you may hang on to a kayak or ca-

noe, but you cannot make forward pro-

gress while doing so. If you need help or

can't continue during the swim course,

please remove your swim cap and wave it

above your head. We will be there as

soon as we can.

Sprint Swim Course

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15 Miles Sprint Bike Course

The sprint distance bike course is 15 miles long and is flat. There is only one turn which is a 180 degree turn 7.5 miles away from Transition. The total elevation change for the entire course is 164 feet which qualifies it as a flat course.

The first 3.7 miles of the bike course is shared by cyclists from the Sprint and Olympic races. At 3.7 miles, county road P70 will intersect with county road E18. Sprinters go straight and Olympics turn right or east. The intersection will be well marked with signs and have volunteers and a sheriff’s deputy. Please famil-iarize yourself with the course map..

Bike support will be provided by our sponsor Bike World – Ames. Bike World will be on site at 7 a.m.

There will be several race support vehicles on the course, including lead, rear, support, and officiating vehicles. Oth-er vehicles on the course will proba-bly be your friends and family, alt-hough we discourage excess traffic during the race. Please take the time to educate your support crews on the proper time to arrive and how to safely drive around cyclists.

Things to remember:

Ride right

Pass on the left

Your bike must have bar-end plugs

Your helmet

No headphones, iPods, etc...

Don’t ride your bike in transition

No drafting

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SPONSORSHIP TEAM 3.1 Miles

Sprint Run Course

The run course for the Sprint distance race will be 3.1 miles on the roads within

the park. There may be a short (less than 1/2 mile) section of running on short

grass or gravel. There are no major hills on the course and there will be at least

two aid stations.

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1,500 Kilometers

Olympic Swim Course

The Olympic swim course starts at the park's only beach, which is across the lake

from the transition area and boat ramp. Participants will swim to the boat ramp

from the beach.

Once participants have set up their transition area near the boat ramp, they will

need to take a 2 mile shuttle to the beach on the other side of the lake. Keep in

mind that the Transition will close earlier than at most races to allow enough time

to get everyone to the beach. Please keep this in mind and try to come a little ear-

lier than normal.

The Olympic swim course has three

turns. The turns will be marked with

tetrahedron/triangle shaped

buoys. Buoys for the Olympic course will

be a different color than buoys for the

Sprint swim course.

Swimmers will leave in waves, which will

be announced the week of the

race. Swimmers will keep buoys on their

right.

We can say with reasonable certainty

that wetsuits will be legal. Race officials

will measure the temperature two hours

prior to the start of the race. Anything

below 78 degrees is considered wetsuit legal. Water quality is checked weekly by

the Iowa DNR. Don Williams lake hasn’t had a history of beach closures.

If you need a break during the swim course, you can hang on to a kayak or canoe,

but you cannot make forward progress while doing so. If you need help or can't

continue during the swim course please remove your swim cap and wave it above

your head. We will be there as soon as we can.

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SPONSORSHIP TEAM 24.8 Miles

Olympic Bike Course

The olympic bike course is a 24.8 mile out and back course. This course is mainly flat with two exceptions when you cross the DSM River Valley. The valley crossings offer a steep descent into the valley and then a steep ascent to get out of the valley. The roads in between the valley crossings could be consider typical Iowa terrain.

When descending into the DSM River Valley please obey the posted speed limit of 55 M.P.H. Also be aware of other cyclist around you and remember to ride right. Because of the descents and ascents in and out of the valley this course is more challenging than the sprint which is flat. There is 640 feet of total elevation change on this course which doesn't qualify it as flat or mountainous.

The first 3.7 miles of the bike course is shared by cyclist from the sprint and olympic distances. At 3.7 miles Hwy P-70 will intersect with Hwy E-18. Olympics turn right or east and sprinters go straight. The intersection will be well marked with signs and have volunteers and a Sheriff’s Deputy. Please become familiar with the course map.

Bike Support will be provided by our sponsor Bike World – Ames. Bike World will be on site at 7 am. There will be a bottle exchange near the midway point on the bike, roughly 12.4 mile marker. There will be several race sup-port vehicles on the course. Including a lead, rear, support, and officiating vehicles. Other vehicles on the course will probably be your friends and fam-ily. Please take the time to educate your loved one on the proper time to ar-rive and how to safely drive among cyclist.

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6.2 Miles

Olympic Run Course

The run course for the Olympic distance race will be 6.2 miles and will be on the roads within the park. The first point .25 miles and last .25

miles are on grass. The majority of the run is on pavement. There are no major hills on the course and their will be two aid stations which you

run past twice for four aid stations.

The section of the run on the pavement is the looped section and must

be completed twice. The .25 mile grass section at the beginning and end

of the run is not part of the loop and is done only once

during the race.