| |
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Top of Page
GENERAL
QUESTIONS
What
is a triathlon?
Individual participants complete three athletic disciplines:
swimming, biking and running. There is one central transition
area where you will rack your bike and keep your gear. The transition
area will be open from approximately 5:00am to 6:45am before
the race and from 10:00am to 11:00am after the race. You should
have a small bag with your race number written on it to contain
your gear.
When you arrive at the race site in the morning, follow signs
directing you to the area within the transition area in which
you should rack your bike. Set up your gear in a small area under
your bike. Space in the transition area is limited; be courteous
of other athletes and don't infringe on another person's space.
Only athletes will be allowed in the transition area.
Athletes are permitted into the water in "waves" of
approximately 75 women, with 3 to 5 minutes between wave starts,
reducing the number of athletes in the water at any given time.
Strong swimmers are encouraged to position themselves toward
the front of the wave for a less crowded path through the water,
while weaker swimmers should stay near the back and outer edges
of the wave to avoid possibly being swam over. There will be
lifeguards on the swim course, and if you get tired, disoriented
or scared, you can hang onto a boat or buoy for as long as you
want without being disqualified. You can use any swim stroke,
but swimming aids like flippers and "floaties" are
not permitted.
After exiting the water at the "Swim Finish," you will
return to the transition area and locate your bike. Strap on
your helmet, walk or run your bike to the "Bike Start" banner
- riding is not permitted inside the transition area - and head
out on the bike course. Helmets must be on before exiting the
transition area. Be sure you have a full bottle of water in the
cage on your bike.
After completing the bike course, you will return to the transition
area and rack your bike in the same place it was before. Make
sure that your race number is clearly showing on the FRONT of
your body, and head out on the run. After the race, be sure to
return to the transition area to claim your bike and all your
gear.
What is
the Sprint Distance Triathlon?
Sprint Distance Competition – Sunday, October 19th, San
Diego, CA
Open Age Group and Relay Divisions .75 km swim, 20km bike, 5km
run (.47 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)
- The Open
Age Group division: for competitors using road or mountain
bikes. Competitors are timed according to age group categories.
- The Relay
division: composed of teams of 2 or 3 women, each completing
1 (or 2 for a 2 person team) leg of the race.
- The Elite
division: Athletes competing in this unique division will be
seeded into the early waves of the competition, where they
will compete head-to-head with other Elite division athletes
for overall awards.
- The Triumph
division: This Sprint Distance Division is open to women in
all stages of treatment and recovery from cancer and members
of Team Hope are able to race in this wave. You will not be
eligible for age group awards. Space in this wave is limited
to 75 women.
- The Family
Division: is open to women family members that wish to race
in the same wave. Women in this division will start in a separate
wave, and are not eligible for age group awards. Space
in this wave is limited to 75 women.
What
is the SuperSprint Distance Triathlon?
SuperSprint Distance Competition – Sunday, October 19th,
San Diego, CA
Open Age Group 375 Meter Swim, 10k Bike, 2.5 Mile Run (.23 mile
swim, 6.2 mile bike, 1.55 mile run)
- The Open
Age Group division: for competitors using road or mountain
bikes. Competitors are timed according to age group categories.
- The Relay
division: composed of teams of 2 or 3 women, each completing
1 (or 2 for a 2 person team) leg of the race.
- The Triumph
division: This Sprint Distance Division is open to women
in all stages of treatment and recovery from cancer and members
of Team Hope are able to race in this wave. You will not
be eligible for age group awards. Space in this wave is limited
to 75 women.
- The Family
Division: is open to women family members that wish to race
in the same wave. Women in this division will start in a
separate wave, and are not eligible for age group awards. Space
in this wave is limited to 75 women.
What
is the number of participants that will be competing
in the event?
Approximately 1,000 competitors will participate in the event.
We will post information on our website as well as on the information
hotline when registration for the event has closed.
Do I have
to get body marked at the MultiSport Experience?
No, but we strongly urge you to do so. Body marking will be available
on race day near the entrance to the transition area, but the
lines may be very long. You may not body mark yourself.
How can
I contact CAPRI Events?
Mail: CAPRI
Events • PO Box 577490 • Chicago, IL 60657-7490
Phone: 800-509-5525
Fax: 773-404-6591
Email: registration@caprievents.com or info@caprievents.com
Top of Page
REGISTRATION
QUESTIONS
I haven't
received a confirmation packet by mail.
Athletes will NOT receive confirmation of entry by mail. All
athletes are encouraged to confirm receipt of their registration
ON-LINE. To confirm your entry, CLICK
HERE.
I can't
find my name in the registration database.
All athletes must allow approximately 3 weeks processing time
from the day the entry was mailed to the time registration can
be confirmed online.
If you have allowed enough time for the receipt of your registration
and still can't find your name, try entering a less-specific
query in the searchable database. For example, if Joan Smith
types in her name, the search might come back with nothing if
a typographical error entered her in the database as Joan Smiht.
However if she types in
"Joan S," her search will come back with every Joan
with an "S" last name, including Joan Sullivan, Joan
Sweeney and Joan Smiht. Joan Smith should then send an email
or call the hotline and advise us that there appears to be a
typo in her name - which should be spelled "Smith" and
ask that it be corrected.
Relay Team members should look for the name of their team, not
for individual athlete names. For example, if Joan and Beth Smith
entered as "Team JoBeth," then they must type "Team
JoBeth"
into the search function.
What is
the closing date for the races?
There is no set "closing date" for any race. However,
due to demand, many races in the Series will fill up approximately
8-12 weeks prior to race date because that race's maximum number
of entrants has been reached. Once you have made the decision
to participate, you should register as soon as possible.
Once
registration closes, will you be forming a waiting list?
Yes, we will be forming a waiting list once registration closes.
If your entry is not received in time, you will be placed on
our waiting list. You will be notified if you are placed on the
waiting list and if we are able to register you in the race.
If a race
is closed, can I still get in if I come to Saturday's packet
pick-up?
No entries will be accepted once the maximum number of entries
for a given race has been received, and no exceptions will be
made. If there are still slots remaining by the weekend of the
event, we will accept entries at the MultiSport Experience. Please
check this website for entry availability.
Top
of page
If
I didn’t make it into the race, can I still participate
by using the course?
No, anyone who is not officially entered in the event will be
removed from the course.
My friend
signed up, but now she can't race. Can I use her number?
No. Anyone caught using the number of another participant will
be sanctioned by USAT, the sport’s governing body. Sanctions
could include being banned from the sport for up to two years.
Please use this link for further instructions: Change
To Entry.
If
someone on my relay team drops out, can I substitute
another person?
Yes. The substitute will need to fill out a Change to Entry Form
(get form HERE) and
complete a race application in full. Please make sure to include
the name of the Relay Team. Mail the substitute's entry form
and Change to Entry Form to Capri Events, PO Box 577490, Chicago,
IL 60657-7490.
ONLINE
REGISTRATION
How do
I register online?
To register on-line, go to www.USWTS.com and select "Registration" and
then "Register On-Line"
and follow the online instructions. You will know you are registered
when you receive a confirmation number. Please print that page
as your receipt. You will NOT receive a confirmation by mail.
How will
I know if I am registered?
When registering online, once you submit your registration, a
confirmation message will be generated. You should print this
out and keep it as a receipt of your entry. If you mail your
entry in, please allow 3 weeks to process your entry. You may
then go to our website at www.USWTS.com and follow the links
to confirm your entry online or CLICK
HERE.
Top
of page
CHANGES
TO ENTRY
I will
be unable to race; can I get a refund?
As is clearly stated in all of our materials, there will be absolutely NO
REFUNDS.
If you are unable to compete due to illness and/or injury, you
may qualify for a medical rollover to next year’s event.
In order to qualify you must submit:
- A completed
Medical Rollover Form. Get form by clicking HERE
- A letter
from your doctor
These materials
must be mailed in to the Registration Coordinator,
c/o CAPRI Events, PO Box 577490, Chicago, IL 60657-7490. All
materials must be submitted no later than two weeks after the
race. All transfer requests and inquiries will be handled by
the Registration Coordinator. All decisions made by the Registration
Coordinator are final. Incomplete requests will not be considered.
Can
I change a member of my Relay Team?
Yes, but you must do so in writing. All changes to your team
must be submitted by October 10, 2008. For additional
instructions on making a change to your team’s entry, please click
here.
If I can’t
make the race, can I give my entry to a friend?
No, you must notify us of any changes to your entry. Because
our timing and scoring is dependant on gender and age groups,
giving your race number to someone else will affect
the timing and scoring of the event.
What is the
procedure for making a change to an entry?
To make any change to an entry, you must do so in writing. These
must be submitted to the Registration Coordinator, who will make
all decisions concerning entries into the event. All decisions
will be final. For the appropriate form, CLICK
HERE. All changes must be submitted by October
10, 2008. NO EXCEPTIONS.
To submit your change or transfer request, please mail to:
CAPRI Events • Registration
Coordinator • PO Box 577490 • Chicago, IL 60657-7490
Top
of page
TRAINING
INFORMATION
I'm a
first-timer. Can I really do this race?
We encourage all potential athletes to have a complete physical
examination prior to beginning training for a triathlon. Provided
that your physician has approved your participation, most amateur
women will be able to complete a sprint distance triathlon (.75K
or 1/2 mile swim; 20K or 12.4 mile bike; 5K or 3.1 mile run;
all distances approximate) in 1-1/2 to 3 hours. A female professional
triathlete will complete a sprint distance in about an hour.
Most women - even inexperienced athletes - should be able to
prepare adequately for these distances with a minimum of 12 weeks
training. There are numerous training programs available in the
San Diego area as well as online. If you are interested
in obtaining a training program, visit www.wellfitinc.com.
PACKET
PICK-UP INFORMATION
Why
is the packet pick-up mandatory?
It is mandatory for every athlete to attend
Saturday's Packet Pick-Up to sign a race liability waiver.
This is the only place for the participants to pick up their
race materials (race number, timing chip, t-shirt, race bag
and swim cap). These materials will not be available on race
day nor will we be able to mail them to you.
Saturday's Packet pick-up will be the only opportunity for
athletes to attend a course talk and confirm the course route;
if any changes are made to the printed course route, they
will be communicated at the course talks. While attending
the course talks is not mandatory for participants, it is
highly recommended, especially for beginners.
ABOUT
THE RACE
Can I be placed in the same
wave as my friend/mom/sister/training partner?
Due to timing and safety considerations, it is critical that
every athlete starts in the swim wave to which she has been assigned.
Each athlete is pre-assigned to a wave start based upon her age.
Unfortunately, there will be no switching of waves to accommodate
athletes who wish to race with friends or who hope to start the
race early or late in the morning.
Why do
I have to arrive so early in the morning if I start in one
of the last waves?
In most cases, access to the race site is limited to roadways
that are also used as part of the bike or run courses. As a result,
all vehicular traffic is prohibited on these roadways at the
start of the FIRST swim wave to protect the safety of those athletes
who will be racing on the course.
The transition area itself is also very hectic and crowded before
the race. To ensure fairness and the safety of all athletes,
we must insist that the transition area be emptied and closed
to all but racers-in-progress from the first wave start through
the last runner to start the run.
The timing system is activated and the timing mats can be crossed
over only by racers-in-progress at each of the entrances/exits
to the transition area. Stepping on the mats other than at in-progress
transitions voids accurate timing and will result in disqualification
and possible errors in awards designations.
All athletes should be at the race site and ready to race no
later than 30 minutes PRIOR to the first wave start regardless
of her individual wave start.
Why do
I have to wait so long to claim my gear from the transition
area after I finish racing?
To ensure fairness and the safety of all athletes, we must insist
that the transition area be closed to all but racers-in-progress
from the first wave start through the last athlete to start the
run. Instead of leaving right after you finish, we invite you
to cheer on your fellow athletes and enjoy the festivities at
the Post Race Party area.
What is
a relay team?
A relay team consists of 2 or 3 women who collectively complete
all 3 triathlon disciplines: swimming, biking and running. In
a 2-person team, one woman will do 2 out of the three disciplines.
In a 3-person team, each woman does one segment of the race.
Relay team members should wait for members who are racing the
course inside the transition area. After the swim, the first
team member runs to the location on the bike rack where the team
bike is parked, tears off the velcro strap with the chip attached
and passes the strap to the next racer. The cyclist completes
the bike course, returns to the same location in the transition
area, racks the bike, tears off the velcro ankle strap with the
timing chip and passes the strap to the final racer.
Each member of a relay team is entitled to a t-shirt and race
bag. Each team member should attend Saturday's mandatory
Packet Pick-Up; or, in the alternative, one team member
can pick up the race materials for all 3 members. If one team
member is picking up for all three, she must provide written
authorization from each woman that grants permission for the
member picking up the race packet to sign the liability waiver
on her behalf and to pick up the team goods. Each relay team
member is entitled to a finisher medal.
Top
of page
How
does chip timing work?
A computer chip encoded with the athlete's name, race number
and wave start is attached to a strap that the athlete must wear
SECURELY around her ankle. A "scanner" located in the
orange mats positioned at each transition (swim finish; bike
start; bike finish; run start and run finish) "reads" the
chip and records the time as each athlete steps on the mat.
For this reason, athletes must be careful to step directly on
the mats at each transition. In addition, an athlete who starts
in any wave after the first swim wave begins, must take care
not to step on a mat in or around the transition area accidentally
as she waits for her wave to begin. The chips are "live" after
Saturday's mandatory Packet Pick-Up and will record every instance
an athlete steps on a mat; if such a time is recorded that is
earlier than a woman's scheduled wave start, the computer will
automatically disqualify her. Furthermore, if an athlete starts
in a wave earlier than her scheduled wave - either accidentally
or intentionally -- the chip will automatically disqualify her.
Each timing chip is very valuable. Replacement cost in
case of loss is the athlete's responsibility and is $30.
If for any reason you picked up a timing chip at the Race Packet
Pick-Up but don't make it to the race itself, you are required
to mail the chip to the address that appears on the chip packet.
Can I
wear the chip wherever I want as long as I have it with me?
No. The strap with the timing chip must be worn on the ankle.
If I lose
my chip, will I be timed for the race?
No. If you lose your chip before the race starts, see race personnel
to rent a replacement chip. You will be billed by the timing
company for the $30 replacement cost of the chip.
What kind
of bike do I need?
Triathletes can use any kind of bicycle except tandem and recumbent
bikes. The safety guidelines of USA Triathlon, the governing
body of the sport of triathlon in the United States, prohibit
the use of tandem and recumbent bikes in sanctioned events. For
more information please visit www.usatriathlon.org.
THE
SWIM
What is
the water temperature?
Average water temperature will range from 62 to 68 degrees.
Do I need
a wetsuit?
A wetsuit is recommended.
Can I use
any stroke in the swim portion?
Yes.
How
deep is the water?
The race has a beach start which slopes from 0 to 15 feet.
THE
BIKE
Can
I use a tandem or recumbent bike in the race?
No.
Do
I have to get my bike inspected?
No, but we strongly urge you to do so. Many people experience
technical problems on race day that could have been easily avoided
if the bike had been inspected prior to the race. In order to
avoid disappointment on race day, we urge all competitors to
have their bikes inspected no more than one month prior to the
event. Please contact your local bike shop for additional information.
Will
I need to show a bike inspection sticker to participate in
the race?
No.
THE
COURSE
What
will the course be like?
Course descriptions are available on this web site. CLICK
HERE to view description and maps. Additional information
will also be available at the course talk that will be held throughout
the day at the MultiSport Experience.
EQUIPMENT
Are
there specifications for the bike helmets and wetsuits?
Yes, the bike helmet must be ANSI, CPSC or
SNELL certified. Most helmets purchased in the US within the
last 2-3 years are certified. Please confirm this by checking
for a sticker indicating it’s certification on the inside
of the helmet.
The wetsuit must not be over 5mm at its thickest point. Anyone
using a wetsuit should have used their wetsuit in their training.
Please be aware that if the water temperature is 78 degrees
or above, wetsuits will not be allowed.
What
additional equipment will be permitted in the swim?
Aqua socks and goggles will be allowed in the swim section. Use
of masks, snorkels, flippers and/or flotation devices and aids
is strictly prohibited.
Can
I rent a bike or a wetsuit?
We do not provide nor do we have a source for equipment rental.
Additionally, we strongly discourage anyone from using equipment
with which they have not trained.
TRANSITION AREA
When
will I be able to access the transition area?
The transition area will be accessible from 5:00 am to 6:45
am and from 10:00 to 11:00 am.
Do
I have to be in the transition area by 6:45 a.m. even
if my wave doesn’t start until later in the morning?
The transition area closes at 6:45 am regardless of what wave
you are in. All equipment must be in by 6:45 am. In order to
ensure the security and safety of our competitors and their equipment,
there will be absolutely no exceptions to this rule.
Can
I use decorations (balloons, etc.) to indicate where
my things are in the transition area?
Yes, but they should not interfere with anyone else being able
to easily and safely access their equipment. We reserve the right
to remove any materials that will interfere with the safety and
security of our competitors and their equipment.
What
time will the transition area re-open?
The transition area will re-open at approximately 10:00am. The
exact time is to be determined by the Race Director and is dependant
on when the last competitor completes the bike course and has
set out on the run. You will need to show your bib number in
order to re-enter the transition area. All equipment must be
picked up by 11:00 am. We will not be responsible for any equipment
claimed after 11:00 am.
USAT
INFORMATION
Where
can I get a USAT permit?
USAT permits are mandatory for anyone participating in a Subaru
U.S. Women’s Triathlon Series event. If you are not already
a USAT member, you may purchase a single event permit for the
event by submitting payment with your registration or by purchasing
a single event permit at the MultiSport Experience on Saturday.
If you would like to purchase a one-year membership for USAT
please visit their website at http://www.usatriathlon.org for
information.
If
I already have a USAT card, do I have to bring it with
me to Packet Pick-up?
Yes, if you do not bring your card with you, you will be required
to purchase a single event permit.
WAVES
How
is my wave assigned?
Waves are assigned according to age. For larger age groups, there
are multiple waves. Some smaller age groups are combined into
waves.
Can
I switch my wave?
Wave assignments cannot be changed. Persons "sneaking" into
a wave not assigned to them are subject to disqualification.
How
many people will be in my wave?
Wave numbers are approximate and are assigned to facilitate timing
and ensure accuracy and safety. There will be approximately 75
people per wave.
How
many minutes apart do the waves start?
Waves will start approximately 3 to 5 minutes apart.
When
will the wave assignments be finalized?
Waves will be finalized before the race, but due to last minute
adjustments and fine tuning we will not have access to that information
before the MultiSport Experience.
What
time does my wave start?
Wave start times will be posted at the MultiSport Experience.
We will not be able to give you your wave start time prior to
that time.
|
|
