Dear Athletes,

The Las Olas Triathlon is THIS SUNDAY!  Thanks for registering!  This is to remind you of important information that you need to know before the event.

IMPORTANT - Understand the Venue Layout

We are short on volunteers, there is a mini golf setup where our run transition entrance should be, and there are always huge crowds that make it hard to see the cones and arrows at this race.  All of these things make it imperative that you look at this venue map and understand how you get into transition after the swim (light blue line), how you get back out to the run (same way then turn left/north on the promenade/sidewalk - follow red lines), and how you finish (red line back towards transition then a hard right down the finishing chute).  It is not difficult, but if you wait until the middle of the race to figure out where to go you could get confused.  It's a great idea to have this map on your phone and walk this path before the race when you have blood in your brain.  Click on the map to open it in a new window:

 

 Volunteers Needed

People are the most important part of any event.  Without proper levels of staff and volunteers events are not possible.  We need YOUR help!  Please volunteer or bring someone to volunteer while you race!  You can even volunteer for setup and/or cleanup before and after racing.  We offer volunteer hours, race credit, or even pay if they are good!  We need your help!  To sign up a volunteer go to https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/7647406986221680118/false?popup=true#/invitation.  Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.   

Help where you can.  It's fun, you learn a lot about the behind the scenes, and it builds good karma :-)

Tight Transition

There is a Pixar Putt Putt set up in half of our normal transition area so we have to squeeze into a smaller area.  This means that transition will be very tight.  Please be kind and respectful to your fellow athletes!

Body Marking Tattoos

Please pick up your packet at the early packet pickup and you will receive body marking tattoos that you can self apply before the race.  If you pick up race morning, please bring your own wet sponge, hand towel, or paper towel to apply the tattoos to yourself.  Here’s a video showing how to self apply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt6PdG21C3o You will have 3 numbers to apply (your 3 digit number) rather than a single tattoo with all 3 digits, so be sure to put them in the right order.  Please apply them to your left bicep so our backup timers and photographers can easily identify you.

Thank A Volunteer!

These events would not be possible without A LOT of volunteers.  Triathletes, of course, make the best volunteers as you all know what to do.  Unfortunately, not enough triathletes volunteer, so we work with various groups:  ROTC, High School students, boy scouts, Canteen fire rescue support services, etc.  While we donate to these organizations, the individuals who come out receive no benefit themselves.  So, please say “THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING” when you see them and if they make a mistake, please be forgiving.  Also, try volunteering out yourself as it is fun and you’ll earn race credit!

City Bikes – Aventura

20335 Biscayne Blvd
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 682-8889

Saturday, March 4th – 11:00am – 5:00 pm

Limited packet pickup will also be available race morning at the event site from 5:30-6:30 a.m.

Bike check-in is race morning from 5:30 am-6:30 am. 
 

Only registered racers are allowed to enter the transition area. You must show your race number to enter transition and your number must match the bike you are taking out.

While we have chip timing, occasionally a chip is lost or there is some malfunction somewhere. Because of this, we have backup timers at the start, finish, and each end of the transition. Please help yourself and say your number to the person holding a tablet at each of these locations when you pass by. Having your time backed up can be extremely helpful if you lose your chip, get the wrong chip, or various other little things that can happen.

Both Sprint and International use the same cap colors so be sure that you start with your correct race at the correct time!  They are 30 minutes apart, so it should be easy...

Racers in each group will begin starting one person at a time at the specified start time.  Do not line up until your group is called.  Starting will be done approximately every 2-3 seconds.  You will announce your race number to the starter (also doing manual backup timing).  When the starter tells you to ‘GO’, then you run across the start timing mat.  Wait to hear ‘GO’.

The venue is shown in green.  There are 4 large parking lots and several small ones located near the race venue and are shown in BLUE on this map along with the number of parking spaces in the large lots.  Only the lots shown are city lots.  There are several private lots that may charge you a lot if you park there.  City lots are $4/hour.  (SEE MAP BELOW)  

If you cannot finish the race for any reason, please come to the finish line and let us know and return your chip.  This way we know that you are OK and don’t send a search crew out to find you
 

Water Stations 

Water stations will have water, BASE Performance sports drink, and Hammer Gel (transition water stop only).  Aid stations will be located approximately every mile throughout the course.  There will be no aid station on the bike course, so please bring enough fluids to complete the course.

Yes, this race will be wetsuit legal, however, you’ll need to be able to remove your own wetsuit as we are short on volunteers.
 

Swim Course

The swim course may be reversed depending on the ocean current. In that case, the swim exit remains the same, but the start will be moved to the appropriate distance north of the swim exit instead of south.

Athletes may transfer to the duathlon at any time if they don’t like the swim conditions or just simply change their minds. Don’t do the swim if you have any doubt in your abilities or are uncomfortable in any way.

International distance participants will start at the swim start, go out and right (south) around the closest buoy, swim down keeping the rest of the buoys on their left, u-turn around the last buoy, swim back north keeping the buoys on their left, then proceed to the final buoy, go around it and to the swim exit chute. (see map)  

Sprint distance participants will swim out, north, then across to the exit. Keeping all buoys on their left then exiting the water (see map).  

The duathlon will start at the Southeast corner of the venue, run south for 0.3 mile and back for a total distance of 0.6 mile before jumping on their bikes.

See map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37874334

The cycling portion of the Triathlon will take athletes north along A1A to the Fort Lauderdale City limits and back.  Sprint racers will ride 1 lap for about 10 miles total.  International racers will ride 2 laps on the bike for about 20 miles total.  Racers will exit transition onto Las Olas Blvd, then make an immediate left onto A1A.  Upon returning, all racers will turn right onto Las Olas Blvd, then Sprint racers will go back into transition while International Distance racers will make a u-turn on Las Olas Blvd then head out for a 2nd lap.​

See map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37874402

Sprint racers will enjoy a scenic 3.1 mile run course. International racers will run 2 laps for a total of 6 miles.  Racers will exit transition where they came in from the swim and head back towards the beach.  Once racers cross A1A, they will head north on the boardwalk for 1.5 miles, then u-turn and head back.  International distance racers will u-turn once they get back to the water station near the finish being sure to cross the timing line to score their first lap, then they’ll complete a 2nd lap before finishing.
 

Aquabike

Note that the Aquabike ends once you enter transition after the bike.  You may continue and go through the finish chute to get your medal, but the clock will have already stopped.

There is a permanent restroom facility by the transition/finish area and the beach as indicated on the map above.  It has about eight stalls for each gender. There are also additional porta potties behind the restroom area. 

Swim Practice

Please exit the water before the first wave starts at 7:00 a.m. Practice is unsupervised as lifeguards will not be on duty until the race starts. 

Cutoff Times

• International Distance athletes must start the 2nd bike lap by 8:22 a.m. or you will be directed into transition where you can finish the race but be disqualified for not completing the entire race.

• All athletes must complete the bike course by 9:00 a.m.

• International Distance athletes must start the 2nd run lap by 9:38 a.m. or your will directed to finish and disqualified for not completing the entire race.

• All athletes must complete the race by 10:15 a.m.
  
  If you are concerned about making the cutoff times we can switch you to the Sprint Distance.

All USAT rules are in effect.
Go to: http://www.usatriathlon.org/Rules_Officials/rules.htm for a complete list of USAT rules. The most commonly violated rules are:

1. Helmets are mandatory while riding the bike (BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the race). Helmet must be buckled or strapped on whenever with your bike. This is a DISQUALIFICATION penalty.
2. Headphones are not allowed at any time. On the bike it is a DISQUALIFICATION penalty for endangerment. On the run it is a variable time penalty for Unauthorized Accessories.
3. No drafting will be allowed while on the bike. You must stay 3 bike lengths away from the person in front of you. You have a 15 second window to execute a pass.
4. Pass only on the left while on the bike.
5. No blocking - Stay to the right side except when passing.
6. Do no cross the yellow line around corners on the bike.
7. No outside assistance will be allowed in the transition area. You also may not have someone else pace you to the finish line on the run.
8. Handlebar ends must be plugged to lessen the chance of injury in a fall. This is a DISQUALIFICATION penalty. Please ask for a plug from Mack Cycle.
9. You may not leave anything on the course (i.e. water bottles, gel wrappers, SWIM CAPS). Everything should return with you to the transition area or be disposed of at an aid station.
10. You must run or walk your bike out of and into the transition area. You may not ride in the transition area.
11. Your bike must be racked on the bike rack assigned for your race number. It must be racked either by the seat or brake levers.
12. You must wear your running race number on the front of your body during the run segment. Your bike number must be clearly visible at all times on your bike. You must apply the helmet number to the front of your helmet. You must also be body marked with your race number as specified in the instructions above.
13. Athletes' age groups are determined by their age on December 31st of the current year. This is a USAT rule so that you do not change age groups in the middle of the year.