Race Day Tips and Planning

Arrive Early

On Race Day plan to arrive early and park in the designated areas only, please.

Check For Entry Errors

First, check our entry list to be sure all of the information is correct. Incorrect gender and age group may affect final results or delay the start of our races. If there is an error go to our Problems desk to ensure we correct our data base information.

Complete Waiver Release Form

Next, complete the Waiver form. A parent or Guardian must sign the waiver for minors and kids 15 to 18 must also sign this waiver now. Any kids 18 or older must sign a waiver but parent/guardian does not. Age for signing waivers is the age on the day of the event. You can save time by printing a copy of the waiver from our web site, signing it and bringing it to the race check in desk.

Pick Up Correct Bib Number

Proceed to our Check In table to pick up your Race Kit. Make sure you get the correct colour coded bib number for each child you have entered.

REMEMBER: You can do all of the above at the Check In the day before the race. See event details for time and place of the Pre-Race Day Check In.

Body Marking

Next go to the Body Marking Area and print the Bib Number on the left arm and outside of the left thigh of your child.

Set Up In Transition Area

After body marking proceed to the transition zone. Bikes are racked by age group. You can rack your child’s bike by either hooking the seat over the top rail of the bike rack or by hooking the handlebars/brake levers over the top rail. The Transition Zone Coordinator may ask everyone to rack bikes a certain way in order to optimize available space.

Once your bike is racked, you can place the race gear (shoes, shirt, socks, hat, bike helmet) next to it but please limit gear to what is required to race. Taking too much space may result in one of our volunteers asking you to take all that extra stuff out of the t-zone in order to ensure a safe, fair transition area for all of the kids.

Check Things Out

Now is the time to check that the bib number is on the t shirt or number belt. Your child must have his/her number bib clearly visible on the front of the T-shirt during the bike and during the run. Use a number belt if you have one.

Lay out his/her running shoes beside the bike with the laces open so they are easy to get into. Have your helmet either on the ground near your shoes or on your handlebars, with the strap undone so it's easy to put on. Your child may want wear a hat for the run because the sun can get pretty hot by the end of the race. You may want to have a water bottle near the bike place in the Transition Zone.

Now take some time to familiarize your child with the swim entrance, bike exit, bike entrance and run exit and do a walk through the T-Zone, first from swim to bike rack, then to bike exit. After finishing the bike the kids must return their bikes to their selected spots on the bike rack. Walk through this part too, because everything begins to look different in the T-Zone depending where your child enters and exits.

Finally, check where the Run exit is and how your child will get there from his/her bike rack.

The Last Thing To Do - Be Sure To Pick Up The Timing Chip

Our chip timing service provider will be located near the transition zone or swim start area. Please bring the bib number bib for each child to pick up the velcro strap with the timing chip. Please do not mix them up if you have more than one child. If you are unsure how the velcro strap is placed around the ankle, please ak one of the volunteers handing them out

More Race Day Tips for Beginners

Ask Us

If you or your children are not familiar with triathlons and you have any questions or concerns please contact us before the event. On race day the Race Director, Coordinators and the OAT Official are there to help you. Feel free to ask questions and be sure to attend the Pre-Race Meeting.

Getting Ready Before Race Day

Take some time a few days before morning to ensure the the bikes are in good, safe mechanical condition. (See our Bike Mechanical Safety for some guidelines on what to check out.)

Make a check list of things your child will want to have ready before leaving home on race day morning. The kids will need a Bike, Helmet, Swim Suit, Running Shoes, Bib Number, Swim Cap and Top to wear during bike and run to do the event. They may want to have swim goggles, towel, change of clothes, water bottle, snack, hat, sun tan lotion, other warmer clothes if it’s a cool or rainy day. The kids may need to wait after check in for their event to start so plan to bring some card games, music or other stuff to help them to pass the time, stay out of the sun, keep hydrated, etc..

A few practices at home putting on race gear for the bike in a logical sequence may help your child on Race Day. Try laying out the race gear in an efficient pattern to make sure kids get ready as quickly as possible. For example, kids cannot remove bike from rack until helmet is on and chin strap done up, but its hard to put a t-shirt on over a bike helmet. Practice laying out the race gear so kids put t-shirt on first. Put a sock in each shoe, make sure chin strap is not tangled and ready to put on, shoe laces are open, etc. Practice taking off the equipment too.

The younger kids (and even the older kids too) may have trouble putting on their t-shirt if their body is still wet from the swim. A larger loose fitting t-shirt may be easier to put on. Also, putting socks on wet feet can be a problem too. Socks may not be necessary; most elite triathletes do not worry about socks for shorter distances or try using the shorter socks that do not go over the ankles.

Running shoes that tie up with Velcro can solve the problem of tyng laces quickly, or you can buy speed elastic laces at most running shoe stores if you child has trouble tying up his/her shoes quickly.

Race Sequence

The kids will swim first (or run, if a Duathlon), then bike, then run.

From the tri swim the triathketes proceed to the T-Zone to put on socks, shoes and a top with their race bib number on the front. Before the triathletes and the duathletes can take their bikes from the bike rack they must put on their bike helmet and do up the chin strap.

At a quick pace, no running, the athletes proceed through the T-Zone to the bike exit and to bike mount line outside of the T-Zone.

Upon return from the bike portion, the athletes must dismount at the designated spot, enter T-Zone at a quick pace, no running, return the bike to its original place in the transition zone, rack the bike, remove the helmet and put on any extra running gear (hat, sun protection, etc.) before proceeding to the run course.