WT10 Walden Triathlon
Sunday 20 June 2010
750m Swim / 25km Bike / 5km Run
Lord Butler Fitness & Leisure Centre (LBFLC), Peaslands Road,
Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3EG.

Race Instructions
Download These instructions as a PDF
Thank you for entering the 2010 Walden Triathlon. The following information is extremely important as it forms part of the Race Briefing. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. There will also be a verbal race briefing on the day at 7.00am, which will highlight changes to these details and critical updates. Due to the importance of the morning Race Briefing, both Registration and Transition will be temporarily closed during the verbal briefing.

How to get to the Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre (LBFLC)

Coming from the North (Cambridge)
Go straight to the top of the High Street after going through the Town Centre traffic lights. Take the first left off the small roundabout then go up Debden Road and then you take the third road on the left, Mount Pleasant Road. Continue down into Peaslands Road and LBFLC is on the right-hand side just before the Thaxted road junction.

Coming from the South (Bishop’s Stortford)
On the B1383. After passing through Newport turn right at the roundabout towards Saffron Walden. At the first mini roundabout take the right hand turn and then at the second mini-roundabout take the right-hand turn into Borough Lane. Follow the road to the top and at the crossroads go straight ahead into Mount Pleasant Road. Continue down into Peaslands Road and LBFLC is on the right-hand side just before the Thaxted road junction.

Registration
Registration will take place at the LBFLC in the main sports hall from 6.00am. Collect your goody bag first, then your timing chip. Your goody bag will include your two race numbers, swim hat and two smaller labels, one for the front of your helmet and the other for your bike. Place one race number on your back for cycling and one on your front when running (race belts are permitted). Please stick the security label on your bike so it can clearly be seen. You will also need your number to recover your bike from transition after the race. Race numbers will also be written on your right arm and leg. Please do not wash these numbers off in the shower as the presentation of these numbers will be essential to getting your bike back after the race. You must first register before being allowed into the transition area to rack your bike. Please DO NOT enter transition with your timing chip except when competing. Failure to comply with this request will trigger your timing chip and will invalidate your result.

Only competitors will be allowed in to the transition area – there can be no exceptions to this.

You MUST register and rack your bike by 7.45am. However, we recommend you register at least 40 mins before your start time. Some competitors may have started their race so please be aware of this when racking your bike.

Day Licence
Day licences are included in all non British Triathlon Federation entrance fees. This provides public liability insurance and free access to a specialist legal service in the event of an accident or incident during the event. British Triathlon Federation members will be required to show their membership card at registration. Any BTF member who is unable to produce their membership card will be required to purchase a day licence before racing (£5 fee).

Changing Facilities, Toilets & Refreshments
These can be found inside the Leisure Centre. Toilets are located in the male and female dry change areas, in the wet change area and on the balcony overlooking the main hall on the first floor. The cafeteria is next to reception on the ground floor and will be open early, serving food and drink for purchase throughout the event.

Parking
Parking will be available at the LBFLC, however, you may be directed to overflow parking at The Friends School, which is located on Mount Pleasant Road just up from the LBFLC. Please be considerate with your parking and note that cars and contents are parked at owners risk. Even with the additional parking we are going to be tight for spaces so where possible please share transport. For safety reasons please do not park directly outside the leisure centre (Peaslands Road) as the bike course uses this road.

The Start
The race will start at 7.30am SHARP. You MUST be poolside 10 minutes before your allocated start time. Start times will be emailed to all competitors one week before the event. Failure to be poolside at the correct time will jeopardise your race as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fit you in later.

Swim Section
This is 30 lengths of a 25 metre pool and lane counters will count lengths for you and will notify you when you have 2 lengths to go. After finishing the swim, drop your swim cap into the bin provided. Exit the pool via the double doors to your left as you climb out of the pool at the shallow end.

Take care once you are through the doors as there is a barrier in front of you and kerb beside it. Do not risk injury just to shave a few seconds! Once out of the door, turn immediately left and enter transition at Swim IN.

Please note swimmers are seeded according to estimated swim times so all competitors should be swimming with similar standard competitors. If you find a slower swimmer in front of you DO NOT overtake in the lane, touch their toes at the end of the lane and they should move aside for you to go past. Those swimmers that overtake in the lane or do not move aside and hinder other competitors may incur a time penalty. You will be reminded of these instructions prior to entering the water.

Transition Area
Download Transition Layout PDF
This is in the tennis courts at the front of the leisure centre. Make sure you rack your bike properly in your allocated position by 7.45am and ensure the person racking next to you has adequate space. Helmets must be worn and be in good condition. NO HELMET NO RACE. Helmets should have an ANSI Z90.4, SNELL B90, EN 1078 or an equivalent national standard mark. (NB: a CE mark is NOT an approval mark.)

Helmets must be correctly fitted on the head and fastened before taking your bike off the rack and must not be unfastened until your bike is firmly re-racked in the correct position on return to transition. Failure to comply with this rule, which is in accordance with British Triathlon rules, WILL RESULT IN A 2 MINUTE TIME PENALTY being added to your time. The transition area has changed this year and we recommend you study the new layout at the end of these race instructions.

There are two specific entrance/exit areas in transition. Swim IN/Run OUT and Bike IN/Bike OUT. The Bike IN/Bike OUT is rather narrow, therefore Bike OUT competitors will have priority over Bike IN. There is also a slight step down into Bike IN transition. Please be aware of this and take care.

Marshals will be in attendance. Please do not mount your bike before the mount line near the road as cycling in the transition area or before the mount line will also attract a time penalty.

Bike Section
Download Bike Route PDF
The bike mount line is on the entrance to Peaslands Road. You must wheel your bike from transition to this point before you mount. There will be a marshal at this point but please be aware there may be other traffic using the Leisure Centre. The bike route is two laps of 12.5km (total 25km). Please remember it is your responsibility to count the 2 laps, not the marshals. A map of the bike route is enclosed and the course will be clearly marked and marshalled. Please obey instructions from marshals. The Police have asked us to remind you that you must comply with all mandatory road signs and must ride in accordance with the Highway Code at all times. Anyone caught riding in contravention to the Highway Code or in a dangerous manner will suffer a 2 minute penalty as a minimum and possibly disqualification.

Please study the route map on which are marked the three areas to be aware of: one sharp bend at the bottom of a steep hill at 3km and two busy road junctions at 5.8km and 8km. Care must be taken at these points. At 2.3km there is an exit from a local recreation ground to the left – please be aware that cars may be exiting from here. When coming back into the Leisure Centre take care especially at the turn in as there is a slightly raised kerb at the entrance. Almost immediately after you return to the Leisure Centre you will have to dismount at the marked dismount line just before the transition area. Keep your helmet on until your bike is racked again. When coming back into transition through BIKE IN, priority is given to outbound competitors, so if someone is coming out then please let them go first.

Drafting
British Triathlon technical and competition rules apply. Competitors are not allowed to draft, i.e. take shelter behind or beside another competitor or motor vehicle during the cycling segment of the race. The drafting rules are set out at the end of this briefing – please read them. Ignorance of the drafting rules is not a defence! There will be static and motorcycle marshals on the course to ensure safe and fair racing.

Run Section
Download Run Route PDF
The run is an out and back 5km cross country course. The vast majority is on good footpaths across some of the scenic parts of Essex (and yes that does mean a couple of hills). However, if the weather is or has been wet the route will be slippery on the mud. Running shoes with good grip are recommended if it is wet.

From Run OUT in transition, turn right out of the tennis courts and cross the LBFLC approach road. The course will then go up the grass bank, turn left at the top and follow the bank, turning right up the grass hill at the back of the Leisure Centre. At the top there is a narrow gap in the hedge which has a staggered barrier across it. There is only room for one person at a time so please be careful and considerate. Priority should be given to the inbound runner if in doubt. Turn right after the barrier and follow the edge of the field round. At the corner of
the wood turn right (clearly signed) and cross a small ditch. Follow the edge of the field round until the marked path goes through the gap in the hedge. Please note that this is not normally a right of way but is being allowed by kind permission of the landowners. At the other side of the hedge you will be directed out of the playing fields and go straight on onto the road in front of you and follow the signs and the path. At the bottom of the hill, turn left and follow the track until you reach the turnaround cone where a marshal will tick off race participants. Return the same way as you went, except that on approaching the bottom of the grass hill at the rear of the Leisure Centre you bear left to the finish which will be clearly visible in front of you. This all sounds complicated but it will be appropriately signed and marshalled. A map can be found on the last page.

For safety reasons competitors are not allowed to use ipods/mp3 players during the race.

Sports Masseurs
Sports Masseurs are present at the race offering post race massages. They will be located at the back of the main sports hall and a booking system will operate on the day. The Sports Masseurs will be asking for a donation for their time, all monies collected will go to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Prizes
The presentation of prizes will be awarded as soon as possible after the last competitor has finished. We would expect this to be no later than 12.30pm. Prizes will be awarded to the winner, runner-up; male and female, the first male and female club team and the first relayteam. There will also be prizes for the winners of each age category.

Team Relay
Relay teams will be given two numbers. The cyclist must wear a number on their back and the runner on a number on their front. All relay team tags will take place by the team’s bike racking position, inside the transition area. Once the swimmer has passed the timing chip to the cyclist, the cyclist may then put their helmet on before removing their bike from the rack. After the cycle, the cyclist first racks their bike, removes their helmet before passing the timing chip to the runner.

Timing chips must be worn on your ankle, NOT your arm.

Marshals
Thanks go to those who kindly turn out to marshal our event. Please remember these people give up their time for little more than a T-shirt. A nod, wave or grunt as you pass will make them feel appreciated! British Triathlon competition rules state: 22.2 All other competitors, officials, volunteers and spectators must be treated with respect and courtesy; 22.3 Threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct are not permitted and competitors may be disqualified for using such behaviour. Any occurrence of this will result in disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director and referee.

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST (TCT)
This year we are again very pleased to be supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust. WaldenTRI will be making a donation to TCT at the race prize giving. Representatives from TCT will be present at race registration and would be grateful for any additional donations you may like to make. TCT makes sure young cancer patients get the best possible care in hospital and the chance to do all the things that other teenagers do. 2,000 cases of teenage cancer are diagnosed in the UK every year – that’s six today, six tomorrow and every day after. TCT are currently raising funds to build a brand new TCT unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. It will cost £2 million to complete. Half of this money will be raised locally. It will be open for cancer patients aged between 13 and 22, from East Anglia and surrounding areas. TCT needs your help to help teenage cancer patients in our region. Work has begun and is due to finish later this year. Please join us in supporting this very worthy charity.

Race Photos
This year, Alex Orrow Photography will be the official WT10 race photographer. Alex Orrow has an excellent reputation for taking quality sports event photographs. Competitors will be able to review and purchase photographs at www.alexorrow.co.uk.

Timing Chips
When you have finished, please remember to return your timing chip in the bin provided by the finish line. If your timing chip is not returned after the race you will be charged £25.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are number belts allowed?
Yes, provided the number is on the back for the bike and on the front for the run.

Where are the toilets?
Located in the dry and wet change areas of the Leisure Centre downstairs and on the balcony overlooking the Sports Hall on the first floor.

Where are drinks stations?
Water will be available at the start and finish and depending on the weather also at the turn around point.

Novices
Race organizers will be available on Saturday 19th June from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at the LBFLC to answer any questions and provide a “walk through” of the transition area.

Results
The use of timing chips allows competitors and spectators to view live results (inc. splits & cat. positions) on a plasma TV screen at the finish area. They will also be posted on www.waldentri.co.uk as soon as
possible after the event.

MANY THANKS TO:

Pellys – Pellys LLP Solicitors
01799 514 420
EDGE – Sporting Events
01799 582 705
Newdales – Cycles and Car Accessories
01799 513 980
Kestrel Physiotherapy
01371 830 302
RunnerWay – Specialist Running Equipment
01799 527 528
Wilburs – Fitness Gyms
01799 513 469
theassociates - Good design is good business
+33(0) 6 16 87 17 69

Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre and its staff and management.

Dr Bjorn Alsos for providing medical cover and all of our marshals.

Extra Marshals
If anyone coming along has supporters who would be willing to help out with marshalling, lane counting, etc their help would be very much appreciated. Please contact race@waldentri.co.uk. T-shirts will be given to all marshals.

British Triathlon Drafting Rules
27 Pacing/Drafting

27.1 Competitors are not allowed to draft, (i.e. take shelter behind or beside another competitor or motor vehicle) during the cycling segment of races. Penalties will be issued when, in the opinion of the official, competitors, through their action or the action of others, attempt to gain, or receive, an advantage precluded by the rules.

27.2 Bicycle Draft Zone a For all age group events (except long distance): The draft zone is a rectangle measuring 7m long by 3m wide that surrounds every cycle on the cycle course. The front edge of the front wheel defines the centre of the leading 3m edge of the rectangle. A competitor may enter the draft zone of another competitor but must be seen to be progressing through that zone. A maximum of 15 seconds is allowed to progress though the draft zone of another competitor. If an overtaking manoeuvre is not completed within 15 seconds, the overtaking cyclist must drop back out of this zone.

Schedule of Events	What to do on race day
6.00am – 7.45am Registration open	Register, collect goody bag and timing chip.
6.15am – 7.45am Transition open	Collect bike and arrange bike/run kit in transition.
7.00am Race briefing	Attend race briefing/read briefing notes.
7.20am First swimmers due poolside	Be on poolside 10mins before start time.
7.30am First wave starts	Tri your best and enjoy the event.
12.30pm (approx) Presentations