Triathlon 101

A triathlon consists of a swim portion, a bike portion and finishes with a run. There are no breaks between events so each child's overall race time will include their swim time, transition time from swim to bike (called T1), bike time, transition time from bike to run (called T2) and run time. Kids are tracked via an electronic timing system and velcro ankle straps with chips. These chips/straps will be handed out on race day morning and will correspond to your child's race number (in their packet). Chips will be removed as soon as the kids cross the finish line. If a child loses a chip there is a chip replacement fee (payable by the parents to the timing vendor) so please tell them not to take them off during the race. If your child does not complete the race for some reason, please return the ankle chip to the volunteers at the finish line.

Swim:

This portion of the race is where the official race time starts and will take place in the LSU Natatorium (home of Bengal Tiger Aquatic Club swim program). The pool is a 50 meter Olympic sized swimming pool with no shallow sections. The pool will be roped off into lanes. The kids will start on the west end of the pool (near the main entrance and scoreboard) one at a time, a few seconds apart. They will swim down to the end, go under the lane rope and come back in the next lane until they reach the last lane. 6 yr olds (Sputniks) - will swim in the last lane from one end to the other end and then get out. 7-10 yr olds (Apollo's) will get enter in the third lane from the end, go down, come back and then go down in the last lane and get out, 11-15 yr olds (Saturns) will enter in the fifth lane from the end and "snake" the pool like the others, exiting in the last lane near the diving pool.

They will exit the Natatorium through the south doors and proceed down the sidewalk between the tennis courts and Dub Stadium. They will enter the transition area in the designated area. THEY MAY PUT A PAIR OF SHOES OUTSIDE THE NATATORIUM (OR HAVE A PARENT HOLD THEM) IF THEY PREFER TO RUN TO THE TRANSITION AREA IN SHOES.

Swim-Bike Transition (T1):

The kids will run to their bikes, drop their goggles and put on their biking clothing (if they are using any), race number and shoes. They must also put on a bike safety helmet with working buckles/straps. The will walk/run their bikes to the bike exit of the transition area and "mount line" where they can then get on their bikes. THE HELMET MUST BE BUCKLED BEFORE THEY GET ON THEIR BIKES.

There is no place for your child to change in private between events (triathletes usually race in what they swim in). However, you can put on shorts/shirts over your swimsuit.

Bike:

After crossing the "mount" line they can get on their bikes and proceed along the course. The course will be marked with signs, volunteers and chalk arrows. Any type of two wheeled bike is acceptable (mountain bike, BMX bike, road bike, etc). No training wheels or three wheeled bikes.

The kids must stay to the RIGHT on the course at all times, unless passing another biker. They must remain 3 bike lengths behind a biker if they are following another rider. There will be two NO PASS ZONES on the course. The first is the turn onto Nicholson Drive Extension (through a parking lot) and the other is on the shoulder of Nicholson as they exit North Stadium drive. Both areas will be posted with signs indicating NO PASSING.

Sputniks have a shortened bike course and will have only one NO PASS ZONE (shoulder of Nicholson).

Apollo's will do ONE LAP of the bike course.

Saturns will do TWO LAPS of the bike course.

Upon completing the bike course the kids will return into the transition parking lot, dismounting BEFORE the "dismount line" (which will be clearly marked and staffed with volunteers). They must NOT remove or unbuckle their helmets before getting off the bike.

Bike - Run Transition (T2):

The kids will walk/run their bikes back to their designated spot in transition, park their bike, leave their helmet and proceed to the run exit of the transition area.

Run:

They will run south out of transition to the lower level of the PMAC. They will run around the south side of the PMAC, up the ramps, back around (counter clockwise) and down the ramp, around Mike the Tiger and down the sidewalk to the finish line. Saturns will do one loop and proceed back around the PMAC for another loop before coming down the finish chute.

Finish Line:

YEAH!! A photographer will get a picture of your kid finishing (if they get missed we can stage another finish shot for you), ankle chip straps will be removed and the racers will pick a door prize ball out of the bucket. They will then proceed to the Racer Refreshment Tent and Door Prize Tent. They can redeem their free snowballs tickets at any time from the snowball vendor onsite. Make sure we can see those race numbers coming down the chute!!!

Suggested Equipment List (required items are marked with *):

Swim suit
Goggles
Swim cap (if they prefer to use one, they are not required)
small towel
bike*
shoes*
socks (if they want to use them)
safety helmet*
race belt/shirt with number pinned on*
water bottle for transition area
shorts (if they want to put them on over their swimsuit)
hat (if they want one for the run)

Sunscreen (put on before the race starts)
Dry clothes to put on after the race