SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SATURDAY - MEMORIAL PARK POOL
2:00-4:00p Packet pick-up - ID required.
Your packet will have your timing chip, bib number, helmet sticker with number, t-shirt, and swag items.
4:00-5:00p Volunteer meeting for t-shirts, assignments, questions
SUNDAY
Please park at the YMCA parking lot across from Memorial Pool
6:30am Transition area opens
7:00am Volunteer check-in at tent
7:30am Racer Meeting
8:00am Race Start
11:30am Party begins when last racer finishes.
12:00pm Awards ceremony
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Transition area: Areas for your gear will be marked off in the transition area. Pick your spot and set up your gear. Metal bike racks will be provided this year. Basics for the transition area: goggles, cap, bike, bike shoes, socks, helmet (mandatory), sunglasses, water on your bike, running shoes, running hat, shirt or race belt with number on it, and sunscreen. Athletes only in the transition area. We’ll have volunteers there with baby blue shirts on who will help you set up and answer questions. Race captains will be available as well to answer questions. race t-shirts and can answer questions also.
Swim: NO DIVING into the pool. This will be automatic disqualification. Preliminary swim order will be sent out Thursday night. Final swim order will be posted at pool Sunday morning.The swim starts with a heat of 16 swimming 2 to a lane.You have half a lane until you are done. Swimmers line up behind the timing mat and enter the water in numerical order when a lane becomes available. You will be positioned with other women in your age group (unless they are in the first heat). You have half a lane until you are done. There will be lap counters. Please volunteer to count for someone else while you wait. Bring your suit, goggles, and cap. It is REALLY hard to get disqualified in the pool. Unless you dive in head first.
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Bike: You cannot leave the transition area unless your helmet is on your head and buckled. Walk/run with your bike to the mount line and then get on the saddle and start pedaling. Stay on the designated bike course. Ride on the path along Custer. DO NOT RIDE ON THE ROAD ON CUSTER OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Stay on the path. There will not be water on the bike course so take your own. Course will be marked with arrows and course guards will be at turns. It is the responsibility of the racer to know the course. There will be mechanical assistance throughout the course. Please carry your own spare tube and know how to change it. No promises on how long it will take before help arrives.
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Run: Run course will be marked with MTWTri blue tape. Course goes behind pool near ball park - stay on the sidewalk until crosswalk to Centennial Trails. You will go under tunnel toward carousel, around carousel then back to water station staying left and running North alongside Carroll dorms. Follow arrows and complete this loop twice. On the second loop past the bike park you will head toward tunnel under Last Chance and back to transition area to finish.
MTWTri Bike 2024 Cue Sheet
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Leaving transition area, turn Right toward mount line and get on bike
Turn right through parking lot 0.1 mi
Turn right at end of parking lot
Turn left across road toward Centennial Trail then sharp Left onto trail -go under bridge and UP THE HILL- stay right at top with Paws Park on your right.
0.2 mi trail turns to gravel/sand
0.5 mi Turn right at crosswalk with police
1.0 mi Turn left onto Centennial Trail 1.0 mi watch for downhill onto Henderson - cross at crosswalk with police
1.6 mi TWO WAY TRAFFIC on trail - stay on R side
1.6 mi Turn slight right onto single track beside Broadwater Avenue.
2.8 mi Exit single track with slight left toward 10 Mile Park at volunteer station
2.9 mi Cross bridge for
0.3mi on Creekside Loop
3.0 mi Turn right onto William Gruber Memorial Trail
3.3 mi Turn left onto William Gruber Memorial Trail
3.6 mi First loop turn left onto William Gruber Memorial Trail (you will be here again and exist park due North)
4.2 mi Keep left onto William Gruber Memorial Trail
4.6 mi Turn right 4.9 mi Turn slight right onto Creekside Loop
4.9 mi Turn left onto Creekside Loop 5.1 mi Turn sharp left onto Creekside Loop
5.5 mi Turn right onto William Gruber Memorial Trail 5.8 mi Turn right onto Country Club Avenue 6.1 mi Turn left back on to Centennial Trail - CAUTION-TWO WAY TRAFFIC
7.0 mi Turn slight left at bottom of hill entering Henderson - stay on road until Brady Street where you will get on bike path
7.9 mi Get on bike trail at Brady
8.0 mi Straight - obey all traffic rules - turn Right on Villard onto bike path beside Cedar St.
8.8 mi Turn right when bike path ends to path back into Centennial Park - go around flag then up path to crosswalk and FINISH! 10.7 mi
MISS AN EMAIL? HERE IT IS:
MTWTri update 7•9•23
MTWTri update 7•9•23
Race week is here. Calm your nerves, read through this note and past updates, review the maps, make your gear list and check it again, and again, and once more. It's going to be a great day. Right now temps are predicted at 65F-80F race morning. But, plan for anything. Hydrate well the day before and plan for heat incase it happens. We're excited to bring this all together again in 2023!!
Packet pick-up is Saturday 2-4pm. Sunday morning pick-up will be available for those traveling from out of town. Please have ID card and proof of USAT one day insurance with you at packet pick up. One day license here: https://accounts.usatriathlon.org/AccountCreation2.aspx?EventId=308101
Parking Racers, friends, and family please park Sunday morning at the YMCA across from the pool on Last Chance Gulch.
Transition area closes at 7:30am when pre race meeting starts. Race begins at 8am.
Course maps are available online and can be found in the links in previous notes below. Any bike can do this race. They have all been tried. Bring an extra tube in case of flat and get your machine checked for safety before race day.
Bike Course Basics: Centennial Trail to Ten Mile Park (beside Spring Meadow Lake), exit 10 Mile Park (right turn) on Country Club Road .25mi and get back on Centennial Trail to Henderson where you will ride on Henderson Street until the light at Brady and get on the Henderson Bike Path that goes around Capital High to Villard - head back to the pool on Villard , right on Cedar/Last Chance Gulch. The detailed cue sheet can be found on MTWTri web page in a format you can copy. We will have volunteers and three bike captains roaming the course but, ultimately, per USAT rules, it is the responsibility of the rider to know the course. - CAUTION: there will be two way bicycle traffic from Country Club road to Henderson on the trail - be careful and stay on your side (R) of the trail. Bicyclists are required to follow all rules of the road - stop signs and lights - unless waived through by Helena Police or a volunteer watching traffic for you.
YOU MUST USE THE BIKE PATH BESIDE CUSTER ROAD
RIDING ON CUSTER ROAD = DISQUALIFICATION
YOUR HELMET MUST BE ON YOUR HEAD AT ALL TIMES WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR BIKE - BEFORE THE RACE, DURING THE RACE, AND AFTER RACE.
NO HELMET = DISQUALIFICATION
Start order: First heat will be the top 14 times and the second heat will be a High School (18&U) and 70+. Nice mix, right? Age group order then takes over and swimmers enter one at a time crossing the timing mat to enter an empty lane.
Age group order: 30-34, 35-39, 65-69, 60-64, 45-49, 40-44, 55-59, 50-54, 20-24, 25-29
First heat: Hammond, Caudell, Seguine, Warstler, Cliff, Kirklin, Zhang, Pecarina, Patten, Jones, McClelland, Geddes, Regulski-Lyons, Blomster,
Second Heat: High School - 18 & U, 70+
Post Race Party for racers and volunteers will commence at 11:30 and awards will start when the last racer is finished. Age groups are mixed and first place might actually be the last person in. Don't count your chickens before they hatch and stick around for awards (another cool charm for your necklace) - AND a chance to win a top end tri bike (aero bars, clipless pedals, fast wheels, and premium Campy component set) at the awards. Blue pizza tickets and red raffle tickets will be in your bag.
We still need a few more volunteers. Thanks for helping with keeping our race safe and friendly. Sign up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MT/Helena/MTWomensTri
Many thanks to the Helena Police Officers who will be helping us with traffic at busy intersections. Thank you also to the lifeguards at the Last Chance Splash Park keeping us safe. Please be sure and thank all the volunteers standing out there helping and cheering us all on.
Please support our sponsors for the race. We believe in them and they believe in what we are doing to promote participation of women in sports. Thank you!
SPONSORS St Peter's Health, Waypoint Realty/Breena Buettner, Christensen and Prezeau Attorneys at Law, Great Divide Cyclery, Mt Ascension Physical Therapy, Hammer Nutrition, Girls Thrive, and A Fine Balance Multisport Coaching and Racing.
See you soon!
Ann
previous updates:
MTWTri update 6•12•23
MTWTri is four weeks away from happening! Congratulations you're almost there! We have 223 participants this year with 9 states represented. The word is out this is a FUN DAY! We are all looking forward to a great event on July 16. Our priority is safety so please be familiar with the courses, review the USAT rules, ask your family and friends to volunteer, and get your bike checked out before you come.
The previous update from May is copied to this letter for those of you who have signed up recently.
We can't do this without the support of our sponsors and the Helena Community. St. Peter's Hospital, Way Point Realty and Breena Buettner, Amy Christensen and Cherche Prezeau at Christensen and Prezeau Law Firm, Mt Ascension Physical Therapy, The Great Divide Cyclery, Hammer Nutrition, and Girls Thrive. The race is organized by A Fine Balance Multisport Coaching and Racing in Helena. Thank you!
Thanks also to everyone who has registered for the USAT one day memberships. Sorry about the confusion. It'll never happen again. Create a profile on the link below if you'd like to get it done before packet pick-up on that hot Saturday afternoon in July. This is our race insurance and everyone who is in the event has to have it:
https://accounts.usatriathlon.org/AccountCreation2.aspx?EventId=308101
Course updates
The congestion across Last Chance Gulch later in the morning has been reduced with a change in the run course. Runners have a new TWO LOOP COURSE that goes under the tunnel below Last Chance Gulch (on the second loop) then heads toward the finish at the transition area. NO changes have been made to the bike course from last year. Bikes will drop back into Centennial Park on their return and cross Last Chance with the Helena Police officers to the transition area. Courses are still pending city approval but the proposed maps can be found at Ride with GPS, links below, or search MTWTri 2023 on Ride with GPS.
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Bike Course: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42701176
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Run Course: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42798759
Race day information
SATURDAY - LAST CHANCE SPLASH POOL
2:00-4:00p Packet pick-up - ID required.
Your packet will have your timing chip, bib number, helmet sticker with number, t-shirt, and swag items.
You can not pick up a packet for someone else. We have to know it is YOU racing.
4:00-5:00p Volunteer meeting for t-shirts, assignments, questions
SUNDAY
Please park at the YMCA parking lot across from LAST CHANCE SPLASH POOL
6:30am Transition area opens
7:00am Volunteer check-in at tent
7:30am Racer Meeting
8:00am Race Start
11:30am Party begins when last racer finishes.
12:00pm Awards ceremony
​Please look at the website for more information: https://www.mtwomenstri.com/information
Volunteers
Volunteers are crucial to this race. Please ask your friends and family to help. If you have an early start consider signing up for a late volunteer slot. The ink for volunteers to sign waiver and get correct t-shirt size is: https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MT/Helena/MTWomensTri Thank you!
Swim Start
Age Groups and first heats will be announced the week of the race. The top 32 swim times submitted will be in heats one and two. Age groups will line up behind the fence and enter one at a time as a lane opens. SNO CONES and shade will be available to keep you cool in line. Pick your flavor: Hammer HEED Cherry Bomb (with caffeine) or HEED Orange. Oh yeah.
Post race awards, bike raffle, and party
The party doesn't start until the last racer is in. Bring your noise makers and line the finish chute. Awards will be given to overall and age group 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. You don't want to miss these! If it's your first charm for your triathlon necklace or your 7th you'll love it. Results are not final until the last racer is in and awards will not be mailed so please stick around and cheer for your 222 new friends as they cross the finish line.
MTWTri received a generous and meaningful donation of a tri bike which will be raffled off at the awards ceremony. More on this to come.
Pizza and other treats will be available for racers and volunteers at the party with the pizza ticket provided in your packet or a volunteer registration.
USAT Rules
https://www.mtwomenstri.com/information
MTWTri Rules
When you are on your bike YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HELMET ON. Anywhere, anytime, or automatic disqualification.
Do not ride on Custer Avenue. You MUST STAY ON THE TRAIL. Automatic disqualification.
That's it for now. Keep training. Email with questions.
Thank you. Ann
MTWTRI UPDATES 5•8•23
MTWTri is closing in on FULL for 2023. Thanks to everyone for signing up, coming back, and spreading the word about this awesome community that comes together the third Sunday of every July. We look forward to getting together and want to share some updates with you.
The most important thing you need to know RIGHT NOW is please tell your potential race buddies to 1) sign up before it fills up and 2) enter before prices go up June 1. Current numbers confirm that MTWTri is a fun event and the word is out! Entries as of May 7 have surpassed the 2022 total participants. Pass it on.
Course updates: Changes have been made to both courses to decrease the congestion at the Last Chance crosswalk on Sunday morning. Bikers DO NOT drop back in to Centennial Park on their return and runners have a new TWO LOOP COURSE. Courses are still pending city approval but the proposed maps can be found at Ride with GPS below or search MTWTri 2023.
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Bike Course: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42701176
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Run Course: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42798759
Training events: Every year MTWTri offers training sessions to preview the bike and run courses. Transition and other triathlon tips are shared at these sessions. All practices start and finish at the Last Chance Splash Pool. These dates are:
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May 17 Bike - 10 am and 6 pm
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May 31 Bike 10 am and 6 pm
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June 12 Bike-Run transition 6 pm
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June 27 Bike-Run transition
If you have a posse coming to town and want to arrange a ride on the course please contact me at agilbert601@gmail.com.
Accommodations: There are lots of great options in Helena. These hotels are close to the race start and have reserved a block of rooms for MTWTri :
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Great Northern Hotel - 406-443-2200
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Lamplighter - 406-442-9200
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Budget Inn Express 406-442-0600
Scholarships: Applications will be accepted until July 1 for the Molly Hayes Spirit Scholarship and the BIPOC Scholarships if you know someone who would love either. More information and application on the website. www.mtwomenstri.com
Finally....Volunteers: Urban races are a brutal challenge with the multitude of turns, crossings, trains, planes, and automobiles. Safety is the main concern in planning the courses and volunteer stations. If you have signed up for a team consider signing that team up for a volunteer slot as well. We'll get you close to the action and you can rotate through the duties. If you're racing, fill in a spot for relief for someone who was out there cheering you on. If you are bringing your family and have a few members to share a corner on the course please sign them up. Volunteers get a shirt and food at the end of the day. Volunteers are my BIGGEST WORRY of race production. But they always come through! Thanks for helping early.
If you have triathlon questions or need help with triathlon training please contact me at agilbert601@gmail.com or Matt Parks (our race announcer) at matthewbryanparks@gmail.com in Bozeman. We are both triathlon coaches and would love to help you train for the ninth (almost) annual Montana Women's Triathlon.
See you soon
Ann
Montana Women's Triathlon
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RULES
The Montana Women's Triathlon is sanctioned by USA Triathlon. Sanctioning means that we are insured by USAT and we follow rules to keep everyone safe and to have a fair race. Sanctioning also mean you can get ranked as a triathlete but for now let's focus on the rules.
The 10 most commonly violated rules are:
1. Helmets: Only helmets approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may be used in USAT sanctioned events. Helmets must be worn at all times while on your bike. This means before, during, and after the event.
2. Chin Straps: Chin straps must be fastened at all times when on a bicycle. DO NOT unbuckle your chin strap unless you are off your bicycle. This includes riding from your car to the transition area.
3. Outside Assistance: No assistance other than that offered by race and medical officials may be used. Triathlons and duathlons are individual tests of fitness.
4. Transition Area: All equipment must be placed in the properly designated and individually assigned bike corral. The wheel of the bicycle must be down on the side of the assigned space. All participants must return their bicycles to an upright position in their designated bicycle corral. No person shall interfere with another participant’s equipment or impede the progress of another participant. All bar ends must be solidly plugged. No participant shall bring ANY glass containers into the transition area.
5. Drafting: Drafting--keep at least three bike lengths of clear space between you and the cyclist in front. If you move into the zone, you must pass within 15 seconds.
Position--keep to the right hand side of the lane of travel unless passing.
Illegal Pass-- cyclists must pass on the left, not on the right.
Blocking--riding on the left side of the lane without passing anyone and impeding other cyclists attempting to pass.
Overtaken--once passed, you must immediately exit the draft zone from the rear, before attempting to pass again.
6. Course: All competitors are required to follow the prescribed course and to stay within all coned lanes. Cutting the course is an obvious violation and going outside the course is a safety issue. Cyclists shall not cross a solid yellow
center line for ANY reason. Cyclists must obey all applicable traffic laws at all times.
7. Unsportsmanlike-Like Conduct:
Foul, harsh, argumentative or abusive language or other unsportsmanlike conduct directed at race officials, USA Triathlon officials, volunteers, spectators or fellow athletes is forbidden.
8. Headphones: Headphones, headsets, walkmans, ipods, mp3 players, or personal audio devices, etc. are not to be carried or worn at any time during the race.
9. Race numbers: All athletes are required to wear race numbers at all times during the run. Numbers must be clearly visible at all times. Numbers may not be altered in any way that prevents a clear identification. DO NOT transfer yourumber to any other athlete or take a number from an athlete that is not competing.
10. Abandonment: All personal equipment and belongings taken out onto the course must stay on the athlete the entire time. No garbage, clothing, etc. shall be thrown on the course.