COVID PRECAUTIONS
Current Montana and Lewis and Clark County guidelines for public gatherings will be adhered to and mandated for all athletes and spectators. Masks will not be required but will be offered. MTWTri will follow USA Triathlon's Return to Racing Recommendations for Athletes and guidelines of USA Triathlon's Safe Return to Multisport Initiative.
The mission of MTWTri is to encourage community health. Please get vaccinated.
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
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.
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.
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, stay to the left to Silver Star turnaround the. straight out to the Carroll College/dump turnaround then back to water station staying left - do not go back through tunnel a second time, stay left and go back to pool same way you came. If your number is not marked at Silver Star turn around or dump turn around YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED so yell it out loudly just to be sure!
Refund Policy: No refunds. No exceptions.
RUN
A couple things to note on the run course:
• After exiting transition "RUN OUT" you cross the timing mat through the finish line. You'll cross it again when you are finished!
• Make sure you don't cut across the grass on the right turn onto the sidewalk by the pool
• Cross Last Chance Gulch using the cross-walk, but switch over to the YMCA road-way upon entering the Centennial Park parking lot to leave space for the in-bound bikers on the path - same on the way back.
• Stay left around the fountain by Exploration Works
• When you return to the Memorial Pool parking lot - you turn right and still have another half mile to go!
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.