USA Triathlon Sanctioned Race Instructions COURSE MAP DETAILED COURSE MAP TRANSITION AREA MAP Welcome to the 21st annual Sentinel Triathlon. Last year's race raised more than $69,000 for local school athletic programs. Similar to last year's race, we will continue to provide timing chips. (Timing chips must be turned in at the end of the race at the finish chute.) This will give us accurate and prompt split times. We are also a USA Triathlon race. This sanctioning will provide our competitors with national ranking. Along with this, the bike course will be the same as last year, lengthened slightly, bringing us into international distance conformance. Please check out the Bike Course section for the course. On behalf of the sponsors, coordinators and volunteers we welcome you to the 21st annual Sentinel Triathlon. We hope this event will provide you with a safe, competitive and personal challenge that you will truly enjoy. This race packet/web site will provide you with the information you need to know for the race. REMEMBER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING ALL RACE INFORMATION AND RULES. If you have any questions you can email us at sentineltriathlon@santa-cruz.com. Good luck and good racing! Here are details about the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon: 1. There will be no race packet pick up on race day. You must pick up your race number, timing chip, swim cap,T-shirt and other materials the day before the race at the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper office located in downtown Santa Cruz at 207 Church Street, Santa Cruz, click for map. Race Packet Pickup will be from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Saturday, September 27. 2. Bring your valid USA Triathlon card to race number pick-up. If you do not have your valid USA Triathlon card with you, you will be required to sign up for a one-day license. A one day membership is $9. 3. There is no required bike check for the Sentinel Triathlon. All competitors are strongly urged to take advantage of a free bike inspections in advance at The Spokesman Bicycles, 231 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz, (831)429-6062 starting on Sept. 1. The Spokesman Bicycles will also be at the pre-race check-in on Saturday, September 27 providing this complimentary service. 4. Make sure that you properly wear your race numbers and timing chip. You will receive a timing chip and two numbers at the packet pickup The bicycle frame number goes on your bicycle's top tube, just behind the handlebars. The bib number must be worn on the front of your body during the entire run portion of the event. You will be body marked on race morning before the swin. Body marking will start at 6 am. 5. Go over the race course before the race. It is the responsibility of each athlete to know the race course and any potential hazards which may exist on it. NOTE: ANY COURSE CHANGES AND DETAILS WILL BE COVERED IN THE MANDATORY PRE-RACE MEETING ON THE MAIN BEACH AT LIFEGUARD TOWER #3 AT 7:45 AM) 6. For safety reasons there will be a fenced-in area on the beach that you will enter into crossing over a timing mat to account for you going into and then you will cross over a timing mat leaving the water. If for some reason you drop out of the race please let a race official know so they know you are safe. 7. Wetsuits will be allowed and are strongly encouraged. The water temperature is expected to be between 45° and 55° degrees. 8. Racking of bikes in transition area is first come first serve. Your bike must be on a bike rack. Please do not use more than one space for your transition area. All bike racks must be used to maximum capacity. Your transition gear will be moved if you use more than your allotted room. 9. Athletes can walk or run their bike through the transition area. Chip timing is being used and racers need to walk/run bike across the timing mat to record their time. This is also a safety issue in the transition area. 10. Please review the bike course map. The route has changed this year to make it an international distance. 11. The roads are open to traffic. Ride on the right hand side of the road unless instructed otherwise by a police officer or race official. 12. There will be water available on the run course at mile 2, the turn around and mile 4. 13. Timing chips must be turned in at the finish line or athlete will be responsible for the cost of the timing chip. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR RELAY TEAMS 1. Each relay team will receive 1 race timing chip. 2. The timing chip is passed on after each team member finishes their event. 3. The timing chip must be worn on the left ankle by each relay team member in order for timing mats to record the time. 4. The race timing chip must be relayed from swimmer to cyclist to runner during the race. The timing chip must record each split or relay team will not be eligible for award participation. 5. Relay teams will have a SEPARATE FENCED AREA outside of the main transition area to rack bikes. The racks will be located on Bay Avenue. RACE SCHEDULE SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 2003 9:30 am to 3 pm - Pre-race packet pickup and free bike inspection Santa Cruz Sentinel Newspaper, click for map office in downtown Santa Cruz 207 Church Street Santa Cruz (831) 423-4242 5:00 pm: Pasta Feed PASTA FEED CANCELED Dear Sentinel Triathlete, We regret that we are unable to host the pre-race Pasta Feed this year as we had planned. Due to unforeseen scheduling issues, we need to cancel the dinner that had been set for 5pm on September 27 at the West Coast Santa Cruz Hotel. If you had registered for the Feed, we will refund your money in its entirety. We will mail you a check by September 1, 2003. The organizers apologize for any inconvenience, but we are confident you will do your own carbo-loading and will have a great race at the 21st Annual Sentinel Triathlon on Sunday, September 28, 2003. If you have any questions about the refunds, please at 831-423-4242 or email at sentineltriathlon@santa-cruz.com. SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, 2003 West Coast Santa Cruz Hotel, click for map 175 West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz 6 am - Transition area opens, check-in and body numbering begins. Be sure to arrive at least one hour prior to race start in order to have mandatory body numbering done, transition equipment set up and attend mandatory pre-race beach meeting. Bike racking is first come first serve. 7:45 am - Final instructions and MANDATORY race meeting for all individuals and team members on Main Beach by Lifeguard Tower No. 3. 8-8:25 am - Swim waves start. 9:20 am - Swim course closed. 10:45 am - Bike course closed. 11:45 am - Run course closed. 12:00 PM - Transition area closed. ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE REMOVED BY THIS TIME. AREA WILL NOT BE SECURE. ALL ITEMS LEFT IN THE AREA WILL BE REMOVED. 12:30 PM -Award Ceremony at the Boardwalk on the west lawn adjacent to the Casino Arcade between the street and the beach. Rules and Instructions SWIM - Final instructions will be delivered on the Main Beach by Lifeguard Tower No. 3 at 7:45 a.m. sharp. This is a mandatory meeting for all individual and team competitors. Wave-start lineup begins at 7:55 a.m. and no warm-up in the water will be allowed after this time. The first wave of swimmers goes off at 8 a.m. and will proceed on time, with or without you. It is mandatory that you start only at your designated time. All swimmers must wear the official race swim cap of appropriate color provided and extra caps will be available on the beach. Wetsuits are strongly recommended - water temperatures usually range from 45° and 55° degrees - but no other swim or flotation devices may be used. Do not dive into shallow water. Upon exiting water swimmers will be guided to finish chute. Swimmers must proceed up hill to transition area designated as the "tag zone." BIKE - Cyclist are required to wear a bike helmet which compiles with USCPSC Safety Standards for bicycle helmets. This is NOT a closed bike course, so cyclists should be aware of vehicular traffic, stay to the right and stay in the bike lanes at all times where they are available. Upon exiting transition area, cyclists must obey ALL traffic laws. Cyclists are reminded to follow all rules and traffic laws unless directed to do otherwise by a uniformed peace officer. The USA Triathlon officials will be active on Hwy. 1 and will enforce all race rules. Cyclists must follow instructions of race officials, volunteers and law enforcement officers at all times. No drafting is allowed at any time (see below) and will be monitored. Cyclists must wear approved helmets, which must be fastened at all times when on the bike. Water will be available in Davenport at the turn-around in plastic water bottles. No private vehicles or assistance to riders will be allowed on the bike course, including Highway 1. Failure to obey this rule will result in disqualification. DRAFTING - The drafting rule that will be enforced is a simple one: cyclists may not ride within 3 bike lengths of the rider in front of them or within three feet of a rider to the side. Cyclists have 15 seconds to complete a pass through this "drafting zone" or must back off 3 bike lengths if not successful. A cyclist must back off 3 bike lengths as soon as the front wheel of the passing rider moves ahead of his (or her) bike. RUN - The run is on West Cliff Drive foot and bike paths to the turnaround/aid station on Delaware Avenue behind Natural Bridges State Park. To insure that everyone runs the same distance, running on the street (except in the start/finish area and in the bike lane on Swanton and Delaware Streets at Natural Bridges State Park) is prohibited and may result in disqualification. Stay to the right at all times and be aware of pedestrian traffic on paths. There will be water stations at the turnaround and at Stockton Ave. (both out and back). NUMBERS - Only numbered athletes will be allowed in the transition area. Marking pens will be provided race morning in the transition area. Athletes must wear their race number on their upper left arm, upper right leg. Please identify all equipment, such as your wetsuit, with name or race number. Race committee and sponsors are not responsible for lost or stolen equipment. Only numbered athletes will be allowed to remove bikes from transition area. As stated earlier, bikes must have number tags and runner must wear bib number. MEDICAL - Medical teams provided by Dominican Hospital will be located at the end of the swim in the transition. There will also be medical assistance at the bike turnaround provided by the Davenport Fire Department. If you witness an accident, or in case of emergency, notify race marshals or go to the nearest telephone and dial 911. TIMING - All times will be available at the race-day awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Complete results of every official finisher will be published in the Monday, Sept. 29 edition of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Results will be posted on this web site at www.sentineltriathlon.org. AWARDS - Finishers medals will be awarded to all competitors in the finish line chute after they have completed the race. Please plan to attend the post-race awards ceremony which will include recognition of all age-group winners. NOTE - Athletes must arrive at transition area by 7 a.m. at the latest in order to guarantee enough time to be numbered and be able to attend final instructions on the beach at 7:45 a.m. Finally... Once the race starts, you may receive no outside help or assistance, unless you drop out of the competition. If you dropout, please do not cross the finish line. Please contact race officials as soon as possible. If you need help during the swim, raise one arm or yell to a lifeguard for assistance. You must rack your bike in the transition area. Due to race permit requirements, cut-off times will be in effect. To be allowed to continue in the race, all swimmers must be out of the water by 9:20 am, all cyclists off the bike course by 10:45 am The race will officially end and the run course declared closed at 11:45 am All equipment must be removed from the transition area by 12 noon. The race will be governed by safety standards and competitive rules as set forth in the Tri-Fed/USA triathlon guidebook. USA Triathlon officials will enforce all rules. The Sentinel Triathlon is a non-profit event. Proceeds from the event are donated to the athletic programs of UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz County high schools, Santa Cruz Track Club, Santa Cruz County Superkids Triathlon, Long Marine Lab and Santa Cruz Triathlon Association.