A Day In The Lakes Triathlon

Registration

Registration will be in the marquee on the triathlon field Saturday between 3-5pm. There will be emergency registration only on the Sunday morning time, see current briefing notes. Sunday will be a long day for athletes and marshals alike so we need to get started promptly. If you can’t register on the Saturday please arrive in good time on Sunday registration opening at 0700. I

f you paid the lower BTF members entry fee you must produce your current BTF race licence. If not then you will need to pay an extra £5 for a day licence. This is for insurance purposes. If we are not happy you have valid insurance we can’t let you race, so no arguments on this please. If you are not a British Triathlon member and have paid the non BTF member entry fee you will be issued with a BT day license via email before race day.

At registration you will receive, race numbers, bike tag and any other race goodies.

Please check that you have been given the correct timing chip – it should have the same number on it as your race number.

Numbers

You will be issued with 2 bib numbers, a bike number. One number is to be displayed to the front for the run and the other to the rear for the cycle section. You can use race belts but please ensure your number is clearly displayed as above. Do not pin the middle of your number to the belt as it will fold in half and be impossible to read. Race number needs to be visible for the benefit of race officials and time keepers. Please write your emergency contact details on the back of your race number. If you have any medical conditions you feel that they are relevant to the race please write these on the back of both race numbers. The bike number  must be attached around your bike seat pillar prior to taking your bike into transition. Your bib number will be checked against your bike number when removing your bike from transition.

Timing Chip

You will be given a timing chip and neoprene ankle strap at registration. Please immediately attach the chip to the strap. If you find that you have to force it on you are doing it incorrectly, please ask rather than damage the strap. Put it on as soon as you are issued with it at registration. If you leave it in your car, house, kit bag etc you won’t get a time.

Car Parking

£5 fee must be paid in advance to Park Foot Campsite. Please ring 017684 86309 to leave details of your vehicle and pay for parking. If you are camping then you do not need to pay extra for car parking.

You must park in the designated triathlon field. Please do not park elsewhere on the camp site. Parking on Howtown road is not permitted as this will jeopardise safety, upset local residents and generate complaints to local police. There is a massive amount of room in the triathlon field and you couldn’t get closer. The entrance into the car park will be from Howtown Rd via the first right turn, this however is a very blind turn back out onto the road so you will not be allowed to leave this way, please leave the car park by going out into the main part of the campsite and out on the main track, as shown on the transition plan.

Important note for spectators and supporters  –  For safety reasons you will not be able to take your car out of the car park until the last competitor has cleared the swim/bike transition (T1). If you do take your car from the car park you will then not be able to return it there until the last competitor has cleared the bike/run transition (T2)

Safety Briefing

This will take place in the transition area prior to the start of the races and is compulsory for all entrants, the race briefing will cover route and discipline reminders and any last minute changes which have been made. Attendance is important. Time will be tight, be in your wetsuit and ready to get in the water immediately the brief finishes.

Camping and caravan facilities are first rate. Please book directly with Park Foot Campsite. If you do plan to camp please use in the field set aside for the triathlon as indicated on the plan. You will need to be up early on race day and it is unfair to disturb other campers not connected with the race. This field should also be quieter the night before. Before pitching please register and pay at the main site reception. Inform them that you are with the triathlon and they will direct you to the appropriate area. Park Foot have a minimum two nights booking policy for weekends during the summer months.

Please be aware, Park Foot is a large camp site and is occasionally targeted by traveling criminals. Do not leave equipment, bikes etc, insecure in or on vehicles unattended. In general if you see something you are not happy about make a note and report it to the local police.

Transition Area

The transition area is strictly for competitors and officials only. This is for safety and security.

There is a toilet block in the transition field. There are also toilets and showers on the adjoining camping field about 400m from transition. There are also lots of excellent toilets and showering facilities on the main campsite on the opposite side of Howtown Rd which we can use. Plan ahead if possible, five minutes before the safety brief is not the best time to start thinking about it.

Wetsuit Cleaning. Important

Before arriving at the race please ensure that your wetsuit is cleaned and dried from your previous swim. We ask you to do this to prevent the spread of waterborne non-native invasive species.

Please click here to find out why this is so important and what you need to do.

We have to obtain permission from Natural England to hold the swim element of this event in Ullswater as it is a SSSI. The consent is given only on condition that we ensure that any items taken into the lake are washed prior to leaving the site. There will be a wetsuit washing area in the transition. You must take your wetsuit, hat and goggles to be washed before leaving the transition area after the race. Also take your race number, once your wetsuit has been washed to the satisfaction of the steward your number will be endorsed. You may then take your wetsuit along with all other equipment out of the transition area. Basically we kidnap your bike until your wetsuit is cleaned.

Please be aware that waterborne non-native invasive species are a real problem. Please take some time to read this leaflet and ensure that your wetsuit is clean and dry before you arrive at Glenridding.

Health & Hygiene

There are simple practises that swimmers should be advised to adopt to minimise the risk of infections further:

• Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with sticking plasters. You should not consider swimming if you have deep cuts.
• Wash hands in fresh water before eating after you have swum.
• Take a full shower at the earliest opportunity.
• Try not to ingest water whilst swimming.

Cut-Off Times – Long Race Only

It is our intention to give everyone who can finish the course the opportunity to do so, however it is unreasonable to expect marshals to stay on their posts for an indefinite period. You should be aware that if you pass a particular point after the cut-off time you will be doing so in the knowledge that there will be no further marshal assistance and that you do so entirely at your own risk. You will be instructed to remove your chip and marked as DNF.
Cycle Route
– End of cycle lap 1, 24 miles, 11.30
– Transition 2 end of bike 13.45

Run Route
– Aid Station 1, 5.5.miles, 15:45:00

Relay Teams

Your timing chip will be your ‘baton’. The swimmer must wear the chip around their ankle. Changeover will be at the bike racking point. The cyclist may be helmeted and ready to go, but the bike must remain racked until they have received and securely fastened the timing chip to their ankle. On returning the cyclist must rack their bike before removing the timing chip. They then hand it to the runner for  who must attach it to their ankle before setting off from the bike racking point. If the chip is carried in any other way than on the ankle of the active participant the team will be disqualified.

AquaBike 1/2 Iron Distance Only

All AquaBikers will be in the Half Iron Distance swim start. Swim and bike sections will be as in the triathlon. At the conclusion of the cycle section do not return into transition. There will be a section of bike racking just after the cycle dismount point on the run-in to the finish. Rack your bike here then run under the finish arch to finish. Once you have had your timing chip removed and recovered sufficiently please collect your bike from the racking as it’s security cannot be guaranteed.

Road Safety

You are responsible for your own safety. The roads will not be closed and there are no exceptions to normal road traffic regulations. Marshals cannot stop traffic, they are there purely there to indicate the route. Please take particular care on the narrower roads and the road between Pooley Bridge and the event site as this can be busy and may also have runners on it.

It is strongly advised that you have a working rear bike light.

Run Safety

In previous editions of this race we insisted that you bring a run bag with you containing various items of safety equipment. The run route has now changed and does not go as high into the fells as before. Although we do not now insist that you have a run bag in case of poor weather we highly recommend that you have some means to take weather protective clothing with you. Shoes suitable for mixed surface running are recommended.

Safeguarding

Everyone who participates in Triathlon is entitled to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.

There will be a designated safeguarding officer at the event. If you have any concerns relating to safeguarding please contact the Event Control caravan and they will arrange for the safeguarding officer to contact you.

British Triathlon Policy

Contingency

There are countless scenarios which may cause a change to the planned arrangements for any race and it is not possible to list them all. However the more foreseeable are: Swim; There are very many reasons that may cause the swim to have to be cancelled. If that is the case then a preliminary run will be held to separate competitors before they take to their bikes.  Cycle: If part of the cycle course becomes unsuitable then an alternative course will be considered. Run: If any part of the run route becomes unsuitable then an alternative route or diversion around the affected part of the route will be considered.

ANY CHANGES TO THE PLANNED FORMAT OR ROUTE WILL BE POSTED IN THE RACE BRIEFING NOTES AS SOON AS THEY ARE KNOWN.