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Greetings!
Hail to the Red, White and Blue!
The 2010 Inaugural Celebration Sprint Triathlon is only 10 days away. CTA is excited to welcome you to this brand new race! We are preparing the venue and anticipate a great race with almost 2000 athletes.
Please read all the important information contained in this correspondence.
We look forward to seeing you on June 26-27th.
Celebrate LIFE... Yours, and Be Greater
Robert Vigorito
USAT Level 2, Event Director and President
Columbia Triathlon Association
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PLEASE AVOID THE CONGESTION ON RACE DAY BY TAKING THE FREE CTA SHUTTLE
CTA
will be providing three free shuttle buses to take athletes, family, friends
and volunteers to and from the host Sheraton Hotel to Centennial Park beginning
at 4:30 am on Sunday and running every 15 - 20 minutes up until 6:30 am. The first wave takes off at 6:45 am.
This shuttle is will continue to run from the hotel to the park and back to the
hotel continuously until 2pm every 20 minutes. The last bus will depart Centennial Park at 2 pm. The shuttle will allow for easy
transportation throughout the day without the need to drive into the busy park.
The race staff
and Howard County Police strongly encourage you to take the shuttle to
facilitate entrance to the park Sunday morning and to help avoid undue traffic
and race delays.
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PARKING:
If you
do drive to the park, all Parking is in the immediate grass area of Centennial
Park adjacent to MD RT 108 across from the Transition Area. If you decide to
drive rather than use the shuttle, plan on arriving early on Sunday morning to
find suitable parking. If you have
someone driving you, they MAY NOT stop in the driving lanes to drop you off.
There
is an overflow lot available on Centennial Lane, the north entrance to the
park. Tall light towers easily mark this lot. From here you can walk along the
running path beside the lake to the transition area. It is about a 10-minute
walk. Do not park in driveways, on private property or on church parking lots
adjacent to the park.
The Park entrance from MD RT 108
will close at 6:58 am.
Be smart and plan on morning traffic delays. Prepare to arrive earlier than you may have initially planned.
There are thousands of athletes and their fans attending this event. BE
THERE EARLY!! If you miss your
swim wave start, the clock is ticking!
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CELEBRATION HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO AND RACE
PACKET PICK UP
WHEN:
June 25, 2 pm - 7 pm and Saturday, June 26, 10:00 am - 7 pm
PLEASE NOTE: There is NO Sunday Packet Pick-up. All pre-registered entrants are
expected to attend packet pick up Friday or Saturday in person. This is due to insurance liability
requirements defined by the race insurance provider
WHERE:
at the host Hotel, The Sheraton Columbia Town Center in the Lobby and
the Lake View Ballrooms.
WHAT
TO BRING: All
participants MUST show a photo ID, and all USAT
annual members must show their membership
card. No Exceptions. No
proof of ID then No packets, No race.
A
unique wristband will be affixed at this time, which must remain on
through the end of the race.
RELAY TEAMS
PACKET PICK UP:
All
members of each and every team must pick up their packets either Friday or
Saturday in
person. The same requirements stated above pertain to relay team
members.
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SPECIAL NOTICE TO ATHLETES IN REGARD TO USAT CARDS FOR REGISTRATION
Athletes MUST bring proof of annual membership or purchase a
one-day permit. Athletes who do not bring/show proof of membership must
purchase a one-day license OR will not be allowed to race. Athletes who
forget their membership cards will have four options below:
- Go" back" and get your card.
- Print off a temporary membership card from the USAT web
site, www.usatriathlon.org. Showing it on your iPhone or BlackBerry
is acceptable also. Race staff members cannot pull up your USAT
information or allow you use of computers. Do not ask them to do so. - Purchase a $10.00 one-day license, payable only by
cash or check; no credit card purchase is permitted.
- Renew your annual membership online and bring proof of
renewal. Please
remember to pack your USAT membership card. Don't leave home without
it.
Please note that
all CTA events have the one day option as a part of the race entry fee
structure should you select that form of payment.
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TIMING:
NEW IPICO TIMING SYSTEM:
CTA has switched from ChampionChip timing to
IPICO timing. It is still a timing band that must be worn on either ankle
and will be given to you at packet pickup. If you have previously
registered with your own personal ChampionChip, you will NOTbe able to use it for the Columbia Triathlon. You MUSTuse the IPICO timing band.
TIME LIMITS:
SWIM:1 hour from the start of your wave.
TOTAL TIME TO COMPLETE THE TRIATHLON: 4 hours, 30 minutes from
the start of your wave.
SommerSports is the
official race timer of the CelebrationTriathlon. Results will be
available
after the race on www.tricolumbia.organd www.chiptimes.com.
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IMPORTANT RACE INFORMATION:
Please
open
the below links as they will answer the majority of your race related
questions.
GENERAL RACE INFORMATION:
http://www.tricolumbia.org/Sprint/race_info.php
FAQ'S:
http://www.tricolumbia.org/FAQ.pdf
COURSE MAPS:
We are
going GREEN. CTA will not have printed course
maps at packet pickup. Click on the link below to find the
course maps and you may print them yourself.
http://www.tricolumbia.org/Sprint/maps.php
ASI is the official photographer of all CTA events. Event Photos
will be available after the race.
You may find this link on the right hand sidebar of the Celebration Triathlon webpage after the event.
PRE-EVENT COURSE TALK:
The Sheraton Columbia Host Hotel, Columbia Town Center, Friday June 25, at 5:30pm and Saturday,
June 26 at 1pm and 5pm. See the marquee as you enter the hotel. This talk will
include key pointers about the race and include a question/answer session. You
should plan to be there for one of these!
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MANDATORY PRE-EVENT BIKE
SAFETY CHECKS:
AVOID THE CROWD
AND GET YOUR BIKE CHECK DONE EARLY. Checks can be done any time from now until June 26 at the Official Race Bike Support,
Princeton Sports and Travel, (410) 995-1894, 10730 Little Patuxent Parkway,
Columbia, MD 21044, or at their Baltimore location. You must bring your CPSC-certified helmet and your race day bike. The age of your helmet does not matter as
long as it is ANSI or CPSC approved and in good condition. You may also
have your bike inspected at the race site prior to racking your bike in the
Centennial Lake transition area beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 26,
after you complete the registration process at the hotel. However, we strongly
advise against waiting until the day before the race, as the lines tend to be
long, the weather could be inclement, your bike could need parts unavailable at
the park, or repairs could take longer than just a few minutes.
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MANDATORY
PRE-EVENT BIKE RACKING:
Saturday, June 26, 11 am to 8 pm ONLY at Centennial Park
All
bikes must be racked. To enter transition for racking you must be wearing the
security wristband received at packet pick up. Please note that the transition
area is RESTRICTED TO ATHLETES ONLY. Any accompanying friend, spouse, parent
or child WILL NOT BE ALLOWED into
the transition area. Please make
appropriate arrangements to have children supervised while you are racking your
bike. Once racked, your bike cannot be removed. Full security is
provided overnight. NO exceptions!
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SWIM COURSE, CURRENT CONDITIONS AND WETSUITS:
The fresh water, Centennial Lake swim course is 0.62 miles (1100 yards,) and is a rectangular route heading do east and making 2, 90' turns and heading due west for the finish.
As of Friday, June 18th, the water is 77.5 degrees F measured at 6:30 am. Based on current expected weather forecasts, the air temperatures are expected to exceed 85 degrees F. Wetsuits for Amateurs are allowed and encouraged under 78 degrees F. For Specific USAT Swimming Conduct Rules (Article IV, section 4.4) including wet suit rules click here.
Please note the following excerpts from these rules:
4.4 Wet suits. Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event
sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water
temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, age group participants may wear a wet
suit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wet suit within this temperature range
shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Age group participants shall not wear wet suits in water temperatures equal
to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The wetsuit policy for elite/pro athletes shall be determined by the USAT
Athletes Advisory Council. The AAC has set the wetsuit maximum temperature for elite/pros at 68 degrees for swim
distances less than 3000 meters and 71.6 degrees for distances of 3000 meters or greater.
4.9 Illegal Equipment. Any swimmer wearing any artificial propulsion device, including but not limited to fins,
gloves, paddles, or floating devices of any kind shall be disqualified.
NOTE: REGARDING THE USE OF A WETSUIT BY AMATEURS IN WATER 78-84 DEGREES - IF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT THE USE OF A WETSUIT WOULD CONSTITUTE A MEDICAL DANGER (HYPERTHERMIA), THE RACE DIRECTOR, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE MEDICAL TEAM, MAY STILL PROHIBIT THEIR USE.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP YOU SAFE WHILE PROVIDING A GREAT RACE EXPERIENCE.
For a complete list of USAT approved skinsuits and speedsuits for use in any water temperature go to
http://www.usatriathlon.org/resources/about-events/rules/approved-skinsuits-speedsuits
Please stay tuned to our website for water temperature updates. |
PLEASE RESPECT THE AREA:
PLEASE respect both the environment and the areas that
this event travels through. Do not drop trash anywhere other than aid
stations and use the portable toilets, not the neighborhoods.
Each year trash is left behind by athletes and their fans. There will also be BOTH Recycle
Containers and Trash Containers in and around the Transition area. We ask you
to use them for such discards.
The County and
Columbia Triathlon Association take pride in the designation of Centennial Park
as a trash free, "leave no trace" park. Help us to maintain this special
facility. We encourage you to take your trash with you
when you leave the park in order to protect the environment. Thank you for your
cooperation.
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RESPECT AND THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS:
Remember, use of
profanity or disrespect of any staff, volunteers or other officials there to
assist you in this event can be reason for a USAT official to disqualify you -
this includes packet pick up and the bike racking stages.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
LODGING/TRAVEL:
The Sheraton Columbia Hotel, located 2 miles from Centennial
Park (the race site) is the host hotel for The Celebration Sprint Triathlon and
is offering a special triathlon rate. For Reservations call: 1-800-325-3535
(local- 410-730-3900).
PHOTOGRAPHY:
ASI is the official
photographer of all CTA events. Event Photos will be available after the
race. You may find this link on the
right hand sidebar of the Celebration Triathlon webpage after the event.
The TriColumbia Kidz Triathlon takes
place on July 25th in Columbia, MD. Children ages 7-14 are welcome to
participate. For more information, please see our website
ChesapeakeMan Ultra
Distance Triathlon is still accepting entries for the full Iron Distance, the
Aqua-Velo and the Swim Only as well as our new event, the Skipjack Triathlon. Go
to our website for more information.
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Columbia Triathlon Association would
like to Thank and Welcome our sponsors for the Celebration Triathlon:
Gatorade, Coach Troy Jacobson and Spinervals,
Tyr, Xterra Wetsuits, Hammer Nutrition, David's Natural Market, Princeton
Sports, Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel
Please show your appreciation for
their support of our events by supporting them.
Thanks as well to Howard County Parks and Recreation.
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Team CTA wishes all of our Celebration Triathlon friends a great day, and glorious finish, See you there!
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