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2013 Columbia Triathlon Race Day Is Almost Here
Greetings!
 Race Day is almost here, and the 30th year of the Columbia Triathlon will be the best yet, packed with a spectacular pro field!
Packet Pickup and the Columbia Triathlon Health & Fitness Expo will take place on Friday May 17th, and Saturday May 18th at a new location, The Columbia Presbyterian Church located across Rt. 108 from the main entrance to the race venue, Centennial Park. We want to thank the Columbia Presbyterian Church community for welcoming us, and allowing us the use of their beautiful, newly renovated facility.
Please read the important information in this email and remember to download the 2013 Columbia Triathlon Athlete's Guide, and other resources located on the Columbia Triathlon webpage under "Key Race Info" and "Resources" to address questions or concerns you may have. Read on for information about a last minute swim practice opportunity, a road condition update, the pro meet & greet, how to book a pre-race massage, and the brand new TriColumbia iPhone app. The Centennial Lake water temperature was 66'F at 11 AM on May 13th. This will be a wetsuit swim. Neoprene booties are allowed, but no water shoes or gloves. If you need to speak to TriColumbia Staff on race day, please go to the TriColumbia Information Tent located near Swim Start. We look forward to welcoming you across the finish line! Celebrate Life! Kari Ebeling, COO, USAT Certified Level 1 Race Director & The TriColumbia Team |
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Important Race Information
Be sure to download all the important information about the 2013 Columbia Triathlon on our website under "key race info" and "resources".
- The Athletes Guide
- Course Maps
- Swim Waves
- Travel & Lodging Information (under resources tab)
Race Photography by Brightroom - Keep your race number visible & smile as you cross the finish line! Athlete photos will be available in the week following the event under the "results & photos" tab. Official timing provided by ARE Event Productions Inc. - results will be available post race on our website under the "results & photos" tab. And don't forget to attend one of the Pre-Race Course Talks, which provide important information about the race, and include a question and answer segment.
When: Friday, May 17, 2013, 5:00 pm
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm
Where: The Columbia Presbyterian Church 10001 Clarksville Pike (Rt. 108), Columbia, MD 21044 (across Rt.108 from the main entrance to the venue, Centennial Park) |
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Athlete Check-In, Packet Pickup, and Health & Fitness Expo
 When: Friday, May 17, 2013 from 2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Where: The Columbia Presbyterian Church
10001 Clarksville Pike (Rt. 108), Columbia, MD 21044 (across Rt. 108 from the
main entrance to Centennial Park)
Please note that there is NO RACE DAY CHECK-IN/PACKET PICKUP. All registered entrants, including all relay team members, MUST attend packet pickup on Friday or Saturday in person. Per USAT rules, each participant MUST pick up her/his own packet. If you do not check in during the designated check-in times in person, you will not be able to participate in the event.
All participants, including youth (17 and under) must bring the following to packet pickup:
- A photo ID
- USAT membership card to show proof of annual membership unless you purchased one-day USAT event insurance at the time you registered for the event.
Special Notice Regarding USAT membership cards for check-in
Athletes MUST bring proof of annual USAT membership or purchase one-day USAT event insurance. Failure to do so will disallow participation in the race. (Athletes may have purchased one-day event insurance at the time of registration. Staff will have a list of those one-day USAT participants at check-in.) Athletes who forget their USAT membership card will have the following options:
- Go to your home or hotel and retrieve your card.
- Print a temporary membership card from the USAT website, http://www.usatriathlon.org/
- Show a current membership card on a smart phone or PDA.
- Purchase one-day event insurance for $12.00 (Adult) or $10.00 (Youth) at the USAT desk at check-in. Payable by cash or check ONLY.
- Renew your annual membership at the USAT desk at check-in.
- Renew your annual membership online and bring proof of renewal.
Race staff and/or volunteers cannot search for USAT membership information or allow use of staff computers by athletes to retrieve information.
Please remember to pack your USAT membership card. Don't leave home without it!
Enjoy browsing the Health & Fitness Expo featuring Arctic Ease, Beyond Body Pads, BodyMason Performance Therapy, Boston Bill, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Competitor Group, EnduraFit, Feet First, Hammer Nutrition, ING Financial, Nutra Sport Pharmacy, Race Pace, Rack Jacket, Rip It Events, SportTech Spunkwear, Trinity Multisport, and TriSack offering the latest in running and health related gear and products.
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PLEASE AVOID THE CONGESTION ON RACE DAY BY TAKING THE FREE TRICOLUMBIA SHUTTLE
 There will be a free shuttle service to take athletes, family, friends and volunteers to and from The Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel and Centennial Park beginning at 4:30 am on Sunday and running continuously every 15-20 minutes until 2 pm. The shuttle bus stop will be on the east side of the main entrance to Centennial Park along Rt. 108. Please note that you will not be able to transport your bike and there are no pets permitted on the shuttle. Buses are NOT equipped with wheelchair lifts. If you pack a backpack, you can bike back to the Sheraton after the race to access your car.
Race Staff and Police strongly encourage use of the shuttle to facilitate entrance to the park and to help avoid traffic and race delays.
Parking at Centennial Park is EXTREMELY LIMITED. If someone will be driving you to the venue, they MAY NOT stop in the driving lane to drop you off. The Centennial Park entrance on MD Rt. 108 will close to vehicles at 6:35 am. Please plan on early morning traffic delays, and prepare to arrive earlier than you may have initially planned. There are thousands of athletes and their fans attending this event. Don't miss your swim wave - BE THERE EARLY! Transition will close at 6:40 am, just before the first swim wave, so be sure to arrive in time to get body marked and set up your gear in transition. Transition will open at 4:45 and body marking will begin at 5:00 am.
For more information including the schedule of events please download the Athlete's Guide under Key Race Info on our website.
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Mandatory Pre-Event Bike Racking
 All bikes must be racked on Saturday ONLY at the Transition Area in Centennial Park between the hours of 11:00 am - 8:00 pm. 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!
For a great way to protect your bike, check out the RackJacket below.
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Road Condition Update
As many are aware, Route 108 has been experiencing road construction recently. There may be lingering uneven pavement surfaces on the first outbound portion of Rt. 108. Updates will be provided at the course talks on Friday and Saturday. As always, please use caution while competing, and please drive the course to be sure you fully know the route and conditions.
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Meet & Greet the Pros
 You will be joined on the course by an amazing line up of professional triathletes; the 2013 field is stacked with nearly 40 Pros including the reigning Ironman World Champion and 70.3 Champion, Leanda Cave; the 2012 Men's Columbia Triathlon Champion and 2012 Toyota Cup Champion, Cameron Dye; 2013 Ironman New Zealand Champion, Double Olympic Medalist (Bronze- 2008 Beijing, Silver- 2004 Athens), and ITU World Champion, Bevan Docherty of New Zealand, and 4-time Ironman Champion with 49 Ironman total finishes, Meredith Kessler.
Join us for a unique opportunity to hear from these spectacular Columbia Triathlon Pros on topics such as the Columbia Triathlon race course, how the pro's prepare for events, what motivates them, etc. Bring your questions, and get advice and autographs.
Event: Meet & Greet The Pros
When: Saturday, May 18, 2013, 3:00 pm
Where: Columbia Presbyterian Church (packet pickup & expo location)
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Race Day Notes
Refreshments
Columbia Presbyterian Church will be supplying free coffee on race morning until 10 am. Stop by their tent in the park just down from the main entrance at Rt. 108 and grab a cup a joe. For more information on Columbia Presbyterian, visit their website.
After crossing the Columbia Triathlon finish line, you will be presented with a handsome finisher's medal, and are invited to proceed to the Celebration Village at the top of the hill to enjoy refreshments provided by David's Natural Market located in the Athlete's Food Tent. Please ask your family and fans to respect that food in the Food Tent is for athletes only. Food vendors will be on site to provide spectator refreshments.
 Post-Race Massage
TriColumbia will provide complementary massages on a first come, first served basis. Sports massages will be executed by BodyMason Performance Therapy. The massage tent will be located near the Food Tent.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony will begin at approximately 11:30 am at the post race celebration. Please note that the results posted at the event are for time purposes only and will not reflect Award Results. Those entered in the Athena or Clydesdale divisions may be required to weigh in to verify their eligibility at packet pick up and at the event. There may be challenges by other athletes at the Awards Ceremony.
 The 2013 Columbia Triathlon is a 5150 qualifying event. The top 15 in each age group are invited to race at the 2013 5150 Hy-Vee U.S. Championship on September 1, 2013 in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, those finishing in the top 5 in each age group are offered complementary entries into the 2013 5150 Hy-Vee U.S. Championship.
A HUGE thank you to ALL our 2013 Columbia Triathlon Sponsors, including Gatorade, Hammer Nutrition, Aqua Sphere, Princeton Sports, EnduraFit, Her Mind Magazine, Howard Magazine, Conscious Corner, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Rack Jacket, TriSpies, Spin 90 Cyling, TriFitness Training, Brightroom Photo, and MPT.
Thanks as well to our community supporters and volunteers including Howard County Police, Howard County Fire and Rescue, Howard County Recreation and Parks, Howard County General Hospital, and all our charity team, Tri Club and community partners who help make the event great!
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Bodymason Performance Therapy
In addition to providing massages on race day complements of TriColumbia, Bodymason will be in attendance during packet pickup hours to provide athlete paid sports massage services and will be hosting a "Cut the Line" raffle for their post race services on Sunday.
Pre-race massage pricing will be $45 for a 30 minute session. You may schedule and pre-pay for your sessions via e-mail to team@bodymason.com. Walk-up clients will also be welcome on a first come first served basis as spaces are available.
"Cut the Line" raffle tickets will be available at the Bodymason table during packet pick-up.
$1 - 1 entry
$5 - 6 entries
$10 - 15 entries.
They will be awarding 5 "Cut the Line Passes" for our post race sessions on Sunday. Winners will be notified via text message and announced prior to Sunday's race start.
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Announcing TriSpies Mobile App
 TriColumbia is excited to announce TriSpies as our Official Mobile Content Partner. As busy athletes, we know that many of you get news and information from your mobile devices. We've partnered with TriSpies to create the TriColumbia mobile app providing event news, course information including maps and videos, race schedules and information, live race day updates, photos, and results. Through the app you can share content with Friends on Facebook and Twitter, and opt-in to get timely alerts and notifications. Download the app today from the iTunes App Store.
Later this year, TriSpies will be launching their first mobile training app, providing virtual video training on actual race courses. Imagine training on the EagleMan flats or the Columbia Tri hills on cold, wet, wintery days from the comfort of your home or local gym. TriSpies course videos embedded with GPS data will allow you to do just that! |
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Training Opportunities - Open Water Swim Clinic on May 18th
 TriColumbia is pleased to endorse our training partners, Spin 90 and TriFitness Training, who provide clinics and training programs to prepare and support athletes at all levels for endurance events. Programs are designed to insure athletes participating in endurance events have a positive experience during the preparation stage as well as on race day. From Endurance Camps and Open Water Swim Clinics to Bike Clinics, our training partners are there to help you succeed.
Join TriFitness Training for an Open Water Swim Clinic at Gunpowder State Park to get comfortable in your wetsuit and be ready for Columbia the next day. Register HERE for the Open Water Swim Clinic |
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TriColumbia Protects The Environment
  TriColumbia and EnduraFit are pleased to present a revolutionary product, The Rack Jacket, an alternative to using trash bags to cover your bike. We fully embrace the "leave no trace behind" concept, and strive to eliminate litter produced at our events. You may also use an old swim cap to over your bike seat if you like. The Rack Jacket is the essential item for those of you who wish to protect your bike from the elements.
Key Benefits of the Rack Jacket are:
- Designed specifically for triathlon bike racks
- Made of highly water resistant ripstop nylon
- Environmentally friendly
- Reusable
- Cord locks and Velcro straps keep it securely fastened in windy conditions
- Reasonably priced
- Available in a variety of colors
- Team orders are welcome
EnduraFit is also excited to announce two new Rack Jacket products that are designed for use on your bike while on your car rack. These products are able to withstand any highway speeds over long or short distances, and are available for pre-order immediately. Both of these products are designed to keep moisture and road grime off of your bikes. Check them out at www.therackjacket.com
Click HERE to order
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Gatorade
 Train with what's on course!
Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink designed to sustain hydration during prolonged training and racing when fluid and electrolyte losses can be significant, and will be served along the Columbia Triathlon course. It contains nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and more than three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to help sustain hydration, maintain proper fluid balance and replace the critical electrolytes lost in sweat during these occasions.
Learn MORE
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Tell Us Your Inspirational Story
 Often participants become involved in endurance events as a way to overcome an obstacle, cope with a loss, provide a role model, forward a cause, or as a way to change their lives for the better. Why did you become involved? Where do you find your strength to compete? Do you race for a cause? How has your participation in endurance events changed your life? If you would like to share your story and inspire others, please send us an email with your inspirational story.
Barbara Karwoski Peck is racing in 2013 to celebrate the life of her fiancé who tragically passed away in March of 2012. He would turn 50 on May 17, 2013, so this is her way of honoring him, and all those like him who battle obesity and heart disease. She is thrilled to be involved in Columbia Triathlon.
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Please Respect The Area And Thank Our Volunteers
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. The County and Columbia Triathlon Association take pride in the designation of Centennial Park as a, "leave no trace" park. Help us to maintain this special facility. We encourage you to use trash receptacles and to take your trash with you when you leave the park in order to protect the environment.
Remember, the use of profanity or disrespect of any staff, volunteers or other officials who are there to assist you can be grounds for a USAT official to disqualify you - this includes packet pick up and the bike racking stages.
And don't forget to thank the many enthusiastic volunteers stationed throughout the race course and venue. Our volunteers are comprised of many charity and community groups as well as individuals who simply enjoy helping out. We would be unable to provide events such as this one without their capable assistance! If you would like to help out with this or any of our other events, simply visit our website and let us know.
Thank you for your cooperation! |
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Follow All The Excitement On Race Day With TriColumbia TriLights, Facebok and TriColumbia TriSpies
 Once again, TriColumbia will be live blogging all the race excitement. Friends and family can follow the race on our website. Go to Tricolumbia.org, and click on the TriLights Drop Down under the News tab. Mobile users can follow along using the TriSpies App or check out the TriColumbia Facebook page for updates as well.
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2013 Event Schedule
April 28, 2013 - Athleta Iron Girl Columbia 1/2 Marathon & Coed 5K - benefiting Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center - Thanks for racing with us! Join us next year.
First in the Iron Girl Triple Crown Event Series - Named a "Best Women's Event" by Competitor Mid-Atlantic
Also sponsored by Her Mind Magazine, Mix 106.5 FM, Lisa Hussman Foundation, Howard Magazine, Safeway, and Polar
May 19, 2013 - Columbia Triathlon - benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Maryland Chapter - Registration is closed.
30th year and a 5150 qualifying event
Also sponsored by Conscious Corner, Her Mind Magazine, Howard Magazine, and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School June 1, 2013 - Rocky Gap Triathlon - Sprint and International distance events offered - benefiting the Cumberland YMCA - REGISTER VIA THE WAITING LIST TODAY AND WE WILL LET YOU IN
June 9, 2013 - Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon & Aquabike - Registration is CLOSED
**The EagleMan 2013 Aquabike has been named by the USAT Mid Atlantic Regional Committee as the 2013 Regional Championship.
Also sponsored by Heat 106.3 FM, and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
June 23, 2013 - Celebrating Heroes Triathlon - Registration is OPEN BUT CLOSING SOON!
Also sponsored by Her Mind Magazine, Howard Magazine and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
July 21, 2013 - TriColumbia Kidz Triathlon - Registration is OPEN - GET YOUR KIDS OFF THE COUCH!
Also sponsored by Her Mind Magazine, Maryland Family Magazine, and Road Runner Sports
August 18, 2013 - Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon - Registration is CLOSED. Options for entry are to join a charity team.
Second event in the Iron Girl Triple Crown Event Series - Named a "Best Women's Event" by Competitor Mid-Atlantic
Also sponsored by Her Mind Magazine, Howard Magazine, Polar, and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
September 8, 2013 - Iron Girl Rocky Gap Triathlon - Registration is OPEN
Third event in the Iron Girl Triple Crown Event Series
Also sponsored by Her Mind Magazine
September 21, 2013 - ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic featuring the Ultra Distance Triathlon, Skipjack 75.2 Triathlon, Aquabike & Bugeye Classic (intermediate distance) Newly added events for 2013 are the SwimFest, Moonlight Marathon and ChesapeakeMan 10 miler.
** The ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon has been designated as the 2013 USAT Mid Atlantic Championship and was named by Triathlete Magazine as a "Best 140.6" - Registration is OPEN
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FIND US ON THE WEB
Columbia Triathlon Association is now on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Please join us on these site for daily updates, special offers, and race reports.
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