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Triathlon: 500Y Swim, 10M Bike, 5K Run    Duathlon: 2.5K Run, 10M Bike, 5K Run    Aquabike: 500Y Swim 10M Bike

Richland Village Drug

2012 Race Date
 Saturday, August 4
10th Anniversary

Quick review of the most important items to keep in mind.

Timeline

No packet pickup on Friday, August 5***(see below)

No race day registration

Parking - Please review the parking map. Follow the guidance provided by our great parking coordinators.

All triathletes must bring photo ID to check-in
All USAT annual members must also bring proof of annual membership - card, key fob, printout from USAT web site.  If you do not bring proof of annual membership - you must cover the single day USAT license fee. No exceptions.

Relays - you must check in as a group.

Athlete check-in at Fitness Center - Saturday August 6
6:00 a.m.- 7:30 am Triathlon check-in at Fitness Center - Saturday August 6
6:45  - 7:45 am 5K Run/Walk check in
Best recommendation - arrive early! We start on time.
7:45 First triathlon wave takes off at 7:45  
Wave assignments will be posted race morning.
8:15 (approximate) 5K Run/Walk starts -  just as the first triathletes are coming in off the bike.

Check-in basics

Event shirts - will be available to pick up at check-in for all athletes who registered by the early cutoff at noon on July 21. We cannot substitute sizes. A second order for shirts will go in post race for remaining athletes. You will be notified when your shirt will be ready for pickup at Shermanator Sponsor Gazelle Sports approximately 2 1/2 weeks post race.

Arrive early.  Time has a way of getting away from you real fast.

Don’t plan on arriving on site at 7:15 and having enough time to get checked in, and then make it to transition in time.

This race starts on time and will not be delayed for late arriving athletes.

USAT Age Up Policy
Triathletes race based on your age as of December 31st. Some of you will be “aging up”. Example - you are 29 on race date, August 6, so you are thinking you are in the 25-29 age group. But your 30th birthday is  August 10th. You age up into the 30-34 age group.

Transition area

Racks are not assigned for individual athletes. 8 bikes minimum per rack. It is tight but easily managed. Rack by the nose of the saddle. Your transition spot needs to be kept tight. This is not the time or place to spread out like a picnic.

Relays  You must rack at one of the assigned racks. Your chip handoff spot is at your rack location. You are responsible for making sure you are in place. When handing off the strap and chip, make sure the chip stays intact with the strap.

Swim course

There will be 8-10 certified lifeguards on boards and in kayaks surrounding the swim course to help guide you and ready to assist if necessary.  We also have the Kalamazoo County Water Safety and Rescue Association on hand providing additional safety assistance along the swim course.

Wave assignments

You must start in your assigned wave.  Wave assignments will be posted at the check-in race morning and we’ll remind you at the waterfront. We will go with a minimum 5 minute separation between waves.

Water temperature/westuits

Water temperature in Sherman Lake continues to hover in the 80’s.  There is little chance wetsuits will be allowed - at all.

Swim Caps

You must use the cap we provide. The caps are latex. If this poses a medical problem, you may bring your own cap but we need you to check in with us at the waterfront regarding that.

Bike course

Debris has been cleared and the course is ready. Watch the rough pavement section along 39th after leaving the YMCA and just before your right turn onto “G” Ave. Pick your line well and you will be in good shape.

Two motorcycles will be on the course monitoring drafting. One will be carrying our USAT official.  You may not draft. Stay to the right and only pass on the left. When you pass, do just that. No riding two or three abreast.

Penalties or a DQ are no fun. Stay safe. Ride like your life and that of everyone else around you depends on you.

Run course

You start right out of transition, (or in the case of the 5K Run/Walk, alongside transition) with a notable uphill grade for about 200 yards along a paved path.
This entire paved path section is marked with orange arrows on the pavement to guide you up the hill and out to the gravel roadway. Here’s an example of how that looks.

Orange safety cones are placed in the middle of the gravel roadway taking you around the main parking area for the race and then out onto 38th St. Please stay right of those outbound to 38th and inbound from 38th.

If you bring your own gel or supplements, please hold on to wrappers to dispose of post race, or drop them by an aid station.

Two aid stations on the run at the approximate 1 and 2 mile marks. Water only is available at the aid stations.

BTW - after making the second turnaround on 38th near “G” Ave., A family living along the course may not remember to bring in their dog. It likes to run out from around their home and huff and puff and then stop about 20 feet from the pavement. It is harmless. It just loves to play and make folks jump when it comes running around. Don’t be alarmed.

Post race

We will have post race refreshments for you close to the transition area.

The YMCA Recreation Center will remain open until noon for you to shower and change if you like. Please bring your own towel and lock.

Awards presentation gets underway as soon as we can, typically close to 10:00 a.m.

Results will be posted on a board for your quick review and then please make room for everyone else. If anything looks out of place, that is the time to speak up before we begin the awards presentation.

Results files will also be posted here on the event web site either later in the day on Saturday or Sunday at the latest.

Race Photos

A crew from Fast Photo Pro will again be at the Shermanator.  They do a great job of capturing the essence of the event for you. Figure on a couple days for them to compile thousands of images and get them posted at their site. You may also sign up at the FPP web site to be notified when this year’s Shermanatorevent shots are ready. You may also enter Shermanator in the search mode to view the last two year’s images.

Spectators and general notes

Spectators are always welcome. Our space is tight for viewing however. And there are relatively narrow pathways with moderate hills that must be negotiated to get to the waterfront and finish line area. Please schedule and plan accordingly.

Spectators absolutely must yield and stay out of the way of athletes on the course pathways within the YMCA.

We will have a limited amount of bottled water available near transition for spectators to purchase.

We all love dogs - but they are out of place at a multisport event. Please make other arrangements for your pets race morning. They are not allowed on site.

The Sherman Lake YMCA is a smoke free facility.

National Championship Qualification

The 2011 USAT National Sprint Championship event is in Burlington. Vt., on August 20. (Unfortunately it is already sold out but there is a waiting list)

Top finishers at the Shermanator qualify for the national title event.

Minimally, the top 10 percent, or top finisher (whichever is greater) in each age group are automatically qualified for the USAT National title event. Additionally, if there are 25 athletes in an age group, the top 3 qualify.  For full details and the national event schedule, check here.  

Questions?  Ask away. Now would be the time.

RD Jim Mishler  rdirector@shermanatortri.org    269-978-2437

Athlete Update #3   see Athlete Update #1

*** Multisport legend Sally Edwards is in Kalamazoo Friday, the 5th, hosted by Shermanator sponsor Gazelle Sports.  A great opportunity to spend time with one of the great athletes of our time.

see Athlete Update #2