2013 Date t.b.a, Lake Perris, California, USA

Home FAQ Triathlon Manual Overall Results 2011 Age Results 2011 Bike Route Transition Zone Mail In Form 2011 Photos Accomodations My First Tri Introduction My Next Tri Introduction Stories of Inspiration Scott Rigsby James Hicks Frequently Asked Questions about My First Triathlon Swim | Swim to Cycle Transition Zone | Bike | Bike to Run Transition Zone | Run | Finish/Results | General Race Questions | Volunteering Legend: Q = Question, A1 = Answer, A2 = Next answer, etc. The Swim Q: How far is a 1/4 mile? A1: Hmm…. A2: Eight lengths of a fifty meter pool or four laps. A3: Sixteen lengths or eight laps of a twenty five meter pool. A4: Four lengths of a football field. Q: What is the difference between a length and a lap? A1: Hmm…. A2: A length is from one end of the pool to the other; a lap is to the other end of the pool and back. When you do swim workouts, some will coach using laps, others using lengths, and others telling you the distance, then you have to do the math. Q: What swim stroke should I use? A1: It doesn’t matter. Although the front crawl is the quickest and most efficient, backstroke and breaststroke are more relaxing, and are considered as “rest” strokes. Q: What if I panic in the water? A1: Roll over on your back, and make sure your head is well out of the water. Slowly take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. A2: Force yourself to smile, and your body will naturally feel better. A3: Hum your favorite tune, but avoid theme tunes from the following movies: “Titanic”, “Jaws”, or “Halloween”. Good themes to hum to are: “Top Gun”, “The Entertainer”, or any song from “The Sound of Music” or “The Wizard of Oz”. Q: Do I need a wetsuit? A1: No! Most My First Triathlons are in 70+ degree water. Q: Can I wear a wetsuit? A1: Yes. Although the time you save by being faster in the water will be lost trying to get the wetsuit off after the swim. Q: Does a wetsuit help your swim faster? A1: Yes. You float better. Q: Will other swimmers collide with me during My First Triathlon? A1: No. All My First Triathlons have a nice wide swimming channel with lots of room for all the athletes. Generally there is less congestion than at your local pool. Q: Do we all start at the same time? A1: No. Athletes go in waves of 30-50 depending on swimming ability. Q: How do we know which wave to swim in? A1: When you check in at registration, you will be asked approximately how long it will take you to swim. At that time, you’ll be put in a wave that reflects your time. Don’t worry too much about which wave you’re in. The swim course is so wide open there is little chance of hitting other faster swimmers. If you think you are in too fast of a wave, just jump in after everyone else. Q: How long will it take me to swim 1/4 Mile? A1: Slower swimmers will take between 15-30 minutes. A2: Faster swimmers will take between 10-15 minutes. Swim to Cycle Transition Zone Q: What is the Swim to Cycle transition zone? A1: The Swim to Cycle transition zone is the area that you place your bike: usually a bike rack, or sometimes a designated area on the lawn. At this point you may drop off your swimming gear, goggles and swim cap (both optional) and jump on your bike. In most cases, this is also the Bike to Run transition zone where you leave your running shoes as well. Bike Q: How far is 12 Miles? A1: Hmm.... A2: Approximately 20 Kilometers. A2: Go for a bike ride and when you pass three different Subway's or McDonalds’, you’ve probably ridden 12 miles. Distances may very depending on location. Q: Do I need to shave my legs? A1: It’s up to you. We had a whole paragraph on this question but edited it for political correctness. Q: Why do cyclist shave their legs? A1: When athletes fall off their bikes and scrape their legs, apparently the hair doesn’t get all messed up with the injured skin and it heals better. A2: Some athletes think their legs look better and they use the excuse that it’s for the reasons listed above. On the other hand, if you skid hard enough to cause bleeding most of your hair will be scraped off anyway. Q: Do I need a new bike? A1: No. As long as your bike works (remove response A1 if your are Under 15 and trying to convince your parents to buy you a new bike, or if you are trying to convince your spouse to allow you to dip into your children's college fund, substitute A2. Good Luck!) A2: Yes. A new bike is required for optimum performance. Q: Do I need special bike shoes? A1: No. Running shoes and regualar pedals for the bike are all that is required. (See above if you are trying to upgrade.) A2: Yes. Special bike shoes and clips hold your feet in place for more efficient cycling,. Note: Bike shoes will help you go a little faster, but the time you save may be lost fumbling in the transition zone while changing from bike shoes to runners. Q: Should I use a Mountain or a Road Bike? A1: It doesn’t matter. Most My First Triathlon routes are pancake flat, so a road bike will go a little faster but a Mountain bike lets your view the scenery better. It is also fun passing a road biker when you are on a mountain bike. Q: What tires should I use? A1: The smoother the tires the better. Most bike shops carry smooth tires for both mountain and road bikes. Q: Do I need to wear a bike helmet? A1: Yes. In most areas that My First Triathlons are held, it’s the law to wear a bike helmet. Q: What if the local laws do not require a helmet? A1: Stop being difficult. You still need to wear a helmet. Q: What type of helmet is required? A1: ANSI or SNEL Approved helmets. Q: What is ANSI or SNEL Approved mean? A1: We think ANSI stands for American National Safety Institute; and SNEL, who knows. A2: Even though we’re not exactly sure what the names are short for, we do know that all major bike helmet manufacturing companies adhere to a strict set of guidelines set out by the above organizations. A3: They strap bike helmets onto watermelons and drop them while recording the results. Q: When do I need to wear my helmet? A1: Your helmet must be worn at all times. This includes having the chin strap done up the moment you mount your bike, until after you get off your bike. This is usually done at the transition zone. Q: How close can I ride to the other competitors? A1: Athletes should keep at least two full bike lengths away from other cyclists. This is for both safety reasons and fairness, as the cyclist will pick up an unfair advantage by riding close to another rider. Q: How long will it take me to ride 12 Miles? A1: 35-60 minutes for slower competitors. A2: 25-35 minutes for faster competitors. The Bike to Run Transition Zone Q: What is the Bike to Run transition zone? A1: This is the area where you leave your bike and put on your running shoes. At most My First Triathlons, the Bike to Run transition zone is located at the same location as the Swim to Bike transition zone. Q: Where do I drop off my bike? A: In most cases, at the same place you picked it up after the swim. Q: Am I responsible to put my bike back on the bike rack? A1: Yes. Unless you are on a designated area on the lawn. Either way, you must put your bike back in the same spot. Run Q: How far is 3 Miles? A1: Hmm…. A2: Remember the time your ran out of gas during your spring camping trip. A3: Approximately 5 KM. Q: Can I walk? A1: Yes. Any form of locomotion: running, walking or crawling is acceptable. Q: How long can I spend at the Aid Stations? A1: As long as you want. Q: How long will it take me to run 3 Miles? A1: 25-35 minutes for slower competitors. A2: 15-25 minutes for faster competitors. The Finish/Results Q: What do I need to remember when I finish? A1: If the event is timed using a chip transponder, then you must remove the chip and hand it in at the finish line (after crossing the finish line). A2: If the event is timed using just your race bib and a clock, ensure that the tear off stub at the bottom goes to the timing people at the finish line. A3: Smile A4: Step away from the finish line so others can cross. Q: When do I see the results from the race? A1: Most events will have the results posted within an hour or so after the last competitor has finished.In some cases, they are posted as soon as the last competitor crosses the finish line. Keep in mind that results can take awhile to tabulate. Most events will have the results posted on the Internet within a day or so. Q: If I stand next to the timing people at the end of the race, will the results be done quicker? A1: No. In fact the timing people are trying to spot your number so they can add a couple of minutes to your time, and blame it on the software program. A2: Do you like it when 50 people stand around and watch you work hard while trying to tabulate huge volumes of numbers? This being done with music blaring and the sun beating down in your face? General Race Questions Q: Are The My First Triathlon distances standard? A1: The My First Triathlon is considered a Sprint Distance Triathlon. Q: What distance of race would be good to do after finishing My First Triathlon? A1: Doing a couple more races of similar distance is recommended. Completing a triathlon is about attaining a certain fitness level, and then maintaining that level. Competing in a triathlon on a regular basis helps you maintain a certain fitness level. Q: What specific races are recommended after doing My First Triathlon? A1: My Next Triathlon where athletes are awarded based on their time improvement from their original time at My First Triathlon. Events are on the same weekends as the My First Triathlons and are open to all athletes. A2: For those athletes living close to Riverside County visit the website for Active.com Volunteering Q: How can I volunteer for a triathlon? A: Email the volunteer coordinator art Volunteer@Triathlons.net Lake Perris Triathlon Festival 2011 My First & My Next Triathlon at Lake Perris, Moreno Valley & Perris, California My Next Triathlon starts at 9:45 AM My First Triathlon starts at 10:00 AM Registration and Package Pick up Check in at Lake Perris between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM My First & My Next Triathlon June 18th My First Triathlon -Exclusive to first timers, no experience allowed! My Next Triathlon -Everyone Welcome Two events on each day My Next Triathlon starts 15 ahead of the My First Triathlon, this provides the first timers with a chance to chase down the my nexters and puts a little more pressure on the my nexters to stay ahead of the first timers. Swim Course Swim ¼ mile along the shores of Lake Perris, athletes who feel tired or nervous can swim along the shore in waist deep water enabling them to stand up and take a break during the swim. Bike Course Bike 12 miles total shared with local traffic so be aware and ride with care. There is one steep hill towards the end of the bike course, athletes may stop and walk. Run Course Run 3 miles out and back from the transition zone pancake flat. Age Considerations Those athletes under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult during the entire event. Age Group Awards Gold, Silver, Bronze Male and Female U10, 11-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+ Most Improved Athlete Award This award is given to the top three males and females overall who improved their time the most from one year to the next as well as when they first competed in My First Triathlon. A total of 12 awards will be given in this category; Gold Silver and Bronze representing First, Second and Third for both male and female divisions. The Margaret Finnerty Determination Award In 2008 at the age of 75 Margaret Finnerty of Athens Georgia decided to compete in a My First Triathlon. She finished the 400 meter swim then started cycling the 12 mike bike, part way through the bike event she tumbled off her bike and was unable to finish the event. The attending paramedics wanted to take Margaret to the hospital, however she insisted they take her back to the finish area of the event to make sure she could personally let the race official know that she was coming back in 2009 to finish what she had started. Sure enough in 2009 at the age of 76 Margaret finished My First Triathlon and subsequently came back in 2010 to do My Next Triathlon. Starting in 2011 The Margaret Finnerty Determination Award will be given to a deserving athlete who shows perseverance while competing in the sport of triathlon. James Hicks Award This award is given to the athlete(s) who have shown enormous determination in overcoming a seeming insurmountable obstacle to participate in My First or My Next Triathlon. James Hicks of Spokane Washington lost over 350 pounds training for My First Triathlon, his original weight was close to 600 pounds, it took him two years. My First Triathlon Introduction Welcome to My First Triathlon, a triathlon exclusively for first timers. Avoid the intimidation factor as you and hundreds of your friends take the plunge for the first time. Due to overwhelming popularity, the 2011 My First Triathlon is being introduced to venues all across the United States. Athletes begin with an easy 1/4 mile swim at the beach, they will then mount their bikes for a 12 mile ride which is comprised of one loop starting and finishing at Lake Perris. The run routes take athletes out and back from the same transition zone as the swim to bike transition zone located at Lake Perris. The finish lines are also located at the transition zone. Grab a friend and start training as this race only comes once a year to Southern California. The event is designed specifically to attract new athletes to the sport of triathlon. Many first time triathletes have gone on to compete in races around the world. Whether you are planning a career as a professional triathlete or just want to get a race under your belt and see what the sport is all about, My First Triathlon is for you. This is a triathlon you can only do once, and once you graduate you will be captured by the allure of pushing yourself to the limits. Training for My First Triathlon is simple, it just takes a little time commitment. Jump in the pool, swim a few laps, then jump on your bike, ride a couple of miles and then go for a short run afterwards. If you feel tired, Stop. Go have a beer, go to work, watch TV, or phone a friend. If you feel good, keep going and keep increasing the distances week by week. If you get too busy with work, and take a few days or a week off training, so what. The key is to slowly incorporate training into your lifestyle. Remember Triathlons are fun! If you follow a regular training schedule, you will just naturally get faster. Our simple diet and training program. Eat less food and exercise three times a week. Have fun training and we’ll see you at My First Triathlon… My Next Triathlon Introduction Welcome to My Next Triathlon, a triathlon for athletes who want to compete again in My First Triathlon, but are not allowed. Avoid the intimidation factor as you and hundreds of your friends return to take the plunge for the second time to try and improve on your previous My First Triathlon time. Spawned by the success of My First Triathlon, My Next Triathlon invites athletes back to better their time and see how all their other My First Triathlon friends are doing. The 1/4 mile swim will be along the shoreline at Lake Perris. After the swim athletes will mount their bikes for a 12 mile ride which is comprised of one loop finishing back at the transition zone. The run route takes athletes out and back from the same transition zone as the swim to bike transition zone. The finish line is also located at the transition zone. Grab a friend and start training as this race only comes once to Southern California. My Next Triathlon is designed specifically to encourage new athletes to the sport of triathlon and keep the My First Triathletes racing. My Next Triathlon is also to stop young women from getting married to change their last name so they can compete in My First Triathlon again. See you at Lake Perris! World Endurance Sport “Live Outdoor Event” Notice “Live Outdoor Event” World Endurance Sport takes every effort possible to ensure your safety during this event with professional staff at all key locations. The event is primarily supported by volunteers from the community, please be mindful of their efforts. The event is taking place on public streets and we are guests of the community, be courteous at all times to other athletes, especially to members of the public. We are all ambassadors to the sport of triathlon. Important Regulations Mobile Listening Device Prohibition Any device that impairs an athletes’ ability to communicate with other athletes or race officials is strictly prohibited. Mandatory Helmet Requirement Athletes must wear a bike helmet with chin strap secured at any time while riding their bicycle before during and after the event. Athletes who disobey these regulations will be asked to withdraw from the event. Copyright 2011 - World Endurance Sport