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BRAINTREE DISTRICT TRIATHLON
(BTF Sanctioned)
Halstead Leisure Centre, Halstead
Sunday 9th June 2013
The Braintree District Triathlon is in its sixth year at the Halstead Leisure
Centre, Colne Road, Halstead. The previous races have been a great
success and we aim to make this years even better.
The race incorporates a 400m pool swim, followed by a 21km cycle ride on
a rural single lap course, finishing with a 5km run on paths and grassland,
finishing at the leisure centre.
Estimated start times will be posted after the event closing date.
Please note that due to site security changes at the venue, the run course has
now been considerably revised.
Please read the following notes carefully, to assist you on race day.
How to find us:
The leisure centre is in Colne Road ¼ mile north of Halstead, accessed from the A131
Halstead to Sudbury Road. Look out for the bike route signs and they will take you
there.
Halstead Leisure Centre
Colne Road,
Halstead,
Essex,
CO9 2HR
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Parking
Parking at the centre is limited and they want to allow access for their staff and other
customers. We have arranged plenty of parking in a field on the opposite side of Colne
road, please just follow the signs. This is a grass car park so take care if the ground is
soft. Please do not park in Colne Road, it’s the bike route and yours and fellow
competitors parking may disrupt your own race.
Registration: Registration will open at 06.00am and will take place adjacent to the
transition area to the rear of the leisure centre. Please allow plenty of time to ensure you
are registered by race briefing at 7.40am. This is to ensure we limit event traffic in Colne
Road, previously, late arrivals were trying to park in conflict with the racers on the bike
course. Sorry if you have a wait for your start time but maybe you can encourage some
of the earlier athletes.
BTF Home Nation members will be required to produce their current race licence. If it is
not produced a day licence will need to be purchased. You will be provided with your
race numbers, chip, body marking and a goody bag.
The race is very popular and there will be no entries on the day.
BRAINTREE CHIROPRACTIC and BACK PAIN CLINIC
We are pleased to have members of the BRAINTREE CHIROPRACTIC and BACK PAIN
CLINIC at the race. They will be providing pre and post race massage and offering
advice and treatment for any other injuries you may experience during or after the race.
They will also be available to offer advice and guidance on those long standing niggles
you have been training with. There is no fee for their services at the race, but they may
welcome a contribution to their charity appeal. Should you require a pre-race massage,
please let me know (Tribraintree@sky.com), so your place can be booked prior to your
start time. You will find them in the side room attached to the leisure centre.
The Halstead Leisure Centre has changing/toilet/shower facilities in the centre and
lockers are available (refundable pound coin required). The centre will be open from
7am.
We will have an on site caterer providing drinks and food at reasonable cost.
We will also have the benefit of Cycles UK and Runnersworld attending to supply those
last minute items you forgot, to browse and chat while you wait for your start or even a
new purchase.
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Cycle helmets will be checked for condition and suitability (ANSI/BSI standard or
similar) adjacent to registration. The vast majority of modern helmets sold comply but if
you have any doubts please e-mail the organizer to save a last minute panic on the day.
No cycle helmet no race.
At registration you will be supplied with a number to fix to your cycle, this will be required
in an effort to ensure the cycle leaves with you at the end of your race. Your race
number should be presented and checked against the cycle number before you remove
the cycle from transition following your race. Please rack your bike in the space
allocated to your number, keep your equipment in your racking space and do not
interfere with any other competitors equipment.
Only competitors and officials will be allowed in the transition area. Once racing is
underway, please limit your time in the transition to that required to set up your
equipment. This will limit the danger of collisions as competitors race through transition.
BTF race referees will be present for the race, both within the venue and out on the
cycle course.
Timing
We will have electronic ‘chip’ timing for our race. At registration you will be provided with
a timing chip to wear on your ankle. If it is lost your race will not be timed and you will be
required to pay £5 for its replacement.
Race Briefing
There will be a race briefing at 07.40am for all competitors. Please attend this race
briefing for any last minute changes, as well as any questions will be answered here.
The swim: You will be swimming in the very modern Halstead Leisure Centre Pool. We
have estimated your swim start time (this will be posted after the closing date) please
report to the pool at least five minutes before your allocated swim start. Please be
aware these times are estimates which depend on the speed of the earlier swimmers,
check the numbers of the athletes preparing to swim to gauge the progress towards your
start. You are required to swim 400m, this is 16 lengths of the 25m pool. It is your
responsibility to complete the correct course, count your lengths. To assist you a lap
counter will warn you when you have two lengths to go by placing a board in the water.
For safety, back and butterfly strokes are not permitted. You should be swimming with
competitors of a similar ability with only two per lane, there should not be any need to
overtake. Take care of oncoming swimmers and keep to your side of the lane.
Once you complete your swim at the shallow end, make your way down the side of the
pool, leave the pool by the doors to the rear of the centre. Take care on the poolside as
it may be slippery. Make your way along the marked path towards the transition area.
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The cycle (approx 21km): Enter the transition area by the in gate. You are responsible
for ensuring your cycle is fit for the road and you have an approved hard shell helmet.
You must be wearing your cycle helmet, securely fastened, before you remove your
cycle from the racking. Ensure your clothing is appropriate for the weather, your chest
must be covered. Nudity in the transition area is not permitted. Take your cycle to the
bike out exit, to the line where you may mount the cycle. Riding in the transition area at
any time is dangerous and will not be permitted. Your race number must be clearly
displayed to the rear for the bike section. Number belts are permitted, the number must
be fixed full size, not cut or folded.
Please take care for other competitors in the transition area.
At the exit you will cycle through the school grounds, making a left turn into Colne Road,
following this to the roundabout junction with the A1124, turning left towards Earls Colne.
Take care, all the roads are open to traffic, you must ride according to the highway code
and Give Way if required.
The bike course is a simple single lap course along both ‘A’ class and rural roads. While
traffic is light on Sunday mornings, beware of other road users.
Drafting is not permitted, drafting is cheating, any rider seen to breach this rule will be
reported and may be subject to a time penalty. If you are unsure of this rule please ask
at registration.
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You pass through the village of Earls Colne, take care at the pedestrian crossing and
beware of parked vehicles at the roadside. Take care at the mini roundabout as you
enter Upper Holt Street, then continue down the hill to the left turn into Colne Park Road.
This takes you onto rural roads, continue to a left turn into The Street, Pebmarsh, take
care at a narrowing in the village. Continue through to a right turn into Oak Road, take
care at this turn as you may have to give way to oncoming vehicles. This road will take
you to Catley Cross, the junction with the A131. Take a sharp turn left on to the main
road, then ride back to Halstead, turning left into Colne Road and the school grounds
back to transition. Cycle to the dismount line, where you must get off your bike and enter
the transition area on foot. Rack you bike before removing your cycle helmet.
Water will not be available on the bike course, ensure you have sufficient for your needs
if it is a hot day.
The Run (5.2Km): - Leave the transition via the run exit, your number must be displayed
to the front. The run is a two lap course on paths and farmland. Please take care
through the housing area, particularly when crossing roads, these are quiet residential
streets but may have traffic. The course follows footpaths across grassland returning
through more residential streets to the centre. Once you have completed two laps you
will have covered the 5km. Water will be available at the designated water station part
way round the run course and at the finish.
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It is not possible to practice the whole run course some passes through the school
grounds which will only be accessible on race day, although most of this new course is
on public paths and footpaths.
Additional notes for Relay event
The swimmer must register for the team. The swimmer will start as described above at
the allotted time. Having completed the swim the changeover will take place
immediately outside the pool in a designated area where your bike rider will be waiting.
Once tagged and the timing chip is passed to the next racer, the rider can make their
way to the transition area, fasten their helmet and remove the cycle from its racking. You
are not allowed to wear your helmet during the changeover.
On completion of the cycle, the bike must be racked before going to the run exit, where
the runner will be waiting. Remember to pass on the timing chip and secure it carefully.
Medical Advice
If you have any known medical condition (such as diabetes, asthma, allergy to penicillin,
etc) please inform us prior to the race. Please write all medical details on the back of
your race number and put a small indelible red cross on the front of your number.
Whether you have a medical condition or not, if you feel unwell on race day – don’t race.
Competitor Conduct
Competitors are reminded that they share both the centre facilities and the highway with
other citizens who may or may not be fully aware of the event. We request that you treat
both members of the public including other road users, marshals, other competitors,
event officials and venue staff with respect.
Any use of profanity or aggression towards any other parties will result in an immediate
DQ from the event and a ban from all future events hosted by Born2tri. Please try to
remain courteous on the road even if some other road users do not offer you the same
respect.
Results
Provisional results should be displayed at the conclusion of the event and will be
available on the web site www.Born2tri.co.uk as soon as possible.
Notes for the first time racer:
A triathlon event consists of three disciplines, swim, cycle and run, each undertaken
immediately one after the other. The race time is measured from the start of the swim to
the end of the run.
The transition area is where you will change from one discipline to the next. You will
have an allocated space to rack your bike and lay out the kit you need. You will be hot
and breathless when you reach transition after your swim, so before you start, make a
note of where the entrances and exits are, also where your bike is within the transition.
There will be marshals to help you.
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The first element is the swim in a heated indoor pool. Suitable clothing must be worn,
you may swim in lycra cycle shorts if you wish. Swim goggles are recommended. For
safety reasons back stroke and butterfly are not permitted.
Have a towel in transition, being wet makes putting on your bike/run clothing and shoes
more difficult. You may prefer to cycle and run in the same clothing to save changing
time. Wear more clothing if the weather is cool.
You must not touch your cycle until your cycle helmet is properly fastened on your head.
If you are not wearing a suitable cycle helmet you will not be allowed to complete the
cycle section of the race. For safety of other competitors, you may not cycle in the
transition area. There is a line at the bike exit and entrance where you will mount and
dismount your bike. You are riding on open public roads, you must comply with the
Highway Code, your race number does not give you any priority.
On returning to the transition, rack your bike before you remove your helmet.
The run course is mainly traffic free and not too taxing, but after a hard cycle your legs
will feel very different to when you last ran. Just run as smoothly as you can, the
stiffness will leave your legs as the run progresses.
If the day is warm, remember to drink plenty of fluid, water will be available on each lap
and finish area.
Remember, the aim of you first race is to finish the course and enjoy the experience.
Everyone there remembers how they felt on their first race.
Have a safe and enjoyable day
Born2tri
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