TRIATHLON 101 - August 2010

With The AVIA Austin Triathlon approaching, we thought it would be a good idea to give you an inside look as to the “ins-and-outs” of this fantastic course! We’ve asked High Five Events Race Director, Dan Carroll, to give some quick pointers – so you can get excited and be ready for what’s ahead:


Packet Pick-up & Transition
A little different from the past High Five Events events so far this summer is the packet pick-up and Transition set-up procedures.

1. Packet pick-up will be one-day only and will take place on Sunday, September 5th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from 10-6pm. During packet pick-up, there will also be a really cool athlete expo and informative seminars throughout the day.  TIP: Need last minute essentials, Jack & Adams will be there for you at the Expo! Also, come prepared with your photo ID and USAT card to be able to pick up your packet.
2. Transition set-up is done the day BEFORE event day. After picking-up your packet at the Hyatt, you will need to check-in your bike at the transition area that same day. Having the bikes already checked-in the night before will make event-morning a lot easier and less stressful.  TIP: Be sure to put your numbers on your bike before checking it into the transition area. Also, don’t put any plastic bags over any parts of your bike. This will cause the bikes to blow in the wind and the plastic often gets stuck in the gears. Check out the bikes in the Open wave rack. None will have plastic bags on them. 

Swim Course
The AVIA Austin Triathlon is one of only a few times that the City of Austin allows people to swim in Lady Bird Lake – and what a great experience it is!

1. The swim start is a deep-water start. Come prepared to jump into the water off a dock (about a foot above the water) to prepare for the race start. Participants will tread water and line up in front of the dock to wait for the starting horn (about 1-2 minutes). TIP: If you are a slower swimmer, or are less comfortable treading water for a period of time, be prepared to enter the water last and be towards the back of your swim wave.
2. With multiple bridges and banks on both sides, this swim course has many great points for sighting. TIP: Before jumping in for your wave, have a look for these points and use them to help you swim in the right direction.
3. On Labor Day, the water temperature is usually around 75 degrees, so the swim will likely be wetsuit legal. However, anything is possible with these warmer temperatures we’ve been having. TIP: Be prepared for both a wetsuit and non-wetsuit swim.

Bike Course
Three loops for Olympic distance and two loops for sprint distance on the scenic downtown roads make this an exciting course for all levels of participants!

1. Be prepared for a short hill at the very start of the bike course. This means, having your bike in the right gear coming out of transition. It’s not really steep, but if you find yourself stuck in a hard gear you’ll have a bit more trouble. TIP: The road at the start and finish of the bike course is very narrow. Take it easy heading out and coming in. There’s plenty of course to put the hammer down, but this is not the place.
2. With this multi-loop course, you will have some u-turns. Be prepared and know ahead of time when to expect these u-turns, as you will want to slow down, stay your line, and be aware of those around you as you all safely make the turn. TIP: If you have weaker bike handling skills, stay towards the outside (or the right) as you make the turns – this will give you a wider turning radius.
3. As this is a pretty fast bike course, please be aware not to draft. Drafting is being less than 3 bike lengths behind the person in front of you. We will have officials patrolling the course enforcing the no-drafting USAT rules. TIP: Come to the pre-race meetings at the expo to learn more about the USAT rules.

Run Course
The AVIA Austin Triathlon run course is flat and compact, which makes it extremely spectator friendly and competitive. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Expect it to be hot with very little shade. Use the aid stations to help you keep cool. TIP: Consider wearing a hat or visor to help keep your head cool.
2. At some of the aid stations, there will be the opportunity to get wet underneath a sprinkler or hose. Take advantage of it. A little cool water does wonders in the heat.
3. The course is a combination of grass/dirt trails, pavement, and sidewalk. TIP: Take a look at the race course maps and come up with a strategy to help you tackle the course!

We can’t wait to see you all out on Auditorium Shores for the start of The AVIA Austin Triathlon on Labor Day – Monday, September 6th, 2010. We hope these tips give you a better sense of what to expect on event day and help you get excited for the fantastic day it is sure to be!