St Joseph Presents Whirlpool Steelhead Triathlon

Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012
Start Time: 7:00 am

Category: West Michigan Coastal Surrounding Areas

Get More Details:

Jean Klock Park
This 70.3 mile course includes biking, running and swimming.

Race begins at 7 a.m. with the swim followed by the bike and finally ending with the run.


The Swim:
The 1.2 mile swim will either start at Tiscornia Park (if the current is flowing South to North) or at Rocky Gap Park (if the current is flowing North to South) and will end at Jean Klock Park. The water will be 10-12 feet deep and the water temperature is usually 60-74 degrees. Lake Michigan can be calm or choppy depending on the winds, so expect 1-3 foot waves. Participants will swim outside a line of buoys and inside a line of lifeguards on rescue boats, kayaks and surfboards. Once the swim is completed, participants should continue on to the Transition Area located in a large parking lot located in Jean Klock Park where plenty of bike racks are secured by event staff.

Bike Course:
The 56-mile course will take triathletes through northern Berrien Count and easter Van Buren County. The course roadways are mostly asphalt in good condition with some rolling hills throughout.

The Run:
The 13.1 mile run takes place on roadways and the Whirlpool Corporate Campus. The course is subject to change and final course description and maps will be posted two weeks before the event.

*Each leg of the course must be completed by certain times below, or will be disqualified.
*SWIM: 9:47 a.m.
*BIKE: 1:02 p.m.
*RUN: 4:32 p.m.

To register, please visit www.steelheadtriathlon.com.
*Must turn 18 or older in 2009 to compete.
*Must be in good health and capable of safely completing the Triathlon in the allotted time.
*Pick up race packet at Running Away on Saturday, July 25 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) or on Friday, July 31 during the Expo at Lake Michigan College (Benton Harbor - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
*Must rack your bike in the transition area on Friday on Friday from 2 - 9 p.m. (Unless you picked up your packet at Running Away)
*There are NO refunds.

10 COMMANDMENTS OF TRIATHLON
1. Read ALL information on website www.steelheadtriathlon.com.
2. Listen to the Course Talk carefully and make sure you get answers to all your race-related questions.
3. If possible, get body marked on Friday at the Expo (Lake Michigan College). There will be long lines on Saturday (Race morning)
4. Plan to arrive at the transition area early! That means 5-5:45 a.m. If you get there late, you may be shutout and prevented from racing. Allow plenty of time for traffic, parking, getting to the site and getting your gear into transition. Transition closes promptly at 6:30 a.m.
5. Remember to bring along (2) water bottles already filled for the bike. Bring water to drink on the way to and before the race.
6. The transition area closes at 6:30 a.m. and re-opens at approximately 1 p.m. (after the last participant is out on the run), regardless of which wave you're in. Do not leave anything in transition that you'll need after you finish the race. For reasons of safety and fairness, we will be strictly enforcing this rule. If necessary, adjust your travel, work or social plans around this schedule before you get to race day.
7. Be sure to hydrate during the race! There will be plenty of Gatorade and water on both the bike and the run course.
8. If you get into trouble in the swim, roll onto your back and raise an arm in the air. If you experience mechanical difficulties during the bike carefully pull over to the right and remove yourself and your bike from the course so as not to endanger other athletes. Make any necessary repairs off the course.
9. Keep to the far RIGHT at all times on the bike course unless in the immediate act of passing. Always pass on the LEFT and then move back to the right after you have safely passed the other cyclist. Use your voice to call out to people that you are passing and look over your shoulder before making a passing move on the left.
10. After finishing, be respectful of other athletes in the race. Please treat other athletes at least as well as you would like to be treated.