Here are a few pointers for your first triathlon.

• Check in at the registration table; pick up your race packet and t-shirt. Make sure that the name and number on the packet matches your name and the number that is inside the packet. Read information inside the packet, especially the Race Notes, as they will tell important information about the race.
• Find out where the bathrooms are.   
• Take your bike and gear (biking clothes, towel, running clothes) to the transition area.
• Set your bike on the bike rack that is designated for your heat. Be frugal with your space as there are a lot bikes and things will be tight.
• Lay a towel on the ground by your bike and set your bike and running gear on the towel. Lay it out so that it is in some order so you will be as fast as possible making the change from swim to bike and from bike to run. Hint. Figure out how to find your bike and space when you come into the transition, remember that you will have just finished a swim or a bike and will be tired and in a hurry. Nothing worse then not being able to find your running shoes when you get back from the bike (from personal experience!). Put your bike back in the same spot after the ride. Keep a mental note about what works and what doesn’t work so that you will be able to set up a better transition next time. Also observe what other people do. 
• Familiarize yourself with the flow of the transition. How do you get from the pool to the transition area? Where do you go with your bike, how do you get back from the ride? The run? Where is the finish line? Remember that cutting time in the transition will cut your total time. Think of these as “free seconds”.
• MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW YOUR NUMBER AS YOU WILL NEED TO LET THE TIMERS KNOW EACH TIME YOU PASS THROUGH A TIMMING STATION IF YOU WANT TO GET A SPLIT FOR THAT SECTION OF THE RACE.

• Know when your heat starts and be ready to go a few minutes early. There will be a short warm up in the pool before each heat.
• There will be 4 people in your lane, the swimmers will be sent off at 5-second intervals with the lowest number going first. This stagger will be accounted for in the overall time so please stay in order. Also, if someone is missing in the lane, you must still wait to go on your own sendoff.
• If you need to pass the person in front of you tap them on the foot and they will pull over at the next turn. If someone taps you on the foot please let them pass at the next turn.
• The lap counters will put a kickboard into the water signaling your last lap. When you see the kickboard, swim your last lap, exit the pool and proceed to the transition area through the double doors at the left of the pool exit.
• If you need to go into the locker room for any reason please return to the pool deck and exit through the double doors. If you fail to do this you will not get a swim time.

• Do not mount your bike in the transition area. Walk/run your bike across the line before mounting your bike.
• Your helmet must be on and snapped before you remove your bike from the transition area and must stay snapped until you bike is rack. Failure to do this will result in disqualification.
• While on the course stay as close to the right side of the road as is safe.
• There is no drafting on the bike. This means that you need to leave space (2-3 bike lengths) between your bike and the bike in front of you.
• Only pass on the left.
• DO NOT CROSS THE CENTER YELLOW LINE EVER. This is so important, you will be immediately disqualified and we could lose our permit for future bike triathlons.