RELAY TEAMS: Packet Pickup. All members of each and every team must pick up their packets either Friday or Sat. in person. If, for some important reason, all team members cannot pick up at once then the team Captain my do so BUT he/she must have copies of the members photo ID's and their USAT license cards (if they are members). No Exceptions. No proof of ID then No packets, No race.

MANDATORY PRE-EVENT BIKE RACKING: When you are ready On Saturday, May 17 ( noon to 8 pm only at Centennial Park), all bikes must be racked at Centennial Park. Once racked, your bike cannot be removed. Full security is provided overnight. NO exceptions!

NOTE: Princeton will also be checking bikes at the park from noon-8pm. Your bike number must be affixed to the bike prior to racking in your personal slot.

USA TRIATHLON: The Columbia Triathlon is sanctioned by USA Triathlon. All USAT rules will be in effect during the event. Please direct any rules questions and/or protests to the USAT officials on site or see www.usatriathlon.org or www.usat-ma.org. A USAT representative will be at registration on Saturday to assist and answer any questions you may have.

CHAMPIONCHIP System: A ChampionChip race timing ankle bracelet will be provided for you in your race packet. This must be affixed to either ankle prior to the swim start and MUST be worn during the entire event. Each athlete is responsible for crossing the timing mats at the end of each segment (e.g., swim finish) and for the return of the ChampionChip band immediately following the race. CTA and Sommersports staff will be at the finish line to assist you. Relay team members must pass the ankle bracelet to their teammate after completing their segment of the race. Do NOT trade your ChampionChip band with another athlete, as each ChampionChip band is encoded with the athlete's specific registration data and race number. Failure to return this chip will result in a $ 35 chip return charge. No Chip. No Time.

PARKING: All Parking is in the immediate grass area of Centennial Park on RT 108 across from the Transition Area. Plan on arriving early on Sunday morning to find suitable parking. There is an overflow lot available on Centennial Lane , the north Entrance to the park. Tall light towers easily mark this lot. From here you can walk along the running path along the lake to the transition area. It is about a 10-minute walk. Please do not park in driveways, on private property or on church parking lots adjacent to the park. The Park entrance from MD RT 108 will close at 6:58 am . Be smart and plan on morning traffic delays, so prepare to arrive earlier than you may have initially planned. This is very important so plan accordingly!! If you miss your swim wave start, the clock is ticking!

RACE DAY SHUTTLE SERVICE:There will be a shuttle leaving the front of the Sheraton Hotel beginning at 4:30am to Centennial Park. This shuttle will run from the hotel to the park and back to the hotel continuously until 2pm.

RACE NUMBERS: There are three race numbers in your race packet that you are required to display during the event.
1. The Tyvek bicycle frame number MUST be attached to your bike. It is a peel and fold and stick type. This race number MUST be clearly visible from both sides of the bike. Affix the number to your bike frame when you arrive at the Transition Area at the Park on Saturday for your mandatory bike racking.
2. A small PEEL AND STICK helmet number ( if available) MUST be worn on the front of your bike helmet. This is for race officials and race photographers.
3. The Tyvek run number MUST be displayed during the entire run segment on the Front of your body Not the side or back! Pin your run number to your shirt, swimsuit, or race belt with the safety pins available at packet pickup.
4. Remember You MUST wear your ChampionChip on either ankle, Not your wrist, for the entire race. NO chip No time!
BODY MARKING: Body marking will take place starting at 5:00am on Sunday morning at the entrance to the Transition area and the Bike finish areas. You will NOT be permitted in the Transition Area without your body marked. If you plan on applying lotion to your body, please wait until after you have been body marked. Very Important! Be sure that the volunteer who marks you asks and also writes your age on the back of one calf.

TRANSITION AREA ACCESS: Only athletes who are body marked will be allowed access to the Transition Area on Sunday. You must have your bike frame number attached to your bicycle. Bikes cannot leave the transition area to warm up on Sunday morning. Once you bring your bike into the Transition Area on Saturday, you will not be able to remove it until during the race. Any bike not properly displaying the bike frame number will be removed from the Transition area immediately. Following the race, you will be allowed access to the Transition area to reclaim you gear but only after the last athlete has started the run. On race morning, please be sure to store your gear under and near your bike and out of the way of your fellow competitors. Label all gear and bags. Lost and found will be at the swim start area. There are ample portable toilets to the left of the Transition area, at the swim start corral and immediately to the left off the run path at the start of the run.

RELAY TEAMS: Relay teams will pass their ChampionChip band to their teammates at the bike rack area only, and then continue and likewise for the run exchange.

SWIM CAP: The official swim cap found in your race packet MUST be worn during the entire swim. This cap is provided for your safety during the swim. Do NOT trade your swim cap with another athlete, as the caps are color coded to assist race management in staging you in the correct swim wave at the swim start, and are sorted by age group. Do NOT forget your cap on race morning! Failure to start in the correct swim will result in a DQ from the race. Again if you miss your wave start, the clock is ticking.

WETSUITS: The use of wetsuits during the swim segment will be allowed, and is encouraged, if the water temperature on race morning is 78.0 degrees or less. If the water temperature exceeds 78.0 degrees but is less than 84.0 degrees, an athlete may wear a wetsuit but will be ineligible for awards and national ranking consideration. If the water temperature is 84.0 degrees or higher, the use of wetsuits is strictly prohibited. Race history shows that the water temperature will range from 64-71 'F. The Pro rule is 72'F for wetsuit use. If you chose to wear a wetsuit outside the rule then you are ineligible for any award.

SWIM START and SWIM CHECK-IN: The swim start is at the boat ramp. You will be staged according to swim cap color to allow for multiple wave starts. Be sure to start with other competitors wearing the same color swim cap and with the correct age group. Failure to wear the official swim cap or starting in a swim wave other than the one in which you have been assigned will result in your disqualification. Seed yourself in your wave according to your ability. As you enter the swim staging area, you will cross over a ChampionChip mat and be "checked in" officially. You will walk onto a floating dock and jump in as we employ an "in water" start. The immediate start is always a frenzy so be alert. There will be a 20-minute interval between wave #3 and wave #4, and 8 minutes between all following waves. Wave # 1 this year will feature the 'Elite' Men and Women.

If, during the swim segment, you cannot continue, remove and wave your cap and a boat will pick you up or you may swim to shore. Be sure that you notify a race official at the Finish Line Area. If you drop out of the swim, you cannot continue with bike or run segments. NO exceptions.

SWIM COURSE: Follow the orange and Yellow triangular buoys during the counterclockwise loop swim. Keep all buoys on your left by swimming to the right of each buoy. Athletes who cut any portion of the swim course will be disqualified. There are numerous water safety personnel monitoring the swim course including lifeguards, kayaks, and rescue craft. The swim course ends at the beach leading up to the Transition area and is marked by a finish line chute of orange buoys and a large colorful finish tent.

SWIM WAVES: Wave start times and cap colors can be found from the link off the main Columbia event page.

TRANSITION AREA CONDUCT: For safety reasons, during the race, you are not permitted to ride your bike into or out of the Transition area. You must walk or run your bike while on the grass areas of the Transition area. Please watch out for other athletes as you move through the Transition area and follow the instructions of race officials and volunteers. All race gear must be stowed neatly under your bike space or adjacent to it. You must know the course and flow of traffic in the Transition area. All bikes should be removed from the Transition area by 11:45am . After 12:00 Noon , we cannot be responsible for your gear.

BIKE COURSE: Please note that the bike course is NOT closed to traffic. The residents in this area are aware of the event, so we expect traffic to be lighter than normal. Each athlete is required to wear an approved helmet during the bike segment. You MUST have your helmet securely fastened on your head before you mount and dismount your bike. Drafting and blocking (riding to the left and impeding the progress of passing cyclists) are not permitted during the race. USAT officials will be monitoring the bike course and strictly enforcing these rules. Failure to obey the instructions of may USAT official may result in your disqualification or a time penalty. Upon completion of the bike segment you must re-rack your bike in your space. Failure to do so will result in a DQ.

BIKE BOTTLE EXCHANGE: There is one water/Gatorade bottle exchange station (out and back) on the bike course at Eyre's Bus. Please discard all empty bike bottles and sports nutrition wrappers in the immediate vicinity of this station. This will make our clean-up efforts much easier. Please respect our neighbors and do Not trash the roads! We cannot guarantee that any discarded personalized bottles or gear will be returned to the Transition Area.

RUN COURSE: The run course is a moderately hilly, out-and-back, with aid at the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mile points. The on-course drink is Water and Gatorade. An Aid station is also located at the start of the run course. At this writing, Spring water will available at the run start and run finish lines. You are required to complete the entire course and #s will be recorded. Failure to do so will result in a DQ. There is NO pacing or outside assistance of runners. Runners observed with a pacer /non-entrant will be DQ'ed. Please note for your convenience, there will be two portable toilets at the run start left of the path. USAT officials will be recording race numbers to ensure each athlete completes the prescribed course. There will be a lead cyclist on the run and mobile medical and radio support.

RACE FINISH: The Columbia Triathlon course will officially close four hours after the start of the last swim wave. After this time period, we cannot guarantee race support. All Official individual finishers will receive a custom finisher's medal. All finish times will be posted at the awards area. As for the awards, we ask that you have, if possible, someone to collect your award should you be unable to attend. This will save the added expense of mailing it to you.

DROPPING OUT: If you drop out of the race for any reason, it is imperative that you notify a race official immediately and return your ChampionChip band to an official and ask them to return it to the finish line area staff. For your safety, always check with the Medical tent before you leave the area. It is vital to not just "walk" away if you drop out without notifying us.

AWARDS PARTY: The Awards Party begins as soon as you cross the finish line! Be sure to be a part of it. All bikes must be removed from the Transition Area by 11:45am . After this, no security will be present.

TIMING AND RESULTS: Unofficial race results will be posted prior to the Awards presentation. Please report any discrepancy to a race official PRIOR to the start of the Awards presentation. Athletes who do not wear their ChampionChip band during the entire event will not be scored and will not receive a finish time. Please note that the clock time at the finish line reflects the race start time of the first swim wave. Full Results and splits will be available on our web site at tricolumbia.org race evening and/or at www.sommersports.com.

AWARDS PRESENTATION: The Awards Presentation will begin at about 10:30am . The top finishers in each category will be presented with a unique award. Special awards are Waterford Crystal and include: The Pro and Overall winners, The Judy Flannery Masters Award for women, The Bill Amman Masters Award for men, and the Ralph Perry Grand Masters award for men over 60 and women over 50 and The Joseph Francis Law Award for Clydesdale and Athena.

RESULTS AND AWARDS: Official race results will also be posted on our web site (www.tricolumbia.org) within 12 hours after the race and also at www.sommersports.com. If you qualify for an award and are unable to attend the Awards Presentation, either have someone pick it up for you or please send us a check in the amount of $5.00, made payable to The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc., 6662 Windsor Ct, Columbia, MD 21044 (P&H) and we will first class mail your award to you ASAP.

PROTESTS: All protests of penalties assessed for rules infractions must be filed with the USAT Head Official within 60 minutes after the protesting individual finishes. Judgment calls (e.g., drafting) are not eligible for protest.

MEDICAL: The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc. provides comprehensive medical care for all official participants during the event. The medical team is prepared to treat for dehydration, minor injuries and will assist emergency medical services in transporting athletes with any major injuries to the Howard County General Hospital , 3 miles away. The biggest risk to athletes is the potential of heat-related or in some case hypothermia (cold) injuries associated with inadequate hydration prior to and during the event. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the race weekend (and not just water) and during the race. Dress appropriately during the event as strange here weather can develop at any time!

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: Unsportsmanlike conduct or the verbal abuse of any race official or volunteer during any portion of the race or at any time during event weekend will not be tolerated and will result in immediate disqualification.

COURSE SAFETY: Because The Columbia Triathlon is staged within an urban setting, it is impossible to close the entire course to vehicular traffic. All participants must be prepared to encounter vehicular traffic during the course of the event. Please be aware of your surroundings, obey the instructions of the traffic control officers and volunteers and be considerate of others while competing. Never just ride with your head down! Be aware.

ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE OF COLUMBIA AND GIVE IT YOUR BEST!
CTA Staff Office
The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc
6662 Windsor Ct
Columbia, MD 21044-4147, USA
410-964-1246(office)
410-964-2274(fax)
www.tricolumbia.org
events@tricolumbia.org
info@tricolumbia.org