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Welcome to the Silver Anniversary Columbia Triathlon, one of the most challenging Triathlons in the USA. This event owned, managed and produced by the Columbia Triathlon Association in cooperation with Howard County Recreation and Parks.
Special Notice to athletes in regard to
USAT CARDS FOR REGISTRATION
Athletes MUST bring proof of annual membership or purchase a one-day permit. Athletes who do not bring/show proof of membership must purchase a one-day license OR will not be allowed to race. Athletes who forget their membership cards will have four options. Note all 2008 CTA events have the one day option as a part of the race entry fee structure should you select that form of payment. If you do forget your card, you have the following choices this year:
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Go” back” and get your card.
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Print off a temporary membership card from the USAT web site, ( www.usatriathlon.org)
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Purchase a $10.00 one-day license
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Renew your annual membership online and bring proof of renewal
Please remember to pack your USAT membership card. Don’t leave home without it!
THANKS
FROM ALL OF US: We wish to thank all who will enter and
will compete this year from across the USA. Our first race at the
Wilde Lake indoor pool center drew 90 people and that is how it all
started in 1984. This year should be another great event and we look
forward to having you here to race the "Real Deal" as The Main
Event! The course is groomed and will be ready for the challenge
you bring.
THE RACE
DATE/TIME/FIELD: May 18, 2008 at 06:45am, Centennial Lake, Ellicott City, MD. Wetsuits are allowed and encouraged. The typical water temperature is 66' to 73' F, air temperatures average 55' to 75' F. Race management reserves the right to accept or reject any entry.
The minimum age to compete is 14. The 2008 Race limit is 2100.
ABOUT
THE EVENT:There is NO rain date, We Go Rain or Shine. In case of inclement weather, management reserves the right to alter/modify the race/course for safety concerns. In the case of a "Natural Disaster"/Local Incident/Terrorist Act, there will be No Refunds of race entry fees. Each athlete must except any such risk of their entry fee paid. There is no complementary race entry to a future race. All monies collected are used to develop and produce the event, including all race supplies, staffing, and administration. We pledge to make every effort to produce a fair, safe and exciting event for all. Any decision we make to go forth with the race is based on the overall event safety.. Columbia will always utilize a "wave" start format. Wave placement will be announced and made available online in the weeks leading up to the event.
2008 RACE
FEE STRUCTURE:
USAT Members: $100.00 (US)
Non-USAT Members: $110.00 (includes $10 one-day USAT insurance fee)
Active Military USAT Members: $90.00
Active Military Non-USAT Members: $100.00
* Relay Teams: $175.00/$185.00/$195.00/$205.00
* Note: Relay Teams comprised of any Non-USAT
members, have an added single one-day license fee of: $10.00 to the
fee total (reflected above) per Non-USAT Member. For example, a relay team composed of two USAT members and one Non-USAT member would pay $185.00.
After 1/01/08: All entry fees will increase $25.00.
COLUMBIA COMMUNITY SLOTS: We have instituted another way to gain entry into our great international event. The Columbia Triathlon Association,Inc, is a 501c-3 non profit organization. As such we donate to several local/regional causes, among them: The Howard County ARC, The Maryland Special Olympics, Howard County, The Howard County Domestic Violence Center, The Ulman Cancer Fund, and The Lance Armstrong Foundation. A select # of these slots will be held. The donation is $250. Click Community Slot from the drop down payment choices online. Checks Only please, payable to "CTA/Community. Your donation is tax deductable to the extent permitted by law. Please contact your tax specialist for further information. No refunds at all will be given for charity slots since the money is allocated directly toward charity.
Columbia Triathlon Open/"Expert" Division Information
The division of the Columbia Triathlon currently named "Open Division" is meant solely for those triathletes who want to race against the whole field and not in their respective Age Group.
Our national governing body, USAT, has recently asked that this name, "Open Division", be changed to "Expert Division" wherever it is employed in a race. This adds more weight to the fact that this race division is intended for those who deem themselves Triathlon Experts and consider themselves among the best in the amateur ranks of the sport. This is not for anyone who just wants to start in the first swim wave!
We review all entrants to this race division and will remove those we feel may not belong there. If you wish to race in the Expert Division, we may ask you to provide prior race results to document your claim of "Expert" status.
For the Columbia Triathlon, we require that you be able to achieve the following finish time in order to race in the "Expert Division":
- Men: 2:10 (two hours ten minutes) or less
- Women: 2:25 (two hours twenty-five minutes) or less
Current 2008 USAT Age-Group Member National Rankings Policy
All 2008, Columbia Triathlon Association events have received an exemption from USAT that affects the USAT member age-group National rankings. Age-group participants at CTA events may request to be seeded in the Expert/Open wave, if they meet the pre race requirements as noted on the web site. This wave is NOT for those who simply want to start in an earlier swim wave. If the racer is selected/qualifies for the Expert/Open wave, the participant's race points used for USAT ranking purposes will be calculated based upon the USAT "pacesetters" in that Expert/Open wave.
All other age-group participants racing in their designated 5-year age-group wave, will have their race points calculated based upon the USAT "pacesetters" in the various respective age-group waves. The USAT Rankings are expected to be initially released in July where the member race points from all events will be combined for age-group rankings with No regard to the wave starts. This procedure is in contrast to previous years when age-group participants were denied race points at events, if they started in the Expert/Open wave.
Current USAT-Mid-Atlantic Age-Group Rankings Policy
In order to best conform to the USAT policy, USAT-MA will award race points and rank all age-group members regardless of their start wave at these exempted events based upon the first age-group Mid-Atlantic male and female finishers.
CTA REFUND
POLICY: A partial cash (via check) refund less $40, will be made, Only if requested in writing/email on or before April 1, 2008. Please allow up to 4 weeks for processing. After this date, absolutely NO refunds will be made for any reason. There are NO race transfers or substitutions allowed. Selling of your race entry slot is strictly prohibited by us and USATriathlon rules. If you do sell your race slot, you will be disqualified from the race and you, as well as, the entrant who purchased your slot will be unable to race in another TriColumbia event for a minimum of 2 years. Selling of race entries jeopardizes our race insurance coverage, and can change the placement status of other athletes that have trained hard to complete the race. Entry fees are not transferable to another person or to another race. There are no refunds at all given to community/charity slots since this money is allocated directly toward charity. If you are registered as relay, substitutions to your relay team may be made up to one month prior to the race. You may not switch from a relay team to the individual category.
USA TRIATHLON MEMBERSHIP INFO: If
you wish to become a USAT member call 1-719-597-9090. Processing
time is about 2-3 weeks. We strongly urge you to update you to
update your membership status ASAP. All info requests should be
addressed to the National Office at 1-719-597-9090 or via their
website at http://www.usatriathlon.org/.
DATES FOR OFFICIALS CLINICS THIS SEASON: Click Here.
See www.usat-ma.org for developing events
ACTION
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, Georgia: Commercial photo page for the 2008
Columbia Triathlon. They are our official event
photographers and will be there race day.
RACE ENTRY
CONFIRMATION/UPDATES: Your credit card statement or cancelled check will serve as confirmation of race entry and acceptance. Further event info will available on the web site for you print. Please go to your race entry online and check it for accuracy. All entries will be confirmed on our web site at tricolumbia.org. We will not use USPS.
THE RACE COURSES: The 1500 m swim takes place in ripple free, fresh water, fed Centennial Lake. Water temperatures in May are typically in the 66-71' F range, depending of course on winter precipitation. USAT wetsuit rules will be in effect (no wetsuits allowed if water temps exceed 78' F). The swim route is a counter clockwise rectangular course marked by orange and yellow DayGlow buoys. The scenic 41k bike route traverses the rolling countryside and farmlands of Howard County including four (moderate) climbs along well maintained and paved two lane roads. There is a new "Round About" at Sheppard Lane and Folly Quarter Rd. There is professional motorcycle support. Please note the bike course is not closed to traffic. Numerous police and support staff monitor the route. (see maps). The yellow centerline rule is always in effect. The run course is "the" unique challenge as the route climbs and encircles the lake and passes through a local neighborhood packed with fans. Four moderately steep climbs and the “Gatorade Wall” spice the run. There are five Aid Stations. The Columbia Triathlon run course has been acknowledged as one of the most challenging in triathlon. The Columbia Triathlon run course has been TAC certified as a 10k. Our certification ID # is 2004.
DIRECTIONS: The Columbia Triathlon is
held in Columbia, MD, which is located amidst rolling hills between
Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. and is about 15mi. from the BWI
Airport.
View Travel Directions- From Airport and Local, Local Map, PDF Format
Directions- Best for printing (download the free PDF viewing
software Adobe Acrobat Reader
)
LODGING/TRAVEL: The Sheraton Columbia
Hotel is again the host hotel with a special Triathlon rate for you
and is located 2 miles from Centennial Lake, the race site. For
Resevations call: 1-800-325-3535 (local, 410-730-3900).
RACE PACKET PICK UP & Columbia Triathlon HEALTH and FITNESS EXPO: Packet Pickup is on Fri, May 16, 2-7pm, and Saturday, May 17, 10:00-7:00 pm at the host Hotel, The Sheraton Columbia in the Wincopin and Ellicott Room. These rooms are to the left of the main tower. There is NO Sunday Packet Pick-up. All pre-registered entrants are expected to attend packet pick up Friday or Saturday in person. This is due insurance liability concerns. All participants must show a photo ID, and all USAT annual members additionally must show their membership card. No exceptions. A unique wristband will be affixed at this time which must remain on through the end of the race. Sorry, No wrist band on Sunday morning, No race.
ATHLETE
AMENITIES:
Health & Fitness Expo, UNDER ARMOUR Tech T , imprinted swim cap, 24 oz. custom water bottle, Goodies, Waterford crystal awards to overall champions, Raffle prizes, special, custom, commemorative finishers medallion, great post race party, great music, complimentary post race massage. The best volunteers in the Tri World, and on the most challenging race course. TAC certified and GPS accurate race distances.
PRE-EVENT COURSE
TALK: Sheraton Columbia Hotel, Saturday, May 17, at 3 PM .
USATMA REGION OFFICIALS CLINIC: Saturday, May 17, The Sheraton Columbia Hotel 8am -2 pm. TBA
MANDATORY PRE-EVENT BIKE SAFETY CHECKS: Friday, May 9 through Saturday May 17 at Princeton Sports and Travel, 410-995-1894, 10730 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044 or at their Baltimore location. Visit their website at http://www.princetonsports.com/. You must bring your ANSI-Snell certified race helmet and your race day bike. Bike racking begins at noon on Saturday May 17 at the Centennial Lake transition area, after you complete the registration process at the hotel. Best to have your bike inspection done early and avoid the lines on Saturday. Princeton Sports will also inspect bikes at the Park. You will have your personal and designated bike rack slot.
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!
CASH AWARDS: COLUMBIA TRIATHLON
Professional
Total: $20000, equal M/F distribution
1: $ 4000
2: $ 2500
3: $ 1500
4: $ 950
5: $ 500
6: $ 300
7: $ 250
COLUMBIA TRIATHLON PRIMES: $200 to each of the fastest M/F each discipline - open to all divsions except relays. Must finish the race within the time limits.
COLUMBIA TRIATHLON AWARDS: NO duplication. Ceremony begins about 10:45am.
PROFESSIONAL OVERALL: Top 3, ( Waterford Crystal - Top Award). Special and Unique Awards.
AMATEUR OVERALL: Top 5, (Waterford Crystal -Top Award). Special and Unique Awards. Not eligible for Age Group Awards.
AGE GROUP AWARDS: Top 5 minimum of 2 to comprise age group): 14-16, 17-19, 20-24, 25-29, etc. thru 80+. (divisions subject to change due to entries received).
MASTERS OVERALL:Special Crystal Award:
Top Male 40+ (The Bill Ammon Memorial Award)
Top Female 40+ (The Judy Flannery Memorial Award)
GRAND MASTERS OVERALL: Special Crystal Award:
Top Male, 60+ (The Ralph Perry Memorial Award)
Top F, 50+, (The Marianne Rains Memorial Award)
MID-ATLANTIC CLYDESDALE/ATHENA Regional Championship (The Joseph Francis Law Memorial Trophy): OVERALL Top Performance: Clydesdale and Athena
CLYDESDALE AGE GROUPS: Top 5
M, 39&Under, and Top 5 M, 40+
ATHENA AGE GROUPS: Top 3,
39 &Under, Top 3, 40+.
MILITARY OVERALL: Top Male and Female
RELAYS: Top 3, All Male/All
Female/Coed
MARRIED COUPLES: This is the only such award in
the USA world of Triathlon
JUNIORS: Top 2, combined ages 79 years & under
SENIORS: Top 2, combined ages 80 years and over.
TOP FIRST TIME TRIATHLETE, M/F (First time means -- your VERY first triathlon.)
MOST IMPROVED TRIATHLETES (Top
M/F): The Stephen Michael Auten Memorial Award. We are
the only race in the US that recognizes this achievement. Please
indicate your Exact 2007 finish time to be eligible. Refer to
the race results online as
well.
PROBLEMS/CONCERNS: The CTA office:
410-964-1246/2274(FAX)
EMAIL: info@tricolumbia.org
Train Smart
Robert Vigorito & The Columbia Triathlon Race
Committee
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