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Point-to-Point Tips & Procedures

The 2016 Great Western Reserve Triathlon is hosted by the Steel Valley Triathlon Club & The City of Newton Falls.  This year's HALF ONLY will be a point-to-point event beginning at West Branch State Park/Transition 1 and finishing on Broad Street in Newton Falls where Transition 2 and the Finish and Post-race festivities will be held.  With point-to-point races, organizing your gear and transportation are critical pieces to a successful event.  Below we will outline the process and options that can help!

For Half Distance only...

The Point-to-Point TRANSITION PROCESS

The 2016 GWRT Half Iron Distance will be a point-to-point race with the swim and transition #1 at West Branch State Park and Transition #2 on Broad Street in Newton Falls, OH.  There are several options to consider when preparing for a point-to-point event.

First, we need to explain the packet-gear bag thingy.  Your packet/gear bag you will have the following items:

• Timing chip and strap.  Must be worn throughout the race.
• Race bib.  Only needs to be worn on the run portion of the race through the finish.
• Bike frame number.  Applied to the bike frame prior to the race.
• Event wrist band. Must be worn throughout the race. This band will be also be used to collect your belongings after the race.
• 1 BLACK plastic bag and 1 WHITE plastic bag.  These bags will be used to pack your gear in transition areas.
• Official race T-shirt.  We hope you like!  If not, please apply blame to the tall lenky race director lady!
• Goodies & sponsor items

 

What category do you apply?

Category #1:

You are in Category #1 if you...

• ...Choose to pick-up your packet/gear bag on Saturday, June 11 from 1-6pm at the West Branch Beach during the Expo AND...
• ...Have your own transportation before and after the race.

Here what you will do...

Saturday:  You pick up your packet/gear bag at the beach "concession" area.  After that, you will rack your bike in the assigned transition #1 bike rack area.  You can place your bike gear (shoes, helmet, etc) here at your spot overnight or you can drop this gear off in the morning upon arriving at the beach on race day.  You can report directly to the beach as we will have a "T2 Bike Bag" drop off truck and will transport that bag to Newton Falls/T2 for you. 

Sunday/Race-day:  Your transportation drives you to West Branch and you report to your transition  #1 spot and fine-tune your area.  You then get your game face on and get ready to go!  After your swim, you will pack ALL of your swim gear in the BLACK T1 Bag provided and then away you go on the bike!  Make sure all your swim gear and transition area is clean of your gear and IN YOUR BAG prior to leaving for the bike course.  CHAMP will load this bag and get it back to you in Newton Falls.  Upon your arrival in Newton Falls after your bike segment, you will then head through transition #2, drop off your bike, grab your WHITE T2 Run Bag (with your run gear in it) and change for the run.  Then away you go!!!  Then you will finish!  (we hope!)

 

 

Category #2:

You are in Category #2 if you...

• ...Choose to pick-up your packet/gear bag on Saturday, June 11 from 1-6pm at the West Branch Beach during the Expo AND...
• ...are flying solo and need transportation from Newton Falls to West Branch.

Here what you will do...

Saturday:  You pick up your packet/gear bag at the beach "concession" area.  After that, you will rack your bike in the assigned transition #1 bike rack area.  You can place your bike gear (shoes, helmet, etc) here at your spot overnight in your T1 Bike Bag.

Sunday/Race-day:  You drive to Newton Falls/Race-day check-in area to prep and drop your T2 Run Bag.  You will then hang out and catch the transportation bus to West Branch.  Once you arrive at West Branch, you double check and prep your T1 area.  You then get your game face on and get ready to go!  After your swim segment, you will pack ALL of your swim gear in the BLACK T1 Bike Bag provided and then away you go on the bike!  Make sure all your swim gear and transition area is clean of your gear and IN YOUR BAG prior to leaving for the bike course.  CHAMP will load this bag and get it back to you in Newton Falls.  Upon your arrival in Newton Falls after your bike segment, you will then head through transition #2, drop off your bike, grab your WHITE T2 Run Bag (with your run gear in it) and change for the run.  Then away you go!!!  Then you will finish!  (we hope!)

 

 

Category #3:

You are in Category #3 if you...

• ...Cannot pick-up your gear until Sunday (race-day) morning.
• ...Have your own transportation before and after the race.

Here what you will do...

Saturday:  Nothing!  You are busy doing something important, like spending time with your family, or fishing at the campground, or maybe sewing a new quilt, or going to the dentist, or trying to score brownie points with the in-laws by building them a new deck or changing the oil in their cars, or perhaps playing the star role of Bilbo Baggins in a community theatre musical called, "The Hobbit on a Rampage." 

Sunday/Race-day:  Your transportation drives you to West Branch State Park early to pick-up your Packet/gear bag.  You then rack you bike in the assigned transition #1 rack area and prep your spot.  Once everything is prepped and ready to go, you will make sure your T2 Run Bag is packed and loaded on the CHAMP truck (at the beach).  We will transport this bag to Newton Falls/T2 for you.  You then get your game face on and get ready to go!  After your swim segment, you will pack ALL of your swim gear in the BLACK T1 Bike Bag provided and then away you go on the bike!  Make sure all your swim gear and transition area is clean of your gear and IN YOUR BAG prior to leaving for the bike course.  CHAMP will load this bag and get it back to you in Newton Falls.  Upon your arrival in Newton Falls after your bike segment, you will then head through transition #2, drop off your bike, grab your WHITE T2 Run Bag (with your run gear in it) and change for the run.  Then away you go!!!  Then you will finish!  (we hope!)

 

 

 

Category #4:  The most time-consuming option :(   Be sure to leave plenty of time to prepare.

• ...Cannot pick-up your gear until Sunday (race-day) morning.
• ...are flying solo and need transportation from Newton Falls to West Branch.

Here what you will do...

Saturday:  Nothing!  Just be chillin' like a villain! 

Sunday/Race-day:  You drive to West Branch to pick-up your Packet/Gear-bag.  You will then rack your bike in the assigned racking area in T1 and prep your spot.  Once your T1 spot is ready to go, you will then drive to Newton Falls/Race-day check-in area to prep and drop your T2 Run Bag.  You will then hang out and catch the transportation bus to West Branch.  Once you arrive at West Branch, you can double check your T1 area.  You then get your game face on and get ready to go!  After your swim segment, you will pack ALL of your swim gear in the BLACK T1 Bike Bag provided and then away you go on the bike!  Make sure all your swim gear and transition area is clean of your gear and IN YOUR BAG prior to leaving for the bike course.  CHAMP will load this bag and get it back to you in Newton Falls.  Upon your arrival in Newton Falls after your bike segment, you will then head through transition #2, drop off your bike, grab your WHITE T2 Run Bag (with your run gear in it) and change for the run.  Then away you go!!!  Then you will finish!  (we hope!)

This option requires you to check-in first at West Branch to pick-up your packet, and then drive to Newton Falls to catch the transportation bus back to the state park.  The CHaMP CHuMPS suggest the following time frame if you are in category #4:  Arrive approx. 5:30am at the state park to pick-up your packet and prep your T1 transition spot.  This will take approximately 30-40 minutes.  You will then have to drive to Newton Falls which is about a 15 minute drive.  This will get you to Newton Falls approx. 6:30am which will give you about 45 minutes to catch the bus.

 

Points to Consider-

• Remember, race time begins at 8:30am.
• Bus transportation will be limited and will make runs from Newton Falls to West Branch beginning around 7am with the last bus leaving at 7:45am  PLEASE!...OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE.!..do NOT procrastinate like me and wait until the last bus.  Plan your time wisely to ensure you have space on a bus.
• You will have two transition bags: 1 black and 1 white.  Your black bag is your T1 swim to bike bag and the white bag is your T2 bike to run bag.  Make sure that following the swim, you pack all of your swim gear in the black bag in T1, and then following the bike, all of your bike gear gets in the white bag in T2.  We will then collect these bags and you will use your wrist bands to claim this gear after the race at Newton Falls.
• The T2 process will be a linear process and will go like this:  1.  Upon entering T2, rack your bike in T2 wherever you find an open spot along the racks,   2. Grab your white T2 bag lying on the ground in numerical order (we will have some volunteers to help locate your bags.)    3.  Get you bag and change into your run gear, 4. Drop off your T2 bag as you exit the transition area in Newton Falls. 

FAQ's 1

I am racing the HALF, What happens if we can't pick-up the packet on Saturday?  Is Saturday pick-up mandatory?

Nope...Saturday packet pick-up in NOT mandatory but recommended. You can pick-up your gear beginning around 5:00am on race-day or when the staff wakes up!  Saturday pick-up is NOT required.   We highly suggest packet pick-up and racking your gear Saturday as this will help alleviate some stress on race-day.  CHAMP will have personnel securing transition #1 overnight. 

For SPRINT & OLYMPIC Distances...Packet Pick-up is ONLY on Saturday before the race.  There is NO Packet  Pick-up on Friday

 

Will we receive a packet/athlete's guide?

Yes, the CHaMP CHuMPS will email an athlete guide with updated information, rack assignments, and general event information.

 

Can we track athletes?

Yes.  We will be posting the link to athlete updates as we draw closer to the event.  The race will be timed and scored using Chonotrack Timing Systems and CT Live interactive software.  Once we post the link to the Athlete Update Portal, you can click on the link, search for the athlete, and then sign-up for updates via text, Facebook, or Twitter.

  Chonotrack Timing Systems

 

Wetsuits? 

Yup...a good idea as water temps are in the upper 60's.  (In 2015, the water temp was 70)  Do-able without a wetsuit but wetsuits are recommended.

 

Beach start or in-water start?

Beach start-ALL MALES then ALL FEMALES  (+5:00) for the Half

Wave start by age groups for the Sprint & Olympic

 

Water Depth?

From the zero-depth beach start, the water depth drops quickly to 15-20 out and around the buoys.  Touchable depth is only located at the start/finish area of the swim.

Is the Race Director Single?

Nope...He's taken by the "tall lenky lady" that runs around the races self-laughing and ovetalking...but she's cute!  

 

How can I view who is racin'?

Click here to view participant list 

 

 

FAQ's 2

Will there be support at the race site?

Yes, we will have several support services both on the course and at the site. We will have Bike Authority Support Team on race day and we will have a support cruiser or 2 rolling around the course.

The on-site medical team will be supplied by NEAS, NorthEast Ambulance Medical Team.

And of course, you will have the support of me...and our new puppy, CHAOS...a purty little Alaskan Malamute!

 

Can we swim the course on Saturday?

Yes...and no.  We are permitted for Saturday's Sprint and Olympic Distance events, and then again for the swim clinic presented by Liquid Lifestyles.  The clinic will go over siting and swim strategy and will swim portions of the course. Only portions of the swim course will be available for swimming.  However, there is a very long swimmable area located along the beach for a last minute workout.

 

How will the Aquabikers finish?

After completing the swim and bike portions of the race, the aquabikers will cross over the median,  loop approx. 100 yards through the finish chute.  We suggest leaving some shoes at your transition spot to make the short run to the finish...Just in case!

 

Will the bike course be marked in advance of the race?

Yep...we will have the half distance bike course marked once the snow clears off the wintery roads.  So...in Northeast Ohio...that means probably by May! The half course arrows will be marked in GREEN.