Date/location: Saturday, August 28, 8:00am Prairie View county park, Kalamazoo, Mi. Click here for directions
Click here for area information
Click here for park information

Venue/Area Information: The park itself is located in Vicksburg, less than 10k from downtown Kalamazoo. Plenty to see and do in and around the park and Kalamazoo. The event was formally the Prairie View triathlon. Through many emails the female athletes have been asking for a race of their own. We have looked at new venues, looked our existing venues and this is a great fit. A closed run course, a flat all right turn bike course, and a clear shallow lake swim in a small lake at a beautiful park. Ladies get your neighbors, fellow workers involved, see the Get Fit Michigan program.

Course: The swim is in Hog eye lake, a small lake with very little going on and no houses on it. It is a clear, shallow lake. You will have the noodle support on the lake as well, so use as you need them. The bike is as flat as a pancake, all right turns around farm land. It is a 20k bike course. Those ladies doing the long course will do 2 laps, continue past the park for lap two,do not turn into the park until you have completed both laps. The run course is a cross country style course, entirely closed and entirely inside the park. The course is used by local high schools and community colleges for their cross country course. It is flat with two short, small hills and tree lined most of the way.

Race Tips:

Packet Pickup/Registration: Day Before Friday from 4-6pm at the back of the transition area under the white tents. Day of Packet Pickup and Registration Saturday 6-7:30am ONLY. Do not arrive late.Proceed to theback of the park and follow the signs for parking and registration.Registration will close.
 

MultiSport 101: 6:00pm day before event.  We have been told by many athletes from across the country that our 101 is the best anywhere.  As far as we know we started it back in 2003.  2 years later a few others started popping up, and now most bigger, or shall we say more experienced race directors host them.  What makes a great 101 is the experience a race director has not only with the race but most importantly in multi-sport.  Kenny has been racing since 1987 along with an exercise science and coaching background he is one of the most qualified out there.  Our goal with the 101 from day one has been to go through the entire event start to finish for the newbies, the beginners, the less experienced athletes.  To try and calm down those butterflies as much as possible.  Along with the information on the race the Race Director will give you dozens of racing and training tips along the way and answer any question you may have as well.  Classes range from an hour to 2 hours depending on size and how many questions there are.  If you are new to Multi-Sport it is Highly Recommended you attned this class.  6:00pm in the transition area the day before the race.  H20 Overdrive is our official Multi-Sport 101 partner.  You want something that works without all the hype this is it folks.  You are going to spend money on hydration drinks you should spend it on something that not only works but is great for the body!!

Transition Area: Open at 6:00am closes at 7:30am. NNo Friends or Family members allowed in the transition area for any reason.The race director and race officials will close the transition area 30-45 minutes before race start to ensure all athletes are at starting lines for mandatory course meetings and announcements.  Once the transition area is closed you will not be permitted back in before the race starts.  Family members will not be premitted in for any reason.  In the event of inclement weather it is recommended you have warm, dry clothing outside the transition area to put on following your finish due to other athletes still being on the bike course.  Thank you for your cooperation in following these rules. 
***You must rack according to your race number based on sequence placed at end of row. Please remember racks will hold 7 bikes racking with seat tip on support bar.   Please be courteous to fellow athletes to ensure there is space for 7.   Any athletes removing gear from transition areas before the announcer or race director has officially opened the transition area will be DISQUALIFIED from the race!  No questions asked, your race number will be taken down and you will be disqualified. The transitionarea is closed until all athletes are off the bike course. Sprint athletes this goes for you as well, you must wait until all the athletes are off the course and race officials open the transition area.  All athletes deserve a clear transition.  There will be an aid station at the run in/out chute with water and electrolyte replacement.  Athletes wearing their own chips, PLEASE remove your chips before re-entering the transition area and exiting again.  This can cause a timing error.  Run in/out and Bike in/out chutes are clearly marked on the large structures at either end, it is your responsibility to go the right direction.

Swim: 1000m or 500m -A triangle course will be set, with short course indicated with double buoys. 5 foot orange buoys will mark the course and there will be plenty of noodles available to use as well. Long course will start with short course about 30 minutes later. Swim course will be patrolled with lifeguards, search and rescue as well as sheriff marine division. It will be a beach start. Wave starts will be posted at Packet Pickup/registration.

Bike: 20k, 40k - A great course andflat bike course with all right turns on all new pavement. Exiting the park Left, you will go Right on Portage, Right on VW, Right on 14th, Right on U ave. then a Right on Oakland to a turnaround about 1.5mi. down Oakland back the Right on U to the park. 2 LAPS Long Course --1 Lap short course. Long course athletes DO NOT re-enter the park for lap 2. Continue past the park for lap 2. Course will be patrolled by a continually passing support truck as well as local law enforcement and motorcycle club. ***Remember this is an open course! You will be sharing the road with vehicular traffic. Use caution at all times. It will be your responsibility to print maps, and know the courses.  It is the athlete's responsibility to know and understand the courses.  Helmets are a must.  No helmet - no race.  MP3 players on the bike course are an automatic disqualification.  Due to a few athletes actions in the past during an event we are making you aware not only in this event but ALL events whether hosted by us or any other event management company YOU MUST OBEY ALL OFFICIALS and EMERGENCY VEHICLES on the course AT ALL TIMES!!  The bottom line here is your race is not more important than an EMERGENCY or OFFICIAL on the course.  In the event of an emergency you MUST obey officials requests, and you MUST STOP and pull off the road for any and all EMERGENCY VEHICLES to get by.  This is not only to ensure the emergency vehicles can proceed, it is for your safety as well.  Any athlete that does not adhere to this rule will be disqualified and will not race in a 3 d event for the rest of the year.  This to us is common sense and should not have ever came to this point.  

Run:5k, 10k- Exiting the transition area you will follow the chute back down to the beach to an immediate Right turn, then back up and head out into the park. About 2 miles of trail, the rest on park roads. It is a 2 loop course for the 10k. Family and friends will have a very short walk at the edge of the parking lot to cheer you on as you head back out for lap 2. Sprint, duathletes will head straight in to the finish line. Water and electrolyte replacement at 3 spots on the course.

Duathlete Run 1: 2mi. - You will start right next to the beach, heading straight up the short hill and out on the course, one loop before heading back down to the beach and up into the transition area meshing in with the swimmers exiting the water.

COURSE MAPS: Run   Bike   Transition Area

Relays: At registration you will receive ONE bib number and ONE chip/strap. The bib number goes on the runner as that is who will be crossing the finish line. All relay members must be body marked with that number. The Chip/Strap will be securely fastened around the person competing in the first discipline. There will be a designated spot for All Relays at one of the entry/exit points in the transition area marked RELAYS. All staging and chip/strap exchanging is to be done at this point. Not on the course. The Chip/Strap must be securely fastened to each athletes ankle, do not grab it and go, do not put it on the wrist. Upon finishing it is the last athletes responsibility to return that chip/strap at the finish line. (one athlete may do more than one discipline)

Finish/Awards: Upon finishing you wil receive a finishers momento, after you have returned your chip and strap you will proceed to the post race snack tent for refreshments. Raffle and Awards will begin AFTER the last person finishes. If you chose to leave event management will not be responsible in any way for mailing your award or raffle prize. **You may click here to print awards form and mail in a check for $10 within 2 weeks after the event to get your award mailed to you. If your envelope is postmarked after 2 weeks or does not contain a check for $10 we will not send the award 

Amenities: custom GBF shirt, custom awards and finisher momento and a great post race snack tent.  All compliments and set up by Annmarie.

Special Thanks: City of Vicksburg, Kalamazoo county parks, Kalamazoo county sheriff, kalamazoo county search and rescue, Kalamazoo county ham radio operators

Proceeds: Comstock Band Boosters

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