Distances
500m swim, 20k. bike, 5k run
1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
Date/location
USA TRIATHLON Special Qualifier
Saturday June 23, 2012 - South Beach, Downtown South Haven, Mi.
The 2012 Special Qualifier at South Beach in June and 2011 Regional Championship Race that was held in August of last summer are the Mideast Region's primary but not only means to qualify for the 2012 Olympic or International Distance National Championship race to be held in August 2012 in Burlington, Vermont. At the Special Qualifier the top 33% or top 5 finishers in each Age Group (whichever is greater) will automatically qualify for the National Championship Race. The cut-off will be determined based upon the number of starters in each age group, not the number of finishers.
The Special Qualifier is particularly significant this year because the 2012 Regional Championship Race takes place too late in the season to be used as a qualifier for this year's National Championship Race. Instead, the 2011 Regional Championship Race will be used for qualifying in 2012. Therefore, unless you were thinking far enough in advance the SQ will be the only primary means to qualify for Nationals.
South Beach is located at the end of Erie and Waters Street. There is not a physical address, looking on a mapquest or google map
South Beach is clearly visible at the end of Erie and Waters streets.
Venue/Area Information
South Haven is another beautiful venue on our long list of incredible venues. Located in the southwest corner on Lake Michigan. Miles of white sandy beach in both directions, a great city and marina district has plenty of restaurants and things to do for the entire family. Definitely bring the suncreen and beach towels for this one folks and plan for a great race weekend in the beautiful city of South Haven Mi.
Click here for area information
MultiSport 101
5:00pm Friday in Transition Area weather permitting.
We have been told by many athletes from across the country that our 101 is the best anywhere. 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.
Amenities:
Unless otherwise noted 2011 events will include a custom event shirt, custom finishers medal, custom latex swim cap, sponsor supplied samples, professional chip timing with results available online, awards to top three in each age group, a great sponsor supplied raffle and awards ceremony following the last finishers and the best post race snack table out there.
In order to be guaranteed a custom event shirt you absolutely MUST be pre-registered 14 days in advance. Please understand if you don’t know you are doing the event a week or two out how are we to know? If a shirt is important to you please pre-register. Due to increasing costs with shipping and shirts orders are kept tight.
Finish/Awards
Please CLICK HERE for awards mail form.
Awards are provided at all events except ACT and TRI. They will be awarded in 5 yr. increments beginning at 20-24, 25-29, etc. Before that they will be in 2 yr. increments based on registrations within those categories. Top 3 Men, Top 3 Women overall in each event are taken OUT of his/her age group. An overall win is an overall win, therefore you cannot win two awards. In most events unless otherwise noted top 3 men and women in Clydesdale and Athena categories will be awarded. Also in Long courses the top overall Master female and male will be awarded to the top 40 year plus male and female.
Awards will in NO circumstances be given out early, or individually before the awards ceremony. If you must depart for the awards ceremony you may opt to pay the $10 shipping and processing fee and have the award mailed to you.
You MUST send this form in within 2 weeks following the event with a check or money order for $10 per award in order to receive your award. Please understand we have NO control over the US postal service.
Course Info
The bike is shaded basically the entire way with rolling smooth roads. The run course is flat all the way except at the long course turnaround. The surprise for this event is something like no other around, we did it when we were here before and athletes loved it. You will take about 30 stairs down to the beach, where you will have to find the quickest line to take to run through 400m of white potentially hot sandy beach to the finish line on the beach. Picking the right line through the sand is the key, obviously you want to find the sure footing, it is kinda obvious.
Swim: 500m or 1500m
There will be several lifeguards on boards and waverunners as well as coast guard and sheriff marine patrol to assist you if you need help. The swim course will be marked with large neon buoys. A map of the swim course will be posted at registration as well as the transition area. This will be determined by weather that weekend. This will be an on the beach start provided we do not have cool water temps. Waves will not be larger than 100 athletes per wave for your safety and comfort. Provided swim caps must be worn during the swim, if you are allergic to latex you must bring your own silicon cap. A mandatory pre-race meeting will start about 7:45am on the beach. Each athlete will be counted into the start corral before the start of the race. Olympic distance athletes will start us off followed 30 minutes later by the first female sprint wave. Mens sprint waves will be seperated by about 10 minutes to ensure safety and limit potential swim overs. Actual wave start times will be determined by the race director based on how the previous wave is progressing. If you need assistance raise your hand and a lifeguard will assist. Every effort will be made ot have the swim course set up on Friday or Saturday. Need a wetsuit? Click the link to the right to rent yours. Up to date, last minute information on the Facebook page - Water temp as of: 6.23 - 65.
Bike: 12.4 mi. or 24.8mi.
An out and back rolling bike course. Slower athletes should remain on the inside along the shoulder at all times. Police, Sheriff and support crew will be along the course, remember a person cannot stop a speeding car so wait till they wave you through. This is an open course so you will be sharing the roads with vehicule traffic, use extra caution for the 2 miles along Lake Michigan out and back as you are in a residential area and there could be patrons coming to use the beachs. Communication is a must so please be vocal with fellow athletes on the bike course. You will have a short kinda steep up hill out of the transition area about 30m, then a right along Lake Michigan for about 2 miles, then you will merge onto the Blue Star highway, from that point it is tree lined and rolling and you are flying to your turnaround points. These will be indicated with 3 signs and arrows as you approach the 5 cones with turnaround sign in the middle of the road. Olympic distance athletes must use caution when approaching the sprint turnaround on the way back as there may be sprint athletes still making their turns. You will have a coned lane along the shoulder as your "thru" lane. After making your turnarounds you will just head back the same exact way. Use caution when coming downhill into the transition area. Click here for bike course. or
here:
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: 3.4 & 6.4mi.
Exiting the transition area down the chute and up the same short steep hill as the bikes you will follow a coned lane along lake Michigan. you will dive into Evergreen Bluff to the turnaround point at the cul de sac then head back to Monroe st. Sprint athletes will head LEFT back to the beach. Olympic distance athletes will head right down Monroe to 13th ave. Taking that to the dead end at the South Haven park and then return. Olympic distance athletes DO NOT turn back down Evergreen Bluff on the way back. You have a straight shot back to the beach stairs. 2 aid stations one on the corner of Evergreen Bluff and Monroe will serve as mile 1/2 aid and the other one is placed at mile 3/4 for Olympic distance athletes. Aid stations are not necessarily at specific mile marks, but all miles will be marked. You will follow a chalk line as well as cones and arrows along the course. Water and electrolyte replacement will be provided along the course. Much of the course is flat and pretty fast as well as tree lined. The feature of this race is the stairs and beach finish. 30 stairs will take you from Monroe st. to the beach, Once you make it to the bottom of the stairs you will have about 400m of beach running to the finish line. A very cool and unique setting that will have hundreds of beach goers cheering you on. Click here for run course map.
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)
Transition Area
Open at 6:00am closes at 7:30am. No 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. Click here for map
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.
Packet Pickup/Registration
Day Before: 2-5:00pm Friday.
Day of Registration: 6-7:00 am Saturday.
Day of Registration will close promptly 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each event unless otherwise noted.
Will be located in most cases under the white tents, please follow the registration signs and look for the purple “Registration” flags.
ITEMS YOU MUST BRING: USA Triathlon member card and drivers license. You will not be permitted to race without your drivers license. NON USA Triathlon members will be required to proceed to the USA Triathlon registration table to fill out a one day member license and pay the USA Triathlon $10 fee. This entire fee is sent directly to USA Triathlon following the event along with the event results. If you are not familiar with the multi-sport governing body please see their website at: www.usatriathlon.org
Upon completing the initial registration process you will be issued a race bib number, it is YOUR responsibility to check your personal information for correct spellings, age changes, etc. at this point. Wrong information can cause issues with your race timing and scoring. If you registered by the 14 day pre-registration cut-off date you will receive your T shirt, then proceed to the partner supplied sample area where you may pick one sample of each product.
Note: Kids participating 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign event waivers.
USAT
A $12 one day USAT license fee is required for all NON - USAT members. Relays are required to pay $12 per relay member. Youth 17 and under is a $5 fee for the year.
Pre registered athletes your fee was collected online this fee goes directly to USA Triathlon NOT 3D.
Remember the USAT age up rule, meaning you will race at the age you will be at the end of the year.
Timing/Scoring
We provide all the timing and scoring services for each and every event we host. This will be with ChampionChip or Chrono Track timing systems.
Proceed to the “Chip Pick Up” flag typically near the transition area entrance. You will be issued a neoprene strap with a plastic chip. This must be securely fastened to your ankle for the entire event. It is recommended you put this around your ankle immediately.
You will NOT be issued a chip and strap without your race bib number. There are no exceptions so do not forget this when picking up your chip and strap.
Throughout the event there will be sets of timing mats or gators, typically under structures indicating finish, bike in, run out, swim finish etc. You must cross over these areas. Do not avoid them or attempt to jump over them. Finally every effort will be made to supply you with a swim, bike, run, transition 1, transition 2 and finish times. However it is explicitly expressed the electronic timing systems are not fool proof. They are electronics and computers outside in the elements and they are not perfect systems. We along with any other timer out there can only score what is captured in a system.
PRELIMINARY results will be posted on and in results kiosks typically located in and around the post event areas. Results are rarely 100% final at the time of the awards ceremony, due to post race corrections.
Your results will be posted on the event website under the “Results” tab located on the home page as well as event page. Every effort is made to post these by the following morning or within 24 hrs. of the event.
You are responsible for that chip and strap once it is handed to you. If you lose this at any point, meaning you do not turn it in at the finish line you will be responsible for the $40 replacement cost. There are no exceptions to this.
Body Marking
After picking up your chip and strap the “Body Marking” flag is typically located near this area. Please proceed to the body marking area. Event support crew will be marking race numbers on your swim caps, biceps, tops of hands, and quadriceps. You will also have your event code marked on one calf. T= long course, S= sprint, D= duathlon, R = relay, H = half. On the opposite calf will be your USAT Age Up. Meaning your age for that year.
