Distances
5k run, 20k bike, 5k run
Date/location
Saturday May 5, 9:00am Willow Metropark, New Boston, MI. Click here for map
Willow Metropark is located right off of I-275, between Will Carleton and Huron River Dr. You will exit S. Huron rd. #11 and go right into the park.Proceed to the pool parking lot.
Venue/Area Information
Another beautiful Huron Clinton Metro Park, this is part of a three park system, with Willow in the middle, Oakwood just down the street and Lower Huron a few miles west. It is a beautiful park nestled in the big Willows in a rural setting. The park is 10 minutes from Metro Airport, about 30 from Ann Arbor, and 45 from Detroit as well as 45 minutes from the Ohio state line.
MultiSport 101
Not for This event.
Amenities:
Unless otherwise noted 2012 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.
Keep in mind USAT sanctioned events have the USAT age up rule. Your age on race day is the same as how old you will be on December 31st of that year.
Top 3 Men and Top 3 Women Overall in each event, excluded from their agegroup
Top 3 Men and Top 3 Women within each of the following agegroups 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+
Top 3 Clydesdales in Olympic and Sprint Triathlons 39 and under and 40+ categories (Clydesdale = Male 200lbs or more)
Top 3 Athenas in Olympic and Sprint Triathlons 39 and under and 40+ categories (Athena = Females 150lbs or more)
Masters are awarded to the 1st place Male and 1st Place Female who is 40+ within the Olympic/Long Course and Half distance Triathlons and excluded from agegroup
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. Please see the link above and under the forms page. 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
Run course is totally contained within the park, a flat, fast mostly paved path road run with a short section on the grass. The bike is equally flat and fast. A perfect duathlon to get the engine going.
Bike: 20k
Exiting the transition area you will make a RIGHT out of the pool parking lot to a RIGHT at the first corner which takes you around the entire park. Then LEFT at the entry and LEFT on Willow Rd. From that point you will head down to a T, making a LEFT on Huron River, winding past the the high school and making a RIGHT on West Rd. to the turnaround just before it turns to dirt, and back. DO NOT turn into Oakwood Metropark! This is as smooth, flat and fast as the old course was.
Course Map
Run: 5k
The run is a fast flat run taking you on the inside of the park. You will start next to the transition area. Follow that road around and out on the park road, again following that road all the way back around and in. Water and electrolyte replacement at the half way point, 2500m mark.
Relays
At registration you will receive ONE bib number and ONE chip/strap. The runner must wear the bib number 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 7:00am not before! 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.
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 transition area 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.
Race Tips
In a lot of duathlons athletes want to "save" something for the second run. If that is your pre race goal stick to it. Being this early in the season many athletes have said this is their first day actually on the road with their bikes. Seems for some reason wind plays a factor on the bike every year as well. So given the early season, flat course, and folks just getting out I say you should not "save" anything. See where the system is, rock that first run, rock the bike and see what you have left. Remember that wind on the way back, especially in the park. Then give it what you got on the last run. It is flat so no worries. That will give you 3-4 weeks of training and (time trialing at Starkermann) to tweak the training to make sure the system is ready for the season in June.
Packet Pickup/Registration
Day Of Only right inside the concession area. 7:00am to 8:30am
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 (or any picture ID). You will not be permitted to race without a picture ID. 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 $12 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. please do so 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: Participants 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 $15 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
All athletes and all relay members will be body marked with their race number. 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 (please see USAT Age up Rule)
Accomodations
Marriott Detroit Metro Airport is 15 minutes from the park. 30559 Flynn Drive Romulus, Michigan 48174 USA Phone: 1-734-729-7555
Friends, Family and Spectators
All rules are designed for the safety of the athletes and our spectators, please follow all rules to ensure everyones safety.
- The transition is absolutely OFF LIMITS to all spectators. All fenced areas are fenced for a reason, it is not to see where you can get around or crawl over or under. These are athlete only areas and are fenced for their safety and yours. Fenced areas will be taken down before raffle and award ceremonies.
- Athlete post race snack tent areas are OFF LIMITS to all spectators. These snacks are for ATHLETES ONLY. Unfortunately we do not have enough to feed everyone, if you are eating the athlete food there will not be enough for the athletes following their finish.
- “Hot Spots” which are the swim exit, bike in/out and finish chutes are high priority areas in terms of safety and caution. At our events these areas are always fenced and flagged and typically patrolled by crew. Please do not lean on, or over in order to get a picture.
- Please make sure you have all pets on short leashes.
- Please make sure you have all your kids close by your side, a small child running across a chute in front of athletes running full speed is not a good thing.
- Finally if you would like to help out the support crew on the course please feel free to ask them or please see the race director before the event. We are ALWAYS looking for additional assistance on the course and you will receive access to the post race snack tent with your athlete as well as receive a support crew shirt.
Support Volunteers
If you would like to be a part of the event and receive a support crew shirt and access to the post race snack tent we will never turn down help. The more help on the course just means it is that much better for the athletes. We can ALWAYS use your assistance, you can never have too many volunteers.
If interested in volunteering and it is the Thursday prior to the event or before, please fill out the form _____ prior to the event. If it is the day before the event or race day, please find one of the 3 D CREW or head to the VOLUNTEER Flag at the venue.
