Mamaroneck Schools Foundation Annual Junior Triathlon Is Saturday

The ninth annual Mamaroneck Schools Foundation Junior Triathlon will take place Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Hommocks Middle School, 130 Hommocks Road in Larchmont.

The popular event for children in grades two through eight includes swimming, biking and running, and according to organizers registration is closed because more than 300 students have signed up. A waiting list has been formed and can be accessed by clicking here.

Below is important race information from the event’s webpage:

Participants:
We look forward to seeing you at 6:30am Saturday morning. The triathlon will have 3 parts. You will be swimming, biking, and running, in that order. You must finish each part before you start the next one. Your goal is to be safe and have fun. The most important way to have fun in a triathlon is to finish. You will need to save your energy for the end of the triathlon. Go at a comfortable pace. You will enjoy the triathlon much more.

Parents:
Participants must check-in at Hommocks at 6:30AM Saturday morning. Late arrivals may not participate. Please clearly label all items to be used during the event. Parking is limited. Please walk to the event, carpool, or drop off participants. The parent viewing area will be at the finish line behind Hommocks at the circle near the new auditorium. Spectators are not allowed in the transition areas.

Instructions (please read carefully!):

Friday Night, September 19th:

Check in at Hommocks 5:30 -7:30pm. You must have your signed waiver and your bike! Download the waiver
Put your race # on your bicycle and helmet, and put your bicycle in the transition area. You will; be marked with a sharpie with your number and age upon registration on your calf and upper arm area.

Saturday morning, September 20th:
Report at 6:30AM on Saturday for the triathlon wearing a swimsuit under your clothes. Bring a bike helmet and all items needed for your race, clearly labeled with participant’s name.

1. Check in at registration table.

2. Have your race numbers and age marked on your body.

3. Go to transition area wearing your bathing suit. You may want to wear some sort of sweat pants and sweat shirt to stay warm. Before you enter the transition area say good bye to your parents and ask them to wish you good luck!!. You should quickly locate your bike and set up your transition area with the following items (You must leave the transition area by 7am):

* Bike helmet with race number on it

* T-shirt with race number safety pinned on it

* Shorts and sweatshirt or jacket (optional)

* Sneakers/ socks

* Towel

* Water bottle

* Goggles

4. Leave whatever sweats you came in and proceed to the pool transition area wearing only your bathing suit. Don’t forget your goggles!! Both boys and girls will walk through the girls’ locker room and into the gym.

5. At the gym doors you will check in, get your timing chip, receive your bathing cap and you will be seated by your number

Volunteers will be there at each step of the way directing you where to go. If you are not sure just go up to any volunteer and they will steer you in the right direction. And most important... Remember to have FUN!!!!!

What to expect during the race:

1. The swim is first! The start was new in 2012 so please read this carefully so you know what is going on. You will be walked into the pool area in numerical order. Boys age 8 and under will be first followed by the girls 8 and under. You must stay in line. You will step over a timing mat one by one and jump in the pool to start swimming. Each participant will have their own start time recorded by the mat, there will be approximately 10 seconds between racers. The first group (8 and under) will swim one length and get out on the other side, the second age group (9-10) will swim 3 lengths, they will swim to the end of the first lane, go under the rope, swim back to the other side of the pool, go under the rope again, swim to the other side and get out. This is a snake start, as the number of laps increase you continue to go under the lane lines to finish your distance. There will be volunteers at the end of each lane to let you know what to do. 2. You climb out of the pool and WALK through the metal doors leading to the grassy bike transition area.

3. You find your bike and leave your bathing cap and goggles there. Put on your sneakers, T-shirt, shorts, bike helmet and WALK your bike out of the transition area. Your helmet must be clasped before you leave the transition area. WALK your bike always remaining to the RIGHT. The volunteers will tell you to follow the path through the narrow door into the parking lot. You will not mount your bike until you are in the parking lot and the volunteers tell you it is ok to get on your bike.

4. Mount your bike and stay at all times to the Right. If you need to pass a slower bike rider, announce to the person ahead of you in a loud voice “ON YOUR LEFT!!” Always pass someone leaving the bike you are passing to your right. It is their left, but your right!!

5. There are TWO different bike distances!! See below. There will be volunteers and colored tape to direct you, BUT you must pay attention and look for the tape on the ground. The youngest age group (8 & under) should look for the RED tape. The (9-10) group will be looking for BLACK tape. The (11-12) group will be looking for WHITE tape. And the oldest group (13 & over) will follow the ORANGE tape. The black, white and orange bibs all follow the same bike course. Your bib numbers have been marked to remind you what color group you are in. ALSO, there may be times during the bike course that the volunteers ask you to SLOW down or even come to a complete STOP. This is for the safety of all involved. If a volunteer reports that a biker did not follow their instructions, you may be disqualified from the race. PLEASE listen and follow all directions given to by the race volunteers so we can all have a fun and safe day!

6. When you are heading into Flint Park at the end of your bike race look for the volunteers and dismount your bike. You must WALK your bike back into the grassy bike transition area. You MUST leave your bike and helmet back in the same numbered spot you took it from. You will now exit through the left side of the gate you just entered transition with your bike. The RUNNERS will be exiting on the left side of the gate that leads into Flint Park. Make sure when you check in on Friday or Saturday that you know where the bike out, bike in and run out spots are. Again there will be volunteers there to direct you.

7. Start your run. Please note this year the end of the run is slightly different to increase safety. Be sure the athletes, especially those that have done this before, are aware of this change. All runners will finish by coming from flint around Alma (the turf) Field and the back of the ice rink, through the parking lot and then into the same finish line circle as previous years. See the course descriptions for more details. You are almost done!!! There are two different run distances. The courses will be marked duct tape on the ground. Look for the tape!! Your bib number tells you what color you are. The youngest group (8 & under) is RED. The middle group (9-10) is BLACK. The red and black groups follow the same run course. The (11-12) group is WHITE. And the oldest group (13 & over) is ORANGE. The white and orange groups follow the same run course.

8. As soon as you cross the finish line you will receive a medal for your GREAT accomplishment!!!! Also cheers from the crowd!! You will return your timing chip to race officials. You will be charged a fee if the chip is not returned.

9. Stick around for the awards which will be given out for first, second, and third place for boys and girls in the following age groups:

8 & under girls 8& under boys
9-10 girls 9-10 boys
11-12 girls 11-12 boys
13 & over girls 13& over boys

10. After the awards ceremony pick up your bike and clothes at the transition area. You must have your # to enter the transition area and pick up your bike. The transition area will close at 11:00. After this time the transition area will not be secure.

Participants must be able to complete the event unassisted.

The parent viewing area will be at the finish line behind Hommocks at the circle near the new auditorium.

The approximate finish time is between 7:45am and 9:30am depending on age group and speed.

Awards will be given out after all participants complete the event. The entire event will be finished by approximately 10:00am.

Photo credit: Mamaroneck Schools Foundation