GNB 2018 Racer Welcome Packet By Jeff Longenecker Ride Float Run
Contained within you will find good info such as: Race day check-in process Course map Tagging and bagging equipment Race and State Park Rules and Requirements Looking forward to a GREAT day!
2018 - Swatara Gap N Back timeline 6:30a Check-In Start 9:15a Check-In End 9:45a Pre-race Announcements 10:00a Race Start ~12:30p Awards and Drawings ~1:30p Race Closure and Cleanup
GNB 2018 Check-in process Total drive time during check-in process is 24 minutes, without race traffic. The park will remain open to day users!!! PLEASE take care when approaching trails and PLEASE, PLEASE be kind. If you are driving a passenger car, Sand Siding Rd is a dirt road - it is rough at spots! The total 24 minute drive time is based on driving an 18 year old Jeep with reckless abandon! NAH - just kidding seeing if our DCNR folks are paying attention. It is wide enough for 2 way traffic MOST of the way Plan accordingly. Check-in opens at 6:30. Check-in closes at 9:15. Pre-Race Announcements 9:45. Race starts at 10:00. It is the racers responsibility to drop off equipment and teammates. It is the racers responsibility to be ready for a 10am start. RFR will not be validating everyone is back before starting the race.
Step 1 - Check-in Hampton Inn 481 Suedberg Rd Pine Grove, PA 17963 Check-in from 6:30a to 9:15a Race starts at 10a At check in you will sign your waiver. If you are over 21 and want your free beer, you need to present an ID, you will then get a wrist band. This wrist band MUST be on your wrist to get a beer. You will also get your bib number and shirts (if purchased).
Step 2 Boat drop After registration, turn left onto PA-443 (Suedburg Rd) Go 1.8 miles Turn LEFT onto Swopes Valley Rd Go.5 miles Turn RIGHT into Swopes Valley Trailhead Here racers will tag their boat, and place into assigned spot with paddle & PFD. If you re a TEAM, you drop off your kayaking teammate here.
Step 3 Bike drop After dropping boat, go back to PA-443 (Suedburg Rd), turn left Go 3.1 miles Turn LEFT onto Sand Siding Rd Go.6 miles to parking lot Here racers will tag their bike and place it with helmet, shoes and gloves into assigned spot. If you are a TEAM, you will be dropping off your riding teammate here.
Step 4 Get ready to start! Go back to Hampton Inn and park. Pre-race announcements at 9:45am Race starts promptly at 10am It is the racers responsibility to be back to the Hampton Inn on time! RFR will not be validating that everyone has made it back prior to starting.
WATER STATIONS There will be water at the Start/Finish and at 2 other places along the course. Once you hop on your bike, there will be NO water stations until you get back to the finish line! BRING YOUR HYDRATION PACK FOR YOUR RIDE! Water stations are labeled on the next slide with
LEG1 - RUN at beginning of Swatara Rail Trail behind Hampton Inn parking lot. The final portion of the run makes a small loop on the horse trail. Then to Swopes Valley Trailhead via Swopes Valley Rd 3.5 miles. LEG2 - PADDLE from Swopes Valley to Sand Siding Bridge, exit at bridge on creek left 3.5 mile paddle. The boater then must run.5mi to Sand Siding Lot. Boat to Bike LEG3 - RIDE from Sand Siding to MTB trails via SRT. Do two laps of loops A-1, A and A-2 in a counter clockwise direction. Exit MTB trails, get back onto SRT via Portage Trail. SRT to Waterville Bridge to Bear Hole Trail. BHT to Swopes Valley Rd and back to FINISH at Hampton Inn via SRT 8.6 miles of single-track + 10.7 miles of rail trail. 2 laps Run to Boat Start/Finish
LEG 3 ALTERNATE RIDE In the event of muddy trails at the mountain bike complex, it will be eliminated and only rail trails will be used as illustrated by the BLACK arrows. from Sand Siding to Waterville Bridge to Bear Hole Trail. BHT to Swopes Valley Rd and back to FINISH at Hampton Inn via SRT 10.7 miles of rail trail.
2018 - Swatara Gap N Back FAQ What equipment do I or my team need? Run = running shoes. The surface is mostly grass & crushed stone. At the end to get some techie stuff in, you will have a climb with a short but WICKED climb. This last part is dirt hiking trail, but is a small fraction of the overall run. Pick your sneaks accordingly. Float = kayak (with PA launch permit), paddle, PFD (life jacket), safety whistle, closed-toe footwear. You MUST wear closed-toe footwear while paddling. The boat must have a current PA launch permit. If you rent the boat RFR will bring the first 20 boats rented to the race that are rented from Nolt Ventures (http://www.noltventures.com/ or 717-354- RENT). Any another rentals are the racers responsibility. Ride = bike, helmet. You MUST wear the helmet at all times while riding. You may also consider some of the basic needs to get out of the woods in the event of breakdown (tube/patches, slip link, tools to get the job done). As far as the type of bike At minimum you need off-road tires. If the mountain bike trails are in good condition and part of the race, you will want at least front suspension. If they are closed due to rain, the cyclocross would probably be king. Ancillary supporting items... water bottle, racing snack, runner s belt, gloves, bug spray, sunglasses
2018 - Swatara Gap N Back FAQ oequipment / teammate drop-off (pre-race) o Racers are responsible for dropping off equipment at Race Transitions (RT) prior to the start of the race. This does not include kayaks rented from Nolt Ventures RFR will drop them off. o RFR will supply EACH racer 3 PRE-NUMBERED bags (bags numbered per BIB, bag size 13.5 x 15 ). o The racer is responsible for making sure their equipment is tagged and bagged. Masking tape will be used to tag boats, PFDs and paddles. o If you are doing a team relay, you will drop your teammates and equipment off at race transitions. o For a racer to get equipment out of a race transition during the race, that equipment MUST match the BIB number of the racer. o We are using T-Blocks for the bike RT. Each T-Block will be pre-labeled with your BIB number.
2018 - Swatara Gap N Back FAQ oequipment handling DURING the race o At the kayak takeout, leave your paddle and PFD in or on top of your boat. o If you are changing clothes/shoes between boat and ride leg, you can do so at the kayak take out OR at the bike transition. o At RT s you may leave ancillary items behind to be picked up by RFR and brought back to Hampton Inn. HOWEVER o ALL items must be in the numbered bags (except PFD s and paddles duh. Helmets DO fit and they MUST be in a bag!). Only plain grey numbered bags will be collected at RTs and all your items MUST be in them plan accordingly. o RFR will do their very best to get all items returned, but we will not be held responsible for lost or stolen items. oequipment/teammate pick-up (post-race) o The race finishes with the ride, so you already have your bike. o RFR will bring your kayak and teammates BACK to Hampton Inn! How cool is that?! When you re finished, relax have a beer (if you re 21+). o When RFR drops the boats at Hampton Inn, they will go into a holding area. You cannot take boats unless you have the BIB for them.
2018 - Swatara Gap N Back rules A few rules (gotta have some) Racers kayak must have a current PA launch permit - https://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com/als/launchctrl.php Racers must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket) while kayaking. Racers must have a safety whistle attached to your PFD. Racers must have closed-toe shoes while kayaking. Racers must wear a DOT approved helmet while biking. Racers must stay on the trail at all times. It is the racers responsibility to drop off equipment and teammates. It is the racers responsibility to be at the Hampton Inn and ready for a 10am start. RFR will not be validating everyone is back before starting the race. All racers must sign a waiver. All racers must be 13 years of age minimum. 13 to 15 year olds must be on a team and cannot participate in the kayaking leg. Due to trail/weather conditions course may change. RFR will keep racers updated via email. Racers must follow all state, local and volunteer instructions. Racers must insure all equipment is in proper working order. Racers will be subject for disqualification and/or not allowed to race if any of these rules are broken, no refunds.
MAIL-IN REGISTRATION Make checks payable to Ride Float Run and mail to: 120 N New St, Lititz, PA 17543. Mail entries must be postmarked PRIOR to May 23 th. Registering as (circle one) Got shirts? Enter quantity under each size. $5ea for cotton feel TECH shirt. Donation to DES Foundation? A 501(c)3 organization Total on check Tri Solo $60 Tri 2 person $100 Tri 3 person $120 Youth L S M L XL XXL Please print - **If you are registering as a team please enter a Team Name and your Team Member Names** Last Name First Name Street City State Zip Email IF solo Age on race day and Gender **Team Name** **Team Member Names** Have you been impacted by suicide? If you wish that person to be briefly honored please tell me their name. YES NO Emergency contact name & number
Point Of Contact numbers. RFR volunteers will have access to emergency management radios in the event of an emergency. If you are a racer in need of help (lost, injured) do not hesitate to call one of the numbers below. Cell coverage is spotty and these POCs will be performing other duties as well so, if the first person doesn t answer - call the next! Shane Miller 717-507-2272 Scott Yeagley 717-507-1573 Patrick Yeagley 410-926-7889 Jeff Longenecker 704-808-0381 If it is a life threatening problem, call 911.