Dear Registered Athlete, Welcome to the 2018 Cohasset Triathlon. Thanks to you, the Cohasset Triathlon is one of the largest and fastest to sell out sprint races in the USA. We are super proud that the event has helped raise over $1,350,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through individual and team fundraising to help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Enclosed in this pre-race package you will find important information about registration, parking, and other race logistics. Please take a moment to review. We encourage you to invite your family and friends to join you at Sandy Beach. The venue is sensational and the vibe will be great. Special thanks to our long standing partner JetBlue. Two free roundtrip tickets will be given to the top male and female with best overall combined T1 and T2 times in what we call the Fastest Transition Award. Second place winners will get a certificate for 5,000 TrueBlue points. If you have any race related questions, please feel free to call or text the Cohasset Triathlon staff line at 508-901-9207. We look forward to seeing you on race weekend!! Many thanks, Bill Burnett Managing Director Streamline Events, LLC www.cohassettri.com www.streamlineevents.com
PRE-RACE LOGISTICS Packet Pick Up We are offering you TWO options to pick up your race packet: Option 1 - Pick up your packet on Saturday, June 23 th 10:00 PM 2:00 PM at the Cohasset Town Hall, 41 Highland Avenue, Cohasset, MA. Option 2 Pick up your packet on race morning at Sandy Beach (the race venue) from 5:45 am 7:00 am. Any athletes who miss the 7:00 am cutoff will not be allow to race. IMPORTANT: With the large size of our race field, we highly recommended you pick up your packet using Option 1 above to beat the lines. When choosing Option 1 you will get prime choice of the t-shirt sizes and other choice merchandise for sale. All pre-registered entrants are expected to pick up their packet in person due to insurance purposes. All participants must show a photo ID. NO EXCEPTIONS. Special note: if you are part of a 2 or 3 person relay team you must pick up your packet as a team. That is, everyone on your team must show up at the same time. IDs will be checked and medical waiver forms will be issued for each team member. We will not release your race packet if you are missing a team member during packet pick up. No exceptions. Race Packet In your race packet you will find: 1. Run Bib Number must be displayed during the run leg on the front of your body (not your back). Fasten your bib number using a race belt or using safety pins. 2. Bike Frame Number must be attached so the number is visible from both sides of your bike. 3. Bike Helmet Number must be attached to the front of your bike helmet. 4. Two Race Tattoos the two tattoos must be applied to each arm. We recommend you apply the tattoos BEFORE you come to the race (ie, the night before is best). 5. Timing Chip we are using disposable timing chips that will be in your packet.
RACE DAY TIMELINE 5:30 AM Music Circus Parking Lot Opens (see parking section below) 6:15 AM Transition Area opens. Registration opens. Body Marking opens. 6:30 AM All perimeter streets to Sandy Beach are closed NO PARKING AT SANDY BEACH. NO BIKE DROP OFFS 7:00 AM Registration closes 7:25 AM Mandatory pre-race meeting and National Anthem 7:30 AM Last shuttle bus for spectators leaves the Music Circus 7:40 AM Final call for 1 st wave 7:45 AM Race starts 10:45 AM (approx) Post-race Ceremony Top 3 age group winners JetBlue s fastest transition award winners o Note: athletes must be present to receive the medal and/or award. Wave Who Cap Color *Estimated Start Time 1 Elite, Novice Men White (Elite), Yellow 7:45 AM 2 Novice Women (all ages) Orange 7:54 AM 3 Women (39 & Under) Purple 8:03 AM 4 Women (40-49) Powder Blue 8:09 AM 5 Women (50 & Over, Athena) Pink 8:15 AM 6 Men (50 & Over) Royal Blue 8:21 AM 7 Men (45-49, Clydesdale) White 8:27 AM 8 Men (35-44) Green 8:33 AM 9 Men (34 & Under) Navy 8:39 AM 10 All Relays Red 8:45 AM *IMPORTANT NOTE #1 the start times between each wave are subject to change. For your safety, we will not release a wave until the last person of the previous wave has reached a certain point on the swim course. In addition, the race staff and medical teams reserve the right to pull ANY swimmer who appears to be struggling in the water this is for your protection and safety. Wetsuits are MANDATORY. *IMPORTANT NOTE #2 Ladies First! That s right! In the history of the event the women have always been in the last few swim waves. We are changing it up this year to give them an opportunity to race in the front half of the event.
PARKING LOGISTICS FOR RACERS ONLY (or racers traveling with family) IMPORTANT! THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ALLOWED AT SANDY BEACH. ALL RACERS MUST PARK THEIR CARS AT THE MUSIC CIRCUS PARKING LOT (130 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA). The roads are closed leading to Sandy Beach. No bike drop offs are allowed at the race venue. You must park your car at the Music Circus first and bike 1.5 miles to Sandy Beach. This will be strictly enforced by the Cohasset Police. Cars will be towed that are parked in or around the Sandy Beach area or on the race course. Parking has been reserved for racers at the Music Circus (*parking area 1 on parking map). The parking lot will open at 5:30 am. After parking your car, with your gear on your back, you will bike 1.5 miles to Sandy Beach. If you are traveling with someone who does not have a bike, they can walk the 1.5 miles to the beach or take one of the six shuttle buses available to Sandy Beach. For racers who need to pick up their race packet on race day, it is strongly encouraged that you plan to arrive at the Music Circus parking lot by 5:45 am. We encourage you to get your packet before race morning to reduce stress and beat the lines. PARKING LOGISTICS FOR ALL SPECTATORS AND VOLUNTEERS Parking is available at the Music Circus (130 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA) (*parking area 1 on parking map) for all spectators. We also have overflow parking at nearby Deer Hill School. Shuttle buses will be available for transportation. The last shuttle bus to take spectators to Sandy Beach from the parking lots leaves at 7:30 am. Anyone arriving after this time will not be able to go to the Transition Area but will be taken via shuttle bus to an alternate spectator viewing area at the Town Commons. At this viewing area, spectators will be able to see the bike and run legs of the race. Spectators who would like to see the Transition Area and finish line must be at the last shuttle bus at 7:30 am. Shuttle buses will be available to take spectators from Sandy Beach back to the parking lots starting at approximately 10:45 am - so plan accordingly (ie, bring sunscreen and weather specific clothing). Directions to the Music Circus (130 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA) FROM BOSTON: Just 20 miles south of Boston. Take Route 3 to exit 14 (Route 228 north). Follow route 228 approximately 7 miles to the intersection of Route 3A. Take a right onto Route 3A south and drive a few miles through Hingham into Cohasset. Take a left onto Sohier Street (just past the Mobil gas station). The Music Circus parking lot entrances are on Sohier Street, approximately 1/2 mile down on the right.
PRE-RACE INSTRUCTIONS Top Six Things for Racers to Remember Wetsuit Wetsuits are MANDATORY. No exceptions. The water is expected to be in the low-mid 60 degrees. We suggest wearing two swim caps (with the race cap on the outside) to protect your head from the cold water. Ride with Caution The roads are in prime condition this year. PLEASE use extra caution throughout the entire course. It is YOUR responsibility to ride safely and caution. There will be cars on the road. Please pay particular caution on Main Street as you circle back into Cohasset as St. Anthony s and St. Steven s Churches are holding their worship services. We have over 30 police details on the course at key intersections but take caution and ride safely. Check In Early Eliminate the race day rush and pick up your race packet on Saturday. Plus, you are more likely to get prime choice of the race merchandise. Bring your ID Remember to bring your ID to packet pick up. No ID = no race packet. No exceptions. No Bike Drop Offs Bike drop offs at the race venue are not allowed. This will be strictly enforced. All racers need to park first at the Music Circus then bike to Sandy Beach. Put your gear in a backpack and think of the ride to the beach as a good warm up. Note: shuttle buses will be available for your family and friends who are coming to cheer you on. Invite them to come! Have Fun You are about to experience a triathlon like no other in the area. Our media partner, 92.5 the River, is planning some great entertainment along with live music on the big stage. Other Things for Spectators to Bring Bring Sunscreen. Spectators should be prepared that there is little shelter from the sun (or weather) at Sandy Beach. Bring sunscreen, hats, etc. Bring cash or a credit card. We will have merchandise and food for sale. Bring a camera! There will be many photo opportunities, during the race (for your spectator friends) as well as at the post-race ceremony. **Race Contact** If you need to contact the Race Staff for any critical questions please call or text 508-901-9207.
OTHER COURSE ANNOUNCMENTS SWIM COURSE 1) The swim course starts from beach start. Athletes will be allowed to dunk themselves in the water before returning to the starting line on the beach. We advise all athletes do this to get use to the temperature of the water. 2) We will offer a special cordoned off area for swim warm up before and during the event. All athletes MUST swim in this special warm up area. Failure to follow the Race Coordinators instructions will result in an immediate disqualification. BIKE COURSE BIKE COURSE ALERT #1: In north Scituate, the bike course will bypass Mordecai Lincoln Road. The course will go from Gannett Road all the way to the stoplights at Country Way (also known as Main Street). Athletes will take a right onto Country Way (not Mordecai Lincoln!) for this year.
BIKE COURSE ALERT #2: For our returning athletes, the bike course has been slightly altered to accommodate the needs of our local parishioners and businesses. Please note that heading back into downtown Cohasset you will now make a right onto Summer Street, then a left onto Elm Street, then back out onto Main Street. Use caution when biking the course and especially when turning right onto this new section of the course.
BIKE COURSE ALERT #3: Due to Cunningham Bridge Project, athletes will start the bike course heading out on Nichols Road, then a left on Jerusalem, left on Main Street, left onto Beach Street then back onto the course. This detour will add approximately one mile to the bike course.
RUN COURSE RUN COURSE ALERT #1: Due to Cunningham Bridge Project, the run course will be an out and back run course on Atlantic/Jerusalem Road. Athletes will love the relatively flat course and great ocean views!
A Message from the Head Referee to all age-group competitors Welcome to this USA Triathlon sanctioned event. You are racing under the USAT Competitive Rules. In order to minimize misunderstandings on race day, I hope you will take the time to read the following summary of Position Violations, which you know as the drafting rules.
I have reduced the Position Rules to the following concepts, which everyone can remember: Ride on the right side of your lane. Keep three bike lengths between yourself and the cyclist in front of you. Pass on the left of the cyclist in front, never on the right. Complete your pass within 15 seconds. If passed, you must drop completely out of the zone, to the rear, before attempting to re-pass. Remember you are racing in a USA Triathlon sanctioned event and there are USAT certified referees on the course to ensure fairness in the competition. There will be NO WARNINGS if you commit a foul during competition. Triathlon is an individual event and you must take personal responsibility to understand the rules and avoid penalties. At the end of the race all citations by the marshals are reviewed by the Head Referee who then decides if a penalty should be assessed. The Head Referee s ruling is final in the case of Position Violations and there are no protests or appeals of Position penalties. Marshals commonly cite the following violations: Position riding on the left side of the lane without passing. Blocking left side riding and impeding the forward progress of another competitor Illegal Pass passing on the right. Overtaken - failing to drop back three bike lengths before re-passing Drafting following a leading cyclist closer than three bike lengths and failing to pass within 15 seconds. Make sure your helmet is a CPSC approved model. All helmets legally sold in the US are CPSC approved but if you purchased your helmet in a different country it might be illegal for use in sanctioned events. While on your bike, always have your chinstrap securely fastened - before, during and after the event! The chin strap rule is easy to follow, so don t forget that s a DQ! Wear your race numbers during the run stage. Don t leave your trash on the course. Don t carry or use any portable audio devices. Remember to treat other athletes, volunteers, and officials with courtesy and consideration. Failure to do so is called Unsportsmanlike Conduct and you will be disqualified.