Hello Lookout Mountain Triathletes!!!
Thank you to everyone who updated their swim times with us (if necessary). With a pool swim, it is important that everyone’s estimated swim time is as accurate as possible so that it’s a fun day for all swimmers. The start order has been assigned, and you can view your start timeright here.
This email will give more detail on the swim start procedure, as well as the bike and run courses. We will also repeat important info on getting to the venue, as well as details on packet pickup, parking, and spectator information.
Enjoy your last few days leading up to the race. We’ll see you on Saturday.
Paul and the chaps at Dig Deep Sports!!!
PACKET PICKUP
There will be two packet pickup options for the Lookout Mountain Triathlon. Info on both is listed below.
1)On Friday June 17th from 2-6pm you can pick up your packet at Runner’s High located at 103 N. Ruby Dr. in Golden. During this time Runner’s High will offer a 10% discount off of the regular price of shoes and 20% off on apparel.
If you pick up a friends packet on Friday they will need to show ID on Saturday morning to get their chips and caps. No photo ID means you will not be allowed to start the race. To make things easy, we can hold your ID for safety during the race, and you may pick it up at the finish line. It will be held securely in an alphabetical file by a member of our race staff.
2)The second option is Race Day packet pickup, which will be available in the expo area immediately adjacent to transition starting at 5:00am. Packet pickup and transition will remain open until the start of the final swim heat, so there is no need to arrive early. You will need to show a photo ID at race morning packet pickup in order to receive your race packet. You will not need to show an ID at the pool.
Your race packet will include a bib number, which must be worn on your front during the run portion of the race. Please make sure this is visible as you start and finish the run so our backup timers can record you.
Your packet will also include a bike frame number, which you will attach to your seat post or to the top tube on your bike. There will also be a helmet sticker, which you will stick to the front of your helmet.
Your bib will be your meal ticket. Please do not lose it.
Timing chips will be distributed in the pool area, just before you enter the water. This allows you to move in and out of transition and the finish area without recording times prior to the start of your race. With a pool swim, it is important that only those who are actively racing have a timing chip on their ankle.
***IMPORTANT: Directions & Parking
From I-70, take Exit 254 (Genessee) ONLY. For the safety of the cyclists, please,DO NOT TAKE EXIT 256, labeled "Lookout Mountain" on race morning. Also -DO NOT ENTER THE COUNTRY CLUB FROM THE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ROAD SIDE.
From exit 254, turn north and follow Mount Vernon Country Club Road into the club property. Continue less than a mile to parking. Parking staff will direct you to parking just a short distance from transition.
Parking is limited, however, and all spectators should carpool with athletes, or park immediately outside the club property at the elementary school. Spectators arriving at the transition parking area without a participating athlete will be directed to parking outside the club property. From the school, it is just a short half-mile walk to the start/finish area.
Race Morning
Transition and packet pickup will open at 5:30am. You can find both of these in the Mount Vernon Country Club parking lot, just a short walk from parking.
The transition will be open all morning, so swimmers in a later heat can show up closer to their start time (please be on the pool deck 30 minutes before your scheduled swim start). If you are showing up later, please be courteous of participants who are racing. The same goes for early swimmers who have finished while others are still racing.
Transition will be fenced for security. Only participants will be allowed inside the transition area. Friends, family, and kids must wait outside.Pets are not allowed at Mount Vernon Country Club.
Bike racks are designed to hold 4 bikes each. Simply slide your rear tire into the rack, and place your towel and gear to the outside so it does not interfere with other athletes. Your towel will save your spot when you and your bike are on the road.
SWIM START PROCEDURE
Racing Underground has developed a very smooth and efficient procedure for handling pool swim starts. We have assigned an approximate start time for each participant, and bib numbers have been arranged in start order. Bib#1 will be our first swimmer, at 6:30am, and the rest of the swimmers will generally go off in order of bib number.
We ask that all swimmers who are assigned a 6:30am start time be on the pool deck no later than 6:15am. That will allow us to get you ready to start promptly at 6:30. All swimmers starting after 6:30am should make their way to the pool 30 minutes prior to their scheduled swim start time so we can prep you for your start, and in case we are running ahead of schedule. We always strive to run just a few minutes ahead of schedule.
If you had a friend that picked up your packet at the early packet pickup, you will need to bring a photo ID to the pool with you. We can hold your ID for you in a secure file while you race, and you may pick it up after you finish.
Please be sure you have been body marked before you come to the pool. We will not be able to start you without your body marking. Body marking will be done on race morning at the packet pickup tent. Please be sure to bring your bib# with you to body marking. You would be surprised at how many people remember their number incorrectly.
Once you are at the pool, we will do a final tweak on lane assignments. All swimmers with the same start time are of similar ability. The swim coordinator will check in with everyone to make sure all lane-mates are anticipating the same swim time on the morning of the race. There will be no more than 4 swimmers per lane.
Swimmers will then select a swim cap (each swimmer in a lane must wear a different color). You will also receive your timing chip just before entering the pool, and you will give your name, number, and cap color to the lap counter for your lane.
Swimmers will be started individually in a lane, with about 5-7 seconds between swimmers. The swim starter will enter your race number into a handheld timing computer, then give you a 3 second count to start.
The swim will be done in a counter clockwise direction in your lane – up the right side, then back on the opposite side. If you would like to pass, please do so at the end of the lane – simply tap the feet of the swimmer you would like to pass.
The swim is 525 yards in length. That is 10 full laps of the pool, plus one length. You will exit the pool on the opposite end from the start. When you are ready to begin your final lap, the lap counter will tap you with a wand, letting you know you will get out at the opposite end.
Once all swimmers in a lane have started, the next group of four will receive their timing chip and will be staged on the deck at the end of the lane. Please decide your start order with your lane mates, and when the lane is empty, hop in and wait for your starter. Please – do not start until you are directed to do so by the swim starter.
TRANSITION, BIKE, & RUN
Here are a few simple instructions for the rest of the race.
Once you hit transition, and are preparing to start the bike, there are a few tips to remember. First – there is no riding in transition. You must walk or run your bike to the mount line just outside transition. There is a slight hill near the bike start, so the mount line will be at the crest of that hill - - about 10 yards out of transition.
At the bike finish, you must dismount and run or walk your bike to your rack.
Next, be sure your helmet is on your head and buckled. You will not be allowed to ride if you are not wearing a helmet.
And finally, the course is well marshaled, but it is open to traffic. iPods and headphones are not allowed on the bike or the run courses for safety reasons.
The Lookout Mountain Tri bike course is hilly, with fun downhills, challenging uphills, and nice rollers. The course is 10 miles in length, and is scenic throughout. Please be sure to slow down before making a turn at the bottom of a hill. There will be signs to warn you at two of these locations – at the bottom of the first descent out of transition, and at the bottom of the long descent on the I-70 Frontage Road.
The 5K run course is rolling, and about 90 percent on dirt roads. There will be an aid station at approximately mile one and two.
Bike Course 10 miles- map on last pages
As you exit the transition area you will stay to the left of the cones until you turn left onto Mt. Vernon C.C. Road. Be careful through the round-a-bout and head down MVCC Road to Lookout Mountain Road. For the next 8 miles you will be on public open roads so please be aware of all traffic, signs, markings and marshals. It is the competitors responsibility to know the course.
All intersections or places of possible confusion will be marked on the road with a yellow arrow. Most intersections will have a marshal to help guide you.
After turning onto Lookout Mtn Road you will head a ¼ mile to US40 and turn right. Just over a mile into that climb you will be directed by a Colorado State Trooper to turn around and head back down (east) US40. You will descend 2 miles to a left turn at Paradise Road. A bright yellow sign will warn you of the turn and a Colorado State Trooper will direct you up to the nasty little climb ironically called Paradise.
- The Denver Century Ride is on the same day as the Lookout Mountain Triathlon. From the turn around point on US 40 to the intersection of US 40 and Paradise Road you will encounter Century riders heading up hill. DO NOT continue past the turn around on US 40 and know that though the State Patrol is stopping cyclists heading up hill at Paradise and US 40 be prepared for any cyclists not stopping. The course will be marked at that spot and we will have a marshal posted. You will stay on Paradise Road all the way up for 1.25 miles to Lookout Mtn Road. Turn right on Lookout Mtn Road and head northeast for just about a mile before you turn left onto the short climb of Colorow Road. Colorow Rd will loop backaround to Lookout Mtn Road in approximately 2 miles.
Run Course 5km – map on last page
There is no pre-running of the run course. The entire course is on private roads. Please respect the privacy of the residents of Mount Vernon Country Club.
You will exit the transition area on the west side just like you did when you started the bike. This time you’ll be directed to stay to the right of the cones. At Mount Vernon Country Club Road you will turn right (west). Please be careful as you cross the road so that you are running facing traffic.
The run course will be marked with Red XTERRA Arrows as well as yellow road arrows, cones, and marshals. Again, it is your responsibility to know the course.
A quarter mile up the road you will be directed left and down Centennial Trail and an abrupt right onto Aspen Way, the first (and worst) of three climbs. New this year will be a short loop on Shadow Lane about half way up the first climb. At the top you will guided across the paved road onto Sunrise Lane. Aid station #1 will be there. Make sure you follow the directions at the intersection .25 miles later and stay left on Sunrise Lane. After a half mile on Sunrise Lane you will merge into Centennial Trail. Please stay on the left side of the road.
About 1/3 of a mile later you will enter a big open area called “5 Points.” The new course will direct you to Range View Trail and a slight merge onto Mt. Evans Road. As you go around the corner on Mt. Evans Road, wave at the house to the right. That is Paul’s childhood home.
The second aid station will be located at the start of the climb on Chickadee Road. Continue up and down Chickadee and back towards 5 Points.
At the bottom bear right to return to Centennial Trail and again please stay on the left side of the road. At a V in the road a few hundred yards later stay left on Centennial Trail. About another quarter mile down the road you will turn left onto Ridge Way. From hear you have a bit less than a half mile to the finish including a little up hill at the end. Follow the signs and finish on the west end of the MVCC parking lot.
Enjoy a nice cool towel, get some Eldorado Artesian Water and when you have recovered take in the post race meal out there and wash it down with some El Rancho Brewing beer.
Post Race Festivities
There will be massage therapists and chiropractors to take care of you aches after you finish. But before you do that please take the time to clear your bike and race gear out of transition as soon as possible.
You may purchase additional brunch tickets from the late packet pickup/information booth for $20.00 each. Sorry no credit cards.
Awards start at around 10:30am and it is worth sticking around as there will be a lot of door prizes to be had.
Get ready for Lookout Mountain Triathlon on June 24th 2017.
Have a great day!!!