Pre-Race Athlete Email (2013)
Dear athletes –
Thank you for registering for the 4th Hudson Crossing Triathlon. This e-mail contains some important information that will help you arrive on site ready to race.
This is a USAT sanctioned event and therefore certain rules will be in effect and enforced. Please familiarize yourself with these rules here.
Packet Pick Up
Pre-race packet pick-up is on Saturday, June 8, at Olde Saratoga Bike and Board in Schuylerville from 2p-6p. You must present a photo ID. If you don’t have photo ID you will not be able to pick up your packet. You and only you can pick up your packet (you cannot pick one up for someone else). This is for insurance and liability purposes. Olde Saratoga Bike and Board is located at 17 Ferry St. in Schuylerville.
We recommend getting your packet Saturday to minimize the rush on Sunday. Race-day packet pick up at the race site is from 6 a.m. to 7:15a on Sunday. Same policies as above applies. Remember to arrive early! The park is located at 126 Route 4 North, Schuylerville, NY.
Parking
Main parking for the event is Schuylerville High School. Drive into the school lot (accessible from Route 29) and drive toward the back parking lot. You can then walk/ride your gear down the back hill, across Route 4/32 and into the park. You can also park in the fields in the back of Hudson Crossing Park – this is probably the most convenient but you will not be able to leave until after the race, around 11a. A gate will close at 8 a.m. shutting all cars in. There is no parking on the roadways in the Park – only in the fields way in the back. Remember to arrive early!
Swim Waves and Safety
Swim waves will be posted on the Web site prior to the race. We will have 5 waves separated by 4 minutes. You will need to wear the provided swim cap to identify your wave. Expected water temp is 72-73 degrees on race day. If you are new to open water swimming, please consider attending the swim preview Saturday at 2p, 2:30p, 3p or 3:30p after getting your packet from Olde Saratoga Bike & Board. Ann Svenson will go over saftey tips for open water. The key is to start out slowly, and pace yourself – no need to rush the start of a swim at an event like this. Place yourself at the back of your wave to stay out of the way of faster swimmers. We will have plenty of lifeguards and water safety volunteers on hand.
Road Conditions
Please be just as cautious on the roads as you would be on a regular ride. You may find some potholes and ridges at certain places. We will do our best to mark them with chalk before the race. We know the stretch of road on 32N heading out of the park has a few rough patches, as does the stretch coming down Bacon Hill heading south. Also, Austin Rd (about 6 miles in to the course) is being repaved and was just compacted this week in time for the race. There is no asphalt on it yet but it should be fine for you to ride over. There is, however, some loose gravel on that road as a result of this construction.
Race Day Schedule
Sunday, June 9, 2013
6:00AM – 7:10AM – Packet pick-up, body markings and timing chip pick-up at the Pavilion in the Park (near swim-start). Remember to bring your picture ID if you didn’t get your packet Saturday. Timing chip should be secured around your ankle and exposed (meaning not covered by a wetsuit or other item). Arrive early!
7:15AM – Transition area closes. All bikes must be checked into the transition area by this time and you should be back at the swim staging area. Bike race numbers should be attached to the top tube — clearly visible. Helmets must meet current safety standards and should be properly fitted (see here for details). Team bike members should remain in the transition area for the start of the race.
7:00AM – 7:40AM – Swim warm up. Be advised there may be boats in the canal positioning themselves for the event. You will also have a couple minutes to warm up right before your wave start.
7:40AM — Mandatory athlete meeting in the area near the swim start (close to where you got your chip).
8:00AM – Start of Race
~10:30AM — Awards Ceremony
Giveaways
When you cross the finish line you can pull off the tear tag on your bib and add it to a box at the finish. This will enter you into the giveaways.
Port-O-Johns
We’ll have 6 port-o-johns near packet pick up and 3 near the transition area. Each area has one handicapped-accessible unit. These will be unisex so please be considerate of the person following you.
Race Rules
While certain lanes will be closed and/or monitored by police and marshals on the bike course, the course is open to vehicles. Please follow regular road riding rules: bike on the right of the road, look ahead and behind before crossing over, call out to the athlete ahead of you when you’re going to pass. No headphones on during the race. No drafting. Please be considerate of your fellow athletes, volunteers, race officials and the community. You can read the full USAT Competitive Rules here: http://www.usatriathlon.org/resources/about-events/rules.
Weather
The race will be rain or shine. Lightning or an extreme weather system could affect the start time, or delay or possibly cancel the event. The race committee will assess the weather prior to the race and announce any possible changes then.
Sponsors & Supporters
We’re grateful to all of our event sponsors and supporters: Hudson Crossing Park, Saratoga Triathlon Club, GE, Donnelly Construction, Olde Saratoga Bike & Board, New Country Toyota, Saratoga Apple, Price Chopper, Hannaford, Brueggers Bagels and more. Special thanks to Road Fox Bicycles for donating a set of carbon race wheels for our giveaway.
Volunteers
The more the merrier! If you have friends or family coming with you who would like to help out please have them fill out our form here: https://hudsoncrossingtri.com/volunteer/.
For updates and info, please continue to check the web site at hudsoncrossingtri.com or join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/hudsoncrossingtri.
We hope you have a great race on Sunday.
Sincerely,
HCT race committee