RACE DAY LOGISTICS
ARRIVAL
Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled start time, in order to allow sufficient time for check in (10min), setting up your transition gear in the locker rooms or pool deck (10min), and report to the pool deck 10 minutes before your scheduled start time for instructions and optional warmups.
THE SWIM
Report to the pool deck (lowest basement level) for lane assignments 10 minutes before your scheduled start time. You'll complete a 10-minute swim where every length (~25yds) and lap (50yd) will be counted towards your total distance completed within 10 minutes. Each of the wave's participants will have a private lane for their swim. Participants are required to touch the wall before the start horn. After that, participants may use any swim stroke (or even walk!) to reach the other end of the pool and turn-around. Swim timer staff and volunteer will count total lengths achieved during the 10-minute session. Staff will blow a SINGLE whistle announcing a 1-minute warning, then blow a DOUBLE whistle to announce the swim conclusion. Participants will only be given credit for a full length if they reach either end of the pool and touch the wall to get credit for each 25 yards completed. Staff will record each participant's total pool lengths achieved and you are welcome to verify results prior to moving to the BIKE.
TRANSITION #1
Participants have 10 minutes to proceed from the pool deck and up to the Bike area. Please be prompt and considerate of others while moving throughout the club. You may use the Men's & Women's locker rooms as your transition areas, but note that they are several levels up, so plan your time because 10 minutes goes by fast! To save time we encourage use of the upper pool deck area to set up small transition areas on a towel (if no wardrobe changes are required), or use additional Men's & Women's restrooms available off the pool deck area with 2 showers each to rinse off and change.
THE BIKE
The bike portion will be held in a dedicated area. We may plan to stage the BIKE area on LEVEL 2 along the INDOOR TRACK near the CARDIO / TREADMILL areas to save time, however if weather permits, we may use the roof deck area. Note that Chicago city mask guidance may require face masks whenever you are indoors and not actively eating & drinking. Indoor stationary SCHWINN bikes include integrated power (4iiii ANT+ compatible), cadence and distance meters. To ensure accuracy, all bikes will be calibrated prior to the event. Participants will be guided to a specific bike for their session, where you may adjust the saddle, handlebars, etc. prior to the start. All bikes will have pedals with toe cages (for regular running shoes) and SPD cleat connections (for cycling shoes). Staff and volunteers will assist and announce an official start for the entire wave, ensuring all bike computers are cleaned and reset at the beginning of the 30-minute ride. Participants may adjust their tension and cadence throughout the session, which impacts distance achieved - you'll cover more distance if you generate more POWER. After 30 minutes, Bike Staff will ensure all participants stop accordingly and record each bike computer's distance. Athletes can verify their results before proceeding to the Run portion.
TRANSITION #2
Participants have a brief 5-minute break to proceed from the BIKE area to the RUN (treadmill) area.
THE RUN
The run will be held on standard LIFE FITNESS treadmills. Staff and volunteers will assist you starting (with the push of a green "Quick Start" button). Treadmills may be set to a 0% incline or higher (no negative decline allowed), and adjusted to any speed manually using increase and decrease buttons, or entering a specific speed number (e.g. set "5" and "0" for 5.0 mph, and then hit "enter"). Participants must remain on the treadmill's belt for the duration of the session (no "straddling" the tread at any time), and must support themselves without holding onto the handrails or console (unless required and pre-approved for medical reasons). Anyone who steps off the treadmill belt or stops the treadmill before the 20-minutes expire will have their results recorded immediately as their final result. If you plan to take a walking break, we recommend simply changing the speed to 2.0 to 4.0 mph for walking breaks instead of stopping completely. Anyone who gains an unfair advantage by supporting themselves or taking their feet off the tread during the 20 minutes will receive a preliminary warning for the first offense, then a variable time penalty for additional offenses (1 minute for every minute of offense). After 20 minutes, note your DISTANCE (miles) covered as staff record your results and hit the stop button. Athletes can verify results with volunteers before treadmills are disinfected between participants.
THE FINISH
Congrats, you are now an official triathlon finisher!!! Enjoy some celebratory photos, finisher medals, snacks, and celebrate with your "wave" of new fellow triathlon friends!
