Athlete Information
Please note:
- Water stations on Elephant Man will have water and Gatorade
- There will be open racking in transition
- There WILL BE wet suit strippers
Hello Elephant Man Triathlon Entrants!!!!
It’s that time again…. Elephant Man is here! Listed below are some notes I hope all of you will review to help make the day safe and successful – we have all worked hard – athletes and volunteers alike to get ready for race day and with just a little more effort we can make it a great race for everyone!
USAT Sanctioned Race – E Man is proud to be a USAT sanctioned race. This means you will have to present a current photo ID and you must have a USAT license. If you are not an annual member, you will have to pay $10.00 for the one day license (many of you did this through online registration). You will also be required to wear a cpsc certified bike helmet on the course. 2011 USAT Competitive Rules apply. Common violations include: Helmet Chinstrap - it must be fastened whenever you are on your bike on race day. Race Number: You must wear your bib # during the run and your bike number must be visible on your bike at all times. Littering: There is absolutely no littering allowed anywhere on course, please discard any items at the aide stations. Unauthorized equipment: No Mp3 players of any kind are allowed. Outside assistance - non-racers may not ride or run alongside you or provide assistance. Last but not least Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Please treat all athletes, volunteers, officials and referees with courtesy and respect, failure to do so may result in DQ.
Packet Pick Up – Packet Pick up will be on the beach again this year (same location as race transition at the beach site below the main entrance to the park) from 1pm to 4 pm on Sat (Sept 24). There will be NO RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP. Athletes will receive a wrist band that must be worn from the time of packet pick up through the race - it will allow you access to transition, post race food and athlete only areas of the race. We will ask that everyone sign a waiver at that time ( even if you signed electronically online). This is for your protection. Once you have signed your waiver and completed packet pick up you will be given an E Man bracelet to wear – this is proof you have completed registration (so you can pick up your chip Sunday morning). Please note, we are hosting a kids race on Saturday evening at 3:30 pm so we have adjusted out packet pick up times for adults to minimize traffic in the park during the kids race. Please be courteous and respectful of these time frame adjustments and allow these inspiring kids to race in a safe setting. RELAYS must attend packet pick up together, race numbers/ goody bags will not be given out unless all members are present and complete the registration process.
Relay - All relay team members must attend packet pick up together. Relay teams will rack in the far north east corner of transition area and must make chip exchanges within the defined chip exchange areas OUTSIDE of transition. Only one relay participant is allowed in the transition area - The Cyclist.
Timing - Athletes will be given timing chips on race morning. They must wear the chip at all times while racing. If you do not start the race, you are responsible for returning the chip asap to the timer. If you drop out or are pulled from the race at any time, turn in your chip to a race official/ timer asap.
Transition Area - Athletes will have to be out of transition by 7:20 am in prep for long course athletes coming back through! There will be open racking in transition on a first come, first served basis. Bike racks marked in orange are for mountain bikes. Relay teams should rack in the far north east corner of transition. Athletes should alternate sides of the racks and place bikes in a manner such that the majority of the bike is on the athlete’s side of the bike rack. Athletes should make sure to re rack their bike in T2 in their original slot, taking another athlete’s slot is grounds for penalization. ATHLETES and RACE STAFF ONLY in TRANSITION.
Aide Stations - There will be aide stations at the entry to T1 and every 10 miles on the bike course ( mile 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 with bottle exchange available) and at every mile on the run course. Water and Gatorade will be available at these aide stations. You can toss bottles, GU packets at these stations only. Post race food will be provided for athletes ONLY and your athlete wrist band provides you with access to this area.
Swim - Swim is a counterclockwise triangular course keeping buoys on your L. Above all, the safety of each athlete is our main concern, athletes must wear the cap provided by the race. No fins, paddles or flotation devices are allowed. Support will be on the course, please wave to get the attention of our spotters, you may use the support vehicles for assistance but cannot make forward progress while holding on. Wet suits cannot measure more than 5 mm thick. Wet suits will be allowed as long as temps are below 78. Average water temp in Sept is 74. Please add there will be one group warm up time allowed, then all athletes must exit the water, line up according to waves and will be counted as they enter the water (this is a back up safety measure).
Bike Course - Elephant Butte State Park’s new entrance is now complete. On the bike course as you are exiting the State park, you will be re-routed onto Ridge Road for only a short distance then out a new section of road. There will be volunteers and course markings to keep you on track. The course is open to traffic so please follow all traffic laws, always ride on the right side of your lane, and refrain from crossing the yellow center line. Hazards are marked in green pain with an ‘x” approximately 50 ft prior to the obstacle and the obstacle itself it then marked. There are several cattle guards on the course and the seam lines on these are also marked. Upon returning into T2, please hold your position, do not pass any other athletes from the last guard shack into transition, slow your speed and prepare to dismount safely at the bottom as there is a large arroyo at the bottom of the hill. Please abide by USAT rules and refrain from “blocking” and “drafting” at all times on the course. Athletes must wear a CPSC approved helmet and have the chin strap fastened at all times while on the bike. Athletes are individually responsible for repair and maintenance of their own bikes. There are no local bike shops, please bring any necessary equipment, replacement parts with you to the race.
Run - Athletes must wear a shirt or racing top at all times on the run course. Athletes must wear their race number in front while on the run. There shall be no stopping pr discarding of any items while on the Elephant Butte Dam.
Elephant Kidz Tri - *** Kids must be 6 by 12-31-11 to participate! Packet pick up and registration {use our on-line form here} for the Elephant Kidz Tri will be 2:30-3:15 on Saturday. The race is 3:30-4:30 & awards at 5pm. We will have the kiddos swim in shallow water parallel to the shore, we are asking for any volunteers to act as swim angels (just stand in the shallow water and be available to reach out and help any kid in trouble) and cheer on these super kids who race with all the heart and enthusiasm they can muster---- very motivating to say the least! During this event, the road in and out of the park will be closed, please do not try to get thru. You can park in upper lots to walk down if you are late and would like to watch the event. Register here with our on-line form!
Photos - We are working on the details!
Pre-race Dinner - This year we are hosting a "Pasta Cook Off " down on the beach.... right at the race site. We will provide main dish and many local chefs we be bringing their best sauces as part of a competition and participants will vote to choose the best E Man sauce. Donations of $10.00 for all you can eat will be taken to benefit Friends of Elephant Butte State Park - the great organization that hosts the 4th of July Show down here at the Butte. Dinner will take place from 5-7 pm - pre race mandatory meeting will be held in conjunction at 6 pm. Kids race is just prior to this and awards for kids are at 5:00 pm.. There will be a special pin ceremony for all athletes and volunteers who have participated in E Man each year since its inception at 5:30 pm. Should be a ton of fun!!!!!
Mandatory pre-race meeting- There will be a mandatory pre race meeting Saturday evening at 6pm Race HQ (view map here). Sunday morning we will allow one swim warm up time before we ask that all athletes clear the water and line up according to waves (announced at pre race meetings) for the start(s) at 7am and 8am respectively for long course and Olympic distance. Water temperatures thus far have been below 78 so most likely wet suits will be allowed- race officials will make the final call on Sun. morning.
Spectators - Please note that all spectators must park in the upper lots. The lower lot around transition will be for race staff only. We are planning mlyore spectator friendly activities to keep them busy and off the course - stay tuned for more details. Once again we will have some food vendors on site, but remember this is a rural area come prepared to enjoy the state park. Also, please remind your family, friends, and fans that they need to be courteous of all racers and volunteers. Although I know they want to get close to cheer you on, please remind them to avoid crossing the course and to please stay off the bike course. We cannot close the bike course to traffic for safety reasons on these rural routes, we all enjoy biking without having to dodge traffic, this includes your family and friends… encourage them to stay back at the park and cheer for you in transition!
Park Fees - You will be required to pay the $5.00 daily fee to enter the state park. If you come to packet pick up on Saturday your fee will be good for 24 hours so you will not be required to pay again on Sunday morning as long as you keep your receipt visible in your vehicle. If you are camping, you are still required to pay the camping fee. For those of you who will camp near the race site please be aware that no one in your camp will be allowed to exit the area during the race as the roads within the park are closed to traffic throughout the race. Additionally, no one will be allowed to operate boats, jet skis, etc during the swim portion of the race (until swim volunteers clear the course). Also, please note that there are some showers available to you within the state parks.
Parking - All athletes and spectators will need to park in upper lots, lower lot is for transition and race staff only.
General Notes - Triathlon is an individual sport, no outside assistance is allowed. No athlete shall endanger himself or another participant. Athletes who present a danger to others or, who in the judgment of the head Referee appear to present a danger may be disqualified. It is the sole responsibility of the athlete to know and follow the race course. There will be numerous places on the bike and run course where race staff will be taking numbers, you will be required to pass all the check points to officially complete the course (ie- no cutting the course allowed. ) Athletes are expected to follow the directions and instructions of all race staff and officials as well as public authorities. Please remember you are a guest in our community and an ambassador of the sport of triathlon. Others will look to you as an example and your actions will directly impact the longevity of this race in this community. Please be courteous and respectful of the local residents, volunteers and race staff.
Medical Services - There will be EMT medical service available in the far north east corner of transition parking lot and EMTs will also patrol the course. Medical personnel shall have the ultimate and final authority to remove a contestant from the race if the athlete is judged to be physically incapable of continuing the race without serious risk. Medical transport of an athlete will result in DQ. At packet pick up you are required to notify the medial team in writing if there is any change to your medical status/ condition from the information you provided at registration.
TriSports.com sponsorship – TriSports.com has been one of main sponsors since the onset of our race. This year they have been very generous to offer 10% off any pre-race orders if you use the EMan code of EMT11-R. If you have any pre-race needs, please take them up on this offer – they are a great company and several of their staff are joining us to race too!
Now that’s enough business don’t you think….its just time to race…. Remember this is a rural venue, no shopping malls, no extra race wheels/ tubes/ tires/ supplies, shoot we don’t even have electricity on site… just great views, great volunteers, and a challenging course to bring out your best . Bring your beach chairs and enjoy the day (no beer garden this year but it is a state park so you can bring your favorite post race refreshments with you) and Mom will supply the cookies---- YYEEEAAAAHHHH.
We can’t wait to see all the last weekend of September!
Kori
EMan Race Director.
