IronKids Carmel

AGE RULE

Unlike the IronKids series in 2009, we are now following the USAT “Age-up rule”. This means that the age of the athlete is determined not by the age on race day but the age the athlete will be on December, 31, 2010. That means, if your child is 8 years old today but will turn 9 on, let’s say, November 20, 2010, he/she will race as a 9 year old. This may require that your athlete goes from the Junior category to the Intermediate (longer race distance). If the distance is a concern of yours, you may choose to race-down (stay in the Junior category). He/she will still get a final race time however you will not be eligible for awards (still the get the finisher’s medal!) or qualify for the National Championship. If you need further explanation, please speak to Wendy at registration. We want to make sure that kids are comfortable with the distance, have fun and are safe as a priority!

HOST HOTEL

Hilton Garden Inn

13090 Pennsylvania Street.  Carmel, Indiana, USA 46032
(317)-581-9400 

The Hilton Garden Inn will serve as the host hotel for the IronKids Carmel event.  They are offering special rates of $109 per night for all IronKids athletes and families.  To book your rooms, please click here to visit their website.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are recruiting a team of dedicated volunteers to assist in helping each participant reach their goal of finishing!  Are you part of a charitable organization? We have opportunities for groups such as schools, clubs, churches and other not-for-profit organizations to volunteer at the event.  Individuals are also welcome and needed to help with the event.  Please click the button below to sign-up for the event!

The Runners Forum Run Course

The Runners Forum is the official sponsor of the IronKids Carmel Run Course.  They will be on site on Saturday and Sunday to help with all of your pre-race equipment and nutrition needs.  You can also visit their store in Carmel and Indianapolis for a fl line a merchandise and race gear. 

 Carmel - 620 Station Drive - (317) 844-1558

Downtown - 122 N. Delaware Indianapolis, IN 46204   (317) 955.7463

www.runnersforum.com

FREE TRANSITION AND TRIATHLON CLINIC!

Join IronKids and USAT Coach Shea Rankin for a fun, informative and FREE transition clinic on Saturday, July 24th.  She will go over transition setup, race day tips and much more.  This clinic is open to everyone and we encourage parents and athletes to attend.  The clinic will follow the Race Briefing, which starts at 1:00.  Please join IronKids for this great opportunity

If you would like more information on USAT an Iammultisport coach Shea Rankin, please visit their website at http://www.iammultisport.com/.. 

PARKING:

There will be parking at the Monon Center throughout the weekend and including race day. However, parking in the lot in front of the main entrance to the Monon Center will only be allowed access when the bike course is complete and roads are open. If you must leave the event before the end of the race, we suggest you park in the Monon Center on the east side.

REGISTRATION AND PACKET PICK-UP Hours:

Athlete registration, packet pick-up and expo hours are as follows: Saturday, July 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, July 25 (race day), from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.

EXPO HOURS

Saturday, July 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, July 25 (race day), from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

REGISTRATION AND PACKET PICK-UP FORMAT:

There will be a number of tables in the tent (with volunteers to help guide you), many of which you will need to visit to ensure you are properly registered and ready to race! A parent or legal guardian and the athletes must be present during athlete check-in to sign waivers.

The tables will be as follows:

Athlete Check-in and New Registrations – Everyone must complete a waiver to start the registration process, even if you accepted it during your on-line registration. New registrations will need to complete a registration form, Waiver and USAT Membership form.

USAT Membership - It is mandatory that ALL PARTICIPANTS have a current USAT Youth Membership. A one-year membership is $5. If you already have a membership or have registered online with your membership number, you must show your USAT card at this point.

Waivers - Parents/guardians must sign all waivers in order for their child/children to participate. Athlete Check-in – Parent/guardian and participant must go to this table. We will cross reference your online registration and you will be asked to sign the waivers and will be given their racer number. PLEASE

NOTE: IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A USAT MEMBERSHIP THAT YOU DID NOT PURCHASE ON-SITE OR WHEN REGISTERING ONLINE THROUGH ACTIVE.COM/IRONKIDS YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW YOUR USAT YOUTH MEMBERSHIP CARD. IF YOU DO NOT SHOW THIS ID YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP ON-SITE. NO EXCEPTIONS

You will then proceed to another table where you will pick up the following:

Ø Goodie Bag – Pick up a cool K-Swiss IronKids goodie bag

Ø Aqua Sphere swim cap. IT IS MANDATORY TO WEAR THE SWIM CAP THAT IS PROVIDED FOR YOU. The swim caps are color-coded for each age group (Yellow 6-8, red 9-11, and blue 12-15). Participants cannot trade for another color.

Ø Athlete and Guardian wristband

Ø Race Bib (to wear on the front of shirt or race belt), bike frame sticker, helmet sticker and number sticker for your personal belongings bag. There will be safety pins with your race bib.

Ø Timing Chip – Pick-up your assigned timing chip

Ø T-shirt - Pick up your groovy IronKids T-shirt!　

AGE DIVISIONS:

Distances for the IronKids Triathlon will vary, depending on the age of participants:
- Junior (ages 6 to 8): 50-yard swim, 2-mile bike and 500-yard run
- Intermediate (ages 9 to 11): 150-yard swim, 4-mile bike and 1-mile run
- Senior (ages 12 to 15): 300-yard swim, 8-mile bike and 2-mile run

In accordance with USA Triathlon rules, an athlete’s racing age is his/her age on December 31^st of the competition year. IronKids will assign athletes to their respective age division according to their age on December 31^st per USAT rules.

TRANSITION AND BIKE CHECK-IN:

Transition and bike check-in is ONLY ON RACE DAY. The transition will open to all age divisions at 5:45 a.m. and will close at 6:45 a.m. Transition will open from 7:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. for the Intermediate Division and from 8.45 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the Junior Division. Once transition closes, participants and parents must exit the transition and make their way to the swim start (which is close). Parents are allowed in transition to help rack bikes and help set up participant transition area. PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE TRANSITION DURING THE RACE. We will have volunteers in the transition to help kids find their way to their bikes and ensure participants have their helmets on before starting the race. Two participants will be able to share a bike if they are in SEPARATE DIVISIONS (Junior, Intermediate, Senior).

BODY MARKING:

Participants will have race numbers marked on their arms and legs. Each participant will have his/her age on the back of his/her leg in marker.

RACE BRIEFING:

There will be a course and rules review five minutes prior to the start of each age division, at the race start.

SWIM WAVES & RACE STARTS TIMES:

The swim will take place in an outdoor lazy-river pool (new for 2010!) as well as the 25-yard pool (for the senior division only). The swim start will be waves, with one child entering the water per (approximately) 3-second interval. Senior division participants will swim up one lane and upon reaching the end of the lane, move over to the next lane and swim down. After zigzagging in the lap pool the Senior’s will swim/run out of the zero-depth part of the wading pool, cross the deck and then enter the lazy-river for the final 150 yards.

The Intermediate division will swim in the lazy river – doing one lap. The Junior division will swim part of the back section of the lazy river. The lazy river pool will be really fun and cool addition to the 2010 race! This will simulate an open water course as participants will need to navigate around the winding river! The current will NOT be on during the race.

The Senior Division will start at 7 a.m. The Intermediate Division will start at approximately 8:30 a.m. (when the last Senior has completed the bike course). The Junior Division will start at 9:15 a.m.SWIM START:

SWIM COURSE AND WATER SAFETY:

Wetsuits are NOT allowed. We will have a team of Lifeguards and Water Safety Marshals that will be surrounding the pool.

TRANSITION:

The swim-to-bike transition and the bike-to-run transition are in the same place. Each participant will have a spot to rack his/her bike and set up necessary equipment. Transition will be divided into zones (Senior Division participants will be racking their bikes alongside other Senior Division participants, etc.).

BIKE COURSE:

The bike course will be on roads closed to motor traffic. Each division will be on the same two-mile course, with loops of the course for the Senior and Intermediate Divisions. We will have volunteers and signs directing participants, however please make sure your child knows what division he/she is in, as we will be referring to the course based on division (Junior, Intermediate, Senior). Mile markers (large signs) will be along the course.

RUN COURSE:

The Runners Forum run course will be on paved walkway and grass. Please make sure your child knows what division he/she is in, as we will be referring to division to help direct participants along the course. On the run course, the directional signs will be color-coded: yellow for Junior, orange for Intermediate and light blue for Senior.

AID STATIONS:

There will be one aid station in the transition, no aid stations on the bike course and one aid station on the run course. Aid stations will have water.

GENERAL RULES:

IronKids will follow all USAT rules however we will not allow bare torso’s on the bike and run. It is your responsibility to read and abide by all the rules. Below are some of the key rules:

- Designated swim caps must be worn

- No nudity in the transition

- Upper torso must be covered during the bike and run portion (shirt or full swim suit)

- Bike helmets must be worn at all times on the bike with the chinstrap buckled

- No riding bikes in the transition area

- Timing chip must be worn at all times during the race to receive race times

- Race numbers (bibs) must be worn at all times during the bike and run portion

- Parents are not allowed in the transition during the race (except during open set-up times)

- Cyclists must stay two bike lengths behind the participant in front, except when passing

- Pass on the left, slower cyclists stay on right

TIMING:

Our race will be chip-timed. EACH PARTICIPANT MUST WEAR A TIMING CHIP AT ALL TIMES DURING THE RACE OR HE/SHE WILL NOT RECEIVE A TIME RESULT AND WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OR FOR THE SENIOR DIVISION AWARDS. Once the participant has crossed the finish line there will be volunteers retrieving the timing chip. ALL TIMING CHIPS MUST BE RETURNED. Timing results will be posted on the IronKids website.

MEDALS AND AWARDS:

The primary mission of IronKids is to deliver a high quality youth triathlon experience for the entire family that is focused on fitness, fun and safety. In keeping with this mission, all finishers will receive commemorative medals. Top performances are recognized by qualification for the IronKids National Championships.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER:

Each IronKids event in the 2010 Series serves as a qualifier for the National Championship. The top five male and top five female finishers in each age division (i.e. top five 11-year-old girls, top five 12-year old girls, etc.) will qualify for the National Championship.

Team Points are as follows:

First place – 10 points

Second place – 8 points

Third place – 6 points

Fourth place – 4 points

Fifth place – 2 points

1 point per participating team member.

Bad conduct from a parent can result in a disqualification of your own child and ultimately a ban from all IronKids races. Bad conduct constitutes the following (but not limited to): Negative comments to your own child or another child; yelling at volunteers, race officials, other parents or participants; interference with participants or race officials, etc.

Any disputes must be taken up with a race official (not a volunteer). The protocol for a dispute is to go to the registration booth and ask to have a race official be notified. Once the race official is with you, please calmly explain your dispute. It is our goal to have everyone walk away with a great experience so we will do our best to resolve all issues in a timing and pleasant manner.

We look forward to a safe and exciting IronKids Carmel event!