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lane bid purchases and circle swimming
You may wonder, “What do these two have in common?” The answer is nothing really; however, you will see racers with lane bids swim side by side with other racers this year. Just like past years those that purchased lane bids will start immediately following the seeded top 50. Additionally, circle swimming will start immediately following the seeded athletes as well.
“What the heck?”, you say. New this year, we will designate some lanes as bid purchase lanes while also designating some for circle swimming. This will lengthen the time it takes to wrap up the swim for those of you that purchased a lane, but not much more time at all. It will also allow the circle swimming to get started earlier and get the full rhythm of the pool going early.
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final bib numbers
FINAL bib numbers will be posted the week of April 24th. Watch both the GNT website and Facebook for a link. The Race Directors are currently trying to accommodate requests that have come in since the first list was posted. Although there are no guarantees, they are doing their very best to grant each of you your bib wish!
We understand that there are no real incentives to notify us if you are unable to participate in the race. However, the Race Directors would greatly appreciate if you could let them know by emailing info@goldnuggettriathlon.com. They may still be able to fill the slots last minute with those on the waitlist.
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course maps
Course maps are available on the GNT website. The GNT Board is proud to announce that the race will be the same as in the 2013 - 2016 races. 2017 will be a perfect year to see where training has taken you as you will be able to compare split times against previous years.
It's always a good idea to take a warm-up ride on the course before the event to familiarize yourself with the route. However, please respect all signs on military land, as oftentimes there is restricted access. In that circumstance, we have every confidence that you will improvise and create your own similarly distanced race on public property.
Please be aware that parts of North Muldoon may be under construction before and during the race. If training on the course, please watch for construction equipment on or near the course, particularly around Bartlett High School and Glenn Highway. We are working closely with the construction company to ensure a great race course amid the construction. We will include more information as it becomes available in these newsletters, on the GNT website and on the GNT Facebook Page.
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bike stands for sale
At all bib pick-ups bike stands will be available for a donation of $18 (check or cash only, please) that will support a local organization.
If you would like to make your own bike stand, there are instructions on the GNT Facebook page.
With over 1,500 bikes in the bike corral, if one bike goes down (think dominoes), the entire row is likely to go down. It's not like playing the game dominoes where you give yourself a high five when you’ve laid down all of your dominoes and won the game. This game of dominoes is really embarrassing. So make sure your bike stand fits your bike's wheel and will keep it upright. If we find a stand that isn't safe and could go down, we will pull the bike. We would rather move one bike than pick up an entire row of bikes.
Kick-stands are not allowed simply because they are too unpredictable and could put you in the same embarassing situation as an ill-fitting or poorly made bike stand.
If you want to purchase a bike stand at one of the bib pick ups and you’re not sure which size fits your wheel, feel free to bring your bike's back wheel with you (or the entire bike, if that’s easier).
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swim - FAQ
What if I want to start with my friend, but our bib numbers are 100 and 1100? May we start together?
- No, sorry, that won't work. Racers need to be on the pool deck, in line, and ready to start in bib number order and at your assigned time. You can only imagine what would happen if everyone went when they wanted to. We would not be able to ensure a timely movement of swim start times. So, please prepare to be on the pool deck when your bib number is called, or even a bit earlier.
What if my assigned bib number is called and I'm already on deck? May I go straight to the place in line where my bib number should be?
- Yes, you may. HOWEVER, if you show up and your bib number has already gone, you will be asked to go to the back of the line (not directly to the front of the line). For example, if you are bib number 300 and, when you show up on the pool deck, the next bib number at the start of the line is 310, then you have missed your time and will be asked to go to the back of the group already in line. It is best for everyone to be in line on time and in order.
What is circle swimming? What if I want to pass another swimmer in my lane? What if someone wants to pass me?
- Great questions. Circle swimming is what you do when there are three or more people swimming in one swim lane. In the case of GNT, you will never have more than three to a lane (unless you are seeded or purchased a lane bid), but there WILL be three. Everyone will swim counter clockwise.
Swim Etiquette:
- Always swim to YOUR right.
- To pass, firmly tap the foot of the swimmer in front of you and wait to pass at the wall.
- If your foot is tapped, stop at the wall in the right-hand corner and allow the faster swimmer to pass you.
- That said, if you find yourself in a lane with a significantly slower swimmer and have the power and availability to pass mid-lane WITHOUT COLLISION or DISRUPTION (i.e., the third swimmer isn’t on the other side of the lane heading in your direction), proceed only if safe. Be courteous of your lane mates and always use caution.
Will there be designated fast and slow lanes?
- Yes. Two of the middle lanes in the deep end will be designated for FAST swimmers (10 minutes or less). Two lanes in the shallow end will be designated for SLOW swimmers (15 minutes or more). Three of the outside lanes will be available for swimmers of all speeds who need help exiting the pool with a ladder.
What do I do when we get to the pool building?
- Bib number start times will be posted on the wall as you enter the pool building. Please be ready – potentially one hour prior to your ON DECK time since pool times may vary. Enter the pool building with what you will need for your swim and for your exit to enter Transition 1 to get your bike. There is no storage in the pool area for your equipment. Keep it with you and place under your lap counter's chair.
- Pick up your Swim Card (located just inside the pool building entrance).
- Get your bib number marked on your left arm and left calf.
- Wait (at the end of the hall) until a volunteer says it is safe to enter the pool area. Racers will be exiting at the same location you will be entering the pool, so please be safe and listen to what the volunteers tell you.
- If your bib number has not been called, you may wait in the upstairs spectator viewing area until your bib number group is announced to be ON DECK.
- Upon entering the pool deck, you have the option of warming up in the center bulkhead or crossing the bulkhead and getting in line to swim. The shallow end of the pool will be to your left and the deep end is to your right. Please line up numerically by bib number.
- When you reach the front of the line, you will be asked your approximate swim time for 500 yards in order to place you with swimmers of a similar pace (see swim times above).
- Wait along the back wall in the lane to which you have been assigned. When it is time, the lap counter will have you get into the pool to the far right corner of your lane. Please note that there may be three people currently swimming in the lane. You will hug the corner of the lane until one of the swimmers has completed their swim and gets out of the pool. Immediately upon that swimmer's exit from the pool, a timing person will confirm your bib number, key it into an electronic timing pad, and start your time when you kick off of the pool wall. Please abide by all rules of circle swimming. If you have purchased a lane bid, you will be splitting a lane and not circle swimming.
Why do you use lap counters and swim cards if you use electronic timing and I'm wearing a timing chip?
- The answer is two-fold: first, it helps the lap counters keep track of your laps, and secondly, if there is a question about your swim time, we have written backup. Since you're not swimming from point A to point B for a solid time, the race directors can tell from your swim card if, say, you swam an extra lap by mistake or, forbid, you short yourself a lap and only swim nine... you certainly don’t want to do that! The lap counter will count for you, but ultimately it is your responsibility to know how many laps you have completed.
May I take a shower after my swim or change my clothes?
- Yes. Racers may change clothes and shower in the pool locker room during your transition from the swim to bike. However, you must bring all of your gear in and out of the locker room with you (i.e., no storing gear in the lockers until after the race) and especially watch for racers running through the locker room during their transition from the swim to bike. You may only bring in what can fit under your lap counter's chair. Oh, and remember, things do get wet on the pool deck, so think twice about bringing electronics and other valuables.
What equipment may I take onto the pool deck with me?
- As mentioned above, you may take whatever will fit under the seat of your lap counter. Hint: There is not a lot of space. Also understand that any items you bring into the pool area could get wet.
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don't forget or leave your gear
THERE SHALL BE NO ABANDONMENT OF GEAR.
This means, all your stuff needs to be either on you, with you, or in your transition spot. You may only leave gear in the gym locker room next door to the pool building (not the pool locker rooms). No water bottles may be hidden in the woods. No “Gu” wrappers may be dropped anywhere on the course. We get invited back to use the parking lots, pool, locker rooms, roads, and trails because we don’t leave even a single tissue behind. And “we” means “you.” Abandonment of gear = penalty, which typically means two or more minutes added to your time. If you’re like most of us, you can’t afford any extra minutes added to your finish time.
May I leave my gear in the locker room? Yes... and no!
NO. You may not leave gear in the pool locker rooms. The pool locker rooms are a pass-through only from completing your swim to Transition 1. Racers are not allowed to store items in the pool locker rooms at all – that means never! – during the race. There may be no storage or placement of any items in the pool locker rooms that the racers go through. Safety is the primary reason. With a lot of people coming and going in the locker rooms, storing gear in the lockers, it could lead to collisions with other racers. Ouch, that could really hurt!
BUT YES. You may use the lockers in the locker rooms in the gym building to the right (south) of the pool (totally separate building). These locker rooms are in a separate building next door to the pool in the high school itself. There are MANY lockers and showers for you to use there. You are welcome to leave anything you want in the locker room in the other building. However, please remember it is at your own risk. Use a lock on your locker. GNT is not liable for any lost, stolen, or left-behind items. If you leave an item behind, it is your responsibility to contact Bartlett High School (which will be closed for the summer after our event) to retrieve it. If we find it while cleaning, we may bring it to the banquet the following day.
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