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600 yard swim, 14 mile bike, 5K run 

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Marine On The St. Croix, MN

 

What to Bring»

 

Updates
 
12/20/11 - We heard you!  We know that due to the tremendous growth of this race, parking was in issue in 2011.  So for 2012's event, we will be tripling the ratio of shuttle bus capacity to participants.  We're also working on ways to increase the efficiency of bike drop-off and improve volunteer coordination for this popular end-of-season tri.
 
 
 

Overview

As one of Minnesota's original nine counties, Washington County is located on the eastern edge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.  The unique lakes and their deep, clean waters, as well as the rolling hills, and the surrounding woods of the Washington County Park System provide an ideal environment for a triathlon.

Washington County Parks proudly welcomes you to Big Marine Park Reserve.  The park opened in 2008 and includes a boat launch, swimming beach, picnic area and shelter, a large creative playground, hiking trails and a park office. Future park plans include: family and group camping and additional miles of hiking and biking trails.

The “One Last Tri” Triathlon begins on the gently graded beach at Big Marine Park with a swim in the clear-water swimming area, which includes 400 linear feet of sandy beach.

 

 

 

Registration

Click here to register online or click here to print the registration form.

The race fees are as follows:

  • Individual - $75 before July 31st, or $85 before August 31st, or $95 thru September 13th, or $105 on race day
  • TEAM - $110 before July 31st, or $130 before August 31st, or $150 thru September 13th, or $160 on race day

 

 

 

Packet Pick-up

Your race packet will include all the materials you need for your race, such as your timing chip and race bib, and some fun stuff like your complimentary race shirt and special offers.

Pick up your race packets at our retail store at 2193 4th Street in White Bear Lake (get directions).

 

Friday, September 14th, 2012   10am-6pm


Saturday, September 15th, 2012   10am - 6pm

 

 

 

Race Location

One Last Tri is at the gorgeous Big Marine Park Reserve (get directioins or visit their website).  The Reserve is located at 17495 Manning Trail, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.  That's near Stillwater.

Parking on race day will be available within the park. Signs and volunteers will direct the participants and volunteers.  We know that due to the tremendous growth of this race, parking was in issue in 2011.  So for 2012's event, we will be tripling the ratio of shuttle bus capacity to participants.  We're also working on ways to increase the efficiency of bike drop-off and improve volunteer coordination for this popular end-of-season tri.

 

 

 

Schedule of Events

 

6:30 am - Park and parking lots open

6:30 am - Transition area opens, body marking begins

7:00 am - Race announcements begin

8:10 am - Transition area closes

8:15 am - Final course updates (at the beach)

8:30 am - START OF EVENT

11:00 am - Awards Ceremony

 

SEVERE WEATHER POLICY:  There is a chance of inclement weather. The safety of our participants, volunteers, spectators, police and everyone else is our top priority, so we may need to make race-day adjustments.

The race director will have NOAA weather alerts via phone and walkie-talkie, and will monitor any severe weather alerts.  All volunteers will watch for lightning and alert the director immediately if they see it.  We will be following a 30-30 policy, which is: if we witness a flash of lightning, and hear thunder within 30 seconds, then we will delay the race by 30 minutes. Everyone should avoid any metal objects or tall, solitary objects and head to their car if possible. 

The roads will almost certainly be wet in that case.   Please watch for slick roads and standing water, especially on the bike course!

In the case of lightning during the course of the event, we may have to cancel and pull participants off the course. This will be the responsibility of the sag wagon and other volunteers as we can afford.   We will work to notfiy all participants currently on the course that the event is being canceled.

There are no refunds or transfers in the event we have to cancel the race, though we reserve the right to issue a transfer via email to registered participants. It is the absolute last option, but we have to have everyone's safety in mind.

 

 

What To Bring

We want to help ensure that you have the necessary equipment on race day for the best experience possible.  Here is some gear you will either need or want:

  • Towel
  • Water Bottle(s)
  • Sunscreen
  • Gel (Energy Replacement)
  • Wetsuit
  • Swimsuit/Trisuit
  • Swimcap
  • Bucket (to clean feet)
  • Goggles
  • Bike
  • Bike Helmet
  • Sunglasses
  • Bike Shoes
  • Bike Tubes
  • Tire Pump/CO2
  • Running Shoes and Socks
  • Race Number
  • Race Belt
  • Body Glide or Suit Juice (to help prevent chafing)

 

 

Course Profile

The course includes a swim that starts at the beach, and continues in a clockwise route around large, easy to spot buoys, back to the beach. Distance is approx. 600yds; We'll get it as close as we can on race day! :)

The bike course for this event features rolling hills and lengthy flats that roam around some gorgeous countryside. The run course stays entirely within the park and is mostly flat with a gradual inclines near the park entrance and on the wooded trails. Both the bike and the run courses are great for beginners, and the more seasoned triathletes will find them to be moderately fast .

The swim start is on the beach at Big Marine Park Reserve, just north from the beach building and adjacent to the grassy picnic area.

All swimmers are REQUIRED to wear a swim cap provided by the event organizers. All participants must report to the swim start area 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time trial start, regardless of starting position.

The swim course travels away from shore in a NE direction for approx 200 yards (600ft). It then turns right and heads SE for another 200yds. The final turn heads directly back towards the beach and parking lot transition area.  Once swimmers exit the water, they’ll make their way through a chute towards the transition area - this is the parking lot directly West of the beach building.

The course and turns are defined with orange/yellow buoys which should always be on the swimmers RIGHT side.

Lifeguards and kayaks/canoes line the entire course.

Swimmers will be sent in waves.

The transition area will be in the main parking lot, a short run from the beach.  See the map above for more detail.

Please note: To help with the congestion that often happens within the transition area, only participants and volunteers will be permitted in the transition area.

Bikes MUST BE WALKED/RUN in the transition area. Mount/Dismount Zones are located just outside the transition area.

The Bike section of this course follows a clockwise route around Big Marine Lake. Participants will begin the bike course by leaving the transition area and riding out of the park, bearing right (N) on Manning Tr.

Directional Signs, Mile Markers, and Volunteers/Race Staff will be posted on the course during the race day to assist with navigation...but it always helps to know your course, so give it a look, give it a ride, and you'll be good to go on race day.

The entire bike route is open to traffic; please be aware of vehicles and plan on following all traffic rules when traffic control is not present. The road surface is asphalt and course volunteers(armed with brooms) are stationed at all turns; this should be a nice, clean course...please help us keep it that way by holding on to your empty gel packs or other littler.

All bikes are required to display a bike number.

BIKE HELMETS ARE MANDATORY.

Tri Fitness will provide pre-race and on-course bike support.

The run course is a gorgeous trail run through the park.  Due to limitations with the mapping software, not all paths are visible, but the blue line charting the course is pretty stinkin' close.

Participants leave the transition area and head left (NW) towards the auxiliary parking lot.  At the northwest end of the parking lot the sidewalk leads into the first of two (wooded) trails that runners will encounter on this course.

This trail continues in a southwest heading until it intersects one of the parks main (paved) paths.  This rather serpentine path keeps you moving westward until you come to Manning Tr (Park entrance), at which point you'll turn around and run on the opposite side of the path until you rejoin the trail just after the "check-in" building.  Runners will have to cross the main road within the park a few times, so watch out for your fellow triathletes who might be coming in from the bike...

Run will then continue on the same path you've run earlier until you come to the "Y"; at this point, runners need to veer right(east) to continue on towards the second trail run. Runners access the trail just after passing an unfinished parking area and continue in a clockwise direction through the woods and meadows.  This trail exits in the same unfinished parking lot that runners passed earlier and rejoins one of the paved paths. This path leads straight to the finish line (and all the cheers, food, and drink!), just outside of transition area.

Fluid replacement (water and HEED) will be available at: mile 1, near the turn-around at the park entrance and at mile 1.75, near the path/trail intersection closer to the boat ramp.

Both water stops are at cross-over points, so potentially, runners could have access water up to four times.  Volunteers are stationed throughout the course and at critical turns/areas.

 

 

Finish Area

The finish area is located on the path in front of the park’s beach building.  Volunteers will assist in removing timing chips.  Bottled water, HEED, fresh fruit and other post-race snacks will be provided.

 

Awards and Prizes 

Every participant receives a tech shirt.  These are unisex shirts and sizes run generous, so please order accordingly if you're between sizes.

Additional awards are given to:

  • Top overall Male & Female athletes
  • Top 2 Male & Female athletes in each age group (19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
  • Top 2 relay teams (we allow Male, Female, or Mixed teams)

Tri Fitness will also hold a drawing to give away door prizes, the “Big Ticket” items will be 4 Wetsuits...(2 from 2XU, 2 from Zoot).  You must be present to win.

 

 

Results and Pictures

See the race results page for past years' results.  Click here for photos from 2011's event.  Click here for photos from 2010's event.

 

 

 

 

For More Information

Please contact us at races@trifitnesswbl.com.

 

 

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