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Frequently Asked Questions for the Strathmore Women's Triathlon:
Where is the race?
How do I get to the Strathmore
Aquatic Centre?
Where do I park?
What should I do when I get there?
What is the distance of the race?
What will my approximate start
time be?
How long will this race take me?
Can I use my MP3 player during the
race?
The entry form asks for my estimated
swim time. Why?
How do I calculate my estimated
time for the swim?
Can we update our estimated
swim time?
Is the swim in a lake?
Do I need a wetsuit?
How does the “Continuous
Feed” Swim Start work?
How does it work with 4 people
in a swim lane? Can we pass?
I have a mountain bike -
can I use that for the race?
What is Drafting or Blocking
on the bike?
I'm afraid I'll be the last
one to finish.
Is there a relay event?
How does the Mother-Daughter
Participation Contest work? Is it a team?
Why Strathmore?
What is "Leaping Dog Racing"?
Who is the race director?
Where
is the race?
The race is based out of the Strathmore Aquatic Centre,
130 Brent Blvd., Strathmore, Alberta. View a map
of Strathmore
How do I get to the Strathmore
and/or the Strathmore Aquatic Centre?
Strathmore is located 40 Km east of Calgary on the Transcanada
Highway (View
a map of Strathmore). Once you turn North onto Wheatland
Trail, keep driving past the golf course, then turn East on
Brent Blvd. The Strathmore Aquatic Centre is located at 130
Brent Blvd.
Where do I park?
The West side of the Strathmore High School has a large parking
lot. The Strathmore High School is located west of the pool,
on Brent Blvd. Another area for parking is the East side of
the pool. Please avoid parking on the race route!
During the race, competitors leaving or coming in on the
bike course will have the right of way so if you are arriving
late or leaving early, the west parking lot will be marshaled
for safety of the cyclists.
What should I do when I get
there?
The first thing to do is to locate the race registration
/ body marking area. This will be near the transition area
close to the pool. You will be issued an ankle strap with
a computer chip. You will be given instructions on how to
wear the ankle strap properly. After being "body marked"
with your race number, you may enter the transition area to
set up your bike and gear. After you have your gear all set
up in the transition area, check-in at the pool area at least
one hour before your estimated swim start time. Please avoid
hanging out in the transition area while the race is in progress.
What is the distance of the
race?
The Strathmore Women's Triathlon is a sprint distance race:
500 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike, 5 kilometre run. This distance
is about half of the Olympic distance, as seen in ... the
Olympics!
What will my approximate
start time be?
We will be posting the swimmer's start times at the race
package pick-up and at the Strathmore Pool check-in area.
Each participant should check in at the pool area at least
45 minutes before your start time. Start times will depend
on the estimated swim time of every participant. Swimmers
with times of 15 minutes and longer will start at 8:30 A.M.
Then, the start times will be staggered between 15 or 20 minutes
apart.
How long will this race take
me?
That is very individual and depends on your training background
and skill level in each discipline of the race. Your overall
time will also be influenced by factors beyond your control
like the weather. There is also always the risk of technical
bike trouble like a flat tire which would affect your time.
However, you do want to have enough water, Gatorade or food
to safely get you through the event. The most common finish
times for sprint distance have been between 1hour20minutes
and 1hour40 minutes.
Can I use my MP3 player during
the race?
Sorry, NO personal headsets allowed during the bike or run
are allowed. Any competitor caught using headsets on the bike
or run will be DISQUALIFIED. No exceptions!! Due to the fact
that the bike and run courses are open to traffic, your safety
is our priority. Plus you will miss all the enthusiastic cheers
from the spectators! You may use your headset BEFORE your
race to "pump you up!" though!
The entry form asks for my
estimated swim time. Why?
In a 6-lane pool with a maximum of 4 swimmers per lane,
we can only have 24 participants in the pool at a time. The
most efficient way to get everyone started in the shortest
amount of time is to stagger the start times. As well, the
swim will work best when all 4 swimmers in the lane are close
to the same pace. That way, there will be less confusion and
having to pass other athletes.
How do I calculate my estimated
time for the swim?
Just go to any swimming pool that has lanes measured in
meters and do a short warm up. Use your own watch or a timing
clock on the pool deck (most pools have them). A quick way
of measuring your 500m time is to swim 4 or 5 intervals of
100 meters long (4 lengths of a 25m pool) and take your time
for each one and then take a short rest of about 15 seconds
between each hundred meter swim. Add up the time for the 400
or 500 meters and divide by the number of 100's you did to
get an average time. Then, multiply this average time by 5
to project your estimated time for 500 meters.
The trick in this timed swim is to try to swim with the level
of effort you think you will maintain for the whole 500 meters.
So, there's no need to sprint but you don't want to be doggin'
it either. Just swim nice and relaxed at a good, low aerobic
effort that you can maintain. When you know your average time
for 100 meters at a relaxed pace, this can be useful training
tool for continuing swim training.
Can we update our estimated
swim time?
Yes. Approximately 2 weeks before the confirmation list (and
an unofficial heat list) will be posted on this website. You
may email the swim coordinator to have your swim time changed.
Please do not email the swim coordinator with swim times that
have a difference under a minute.
Is the swim in a lake?
The swim is in a 25-metre indoor pool. There are 6 lanes
in the pool and there will be a maximum of 4 people assigned
to each swim lane for the swim portion of the race. If you
are uncertain about your swim ability, you can stop at the
end of any lap of the pool and catch you breath if you need
to.
Do I need a wetsuit?
Since the swim is in a pool, wetsuits are neither required
nor allowed. Wetsuits would add another cost to participating
if a lake swim was involved.
How does the “Continuous
Feed” Swim Start work?
When one lane’s swimmers have all exited the water,
the next four swimmers waiting in line will walk through a
timing mat to start their swim time. This system works well
with the timing chip system. Each participant will walk across
a mat to start their swim time and therefore everyone (except
the very first heat) will have a different start time. The
added bonus is that if you need to switch your swim estimate
time, you can move up (slower time) or down (faster time)
the queue along the wall at the window side. Please try to
stick with your heat number assigned to you to avoid confusion.
How does it work with
4 people in a lane? Can we pass?
Each swimmer will start in 5 second intervals within their
lane. All lanes will swim in counter clockwise circles. If
you want to pass the swimmer ahead of you, tap their feet.
The swimmer ahead of you should swim over to the right-hand
side of the lane towards the lane rope (they should not stop
in the middle of the pool!) All passing should occur in the
middle of the lane. If you are approaching the wall and have
your feet touched, please use courtesy and let the “tapper”
go ahead of you at the wall. Also, if you are flip turning,
watch for oncoming swimmers as you come off the wall. You
must touch the wall with either your hand or foot to complete
one 25 meter length. When you see your lap counter submerge
a flutterboard at the wall that will signify you have one
lap (2 lengths) to go!
I have a mountain bike
- can I use that for the race?
A mountain bike would be fine for this race. If you do choose
to ride a mountain bike for the triathlon, you may want to
consider purchasing some "slick" tires. The mountain
bike knobby tires may have too much resistance which would
make the 20 K ride feel much harder. The slick tires may be
inflated to the top of the range (psi stated on the side wall)
and your bike would be just as fast as a road bike! There
will be others with mountain bikes too.
What is Drafting or Blocking
on the bike?
Drafting is following another cyclist closer than 5 metres
for more than 30 seconds at a time. Drafting is not permitted
in any age group race (this one) and only allowed at draft
legal elite races. To avoid disqualification, make sure you
are always two bike lengths behind the person in front of
you at all times, unless passing.
Diagram of drafting:
Riding next to someone is blocking. This is not permitted
and ITU rules will be enforced. Both blocking and drafting
have time penalties. Repeated penalties will results in disqualification.
I'm afraid I'll be the last
one to finish.
Chances are, if you are new to triathlon and/or don't have
a lot of swim training, you will likely be started in one
of the earlier groups. If you are also still working at improving
your cycling and running skills, you may in fact be passed
by women who started the swim after you. But, even if you
end up with the slowest time overall, it is highly unlikely
that you will be the last competitor to cross the finish line.
This honour will most likely go to someone who will be starting
in a later swim heat.
Is there a relay event?
There will not be a relay event for this year as I would
like to keep it simple. I would really like to encourage women
to experience the triathlon as a series of events, ie. cycling
while dripping wet, running with rubber legs, etc. Relay teams
and a duathlon may be included next year.
How does the Mother-Daughter
Participation Contest work? Is it a team?
The mothers and daughters are participating as individuals
and not a team. The pairs’ names will be verified the
morning of the race or before the banquet. All of the pair’s
names will be collected and one pair’s name will be
drawn as the winner of the Mother-Daughter Participation Contest
prize (TBD) at the awards banquet. Both the Mother & the
Daughter must be present at the awards to win the prize! The
finish times of the individuals will not be factored in –
the mother and Daughter MUST FINISH the triathlon and they
do not even have to finish together!
Why Strathmore?
Why not? Judging by my past triathlon experiences, visiting
a smaller town to do a triathlon is fun. Strathmore isn't
too far from Calgary so people can drive the morning of the
race. Strathmore just built a brand new aquatic centre October
2002, and is located just on the outskirts of town.
What is "Leaping Dog
Racing"?
Leaping Dog Racing is a multisport racing and coaching company
focusing on joy in sport! The Strathmore Women's Triathlon
is the first race for this new company and other events are
planned for the future (possibly duathlons, relays, off-road
triathlons, etc.). The company name was created by observing
my Chesapeake Bay Retriever "Kilo" LEAP into the
air when she was asked if she would like to go for a swim
or a bike or a run! That image of the leaping dog conjures
up a joyous feeling of venturing outside.
Who is the race director?
Deanne Jabs started participating in triathlons during the
dark period in history when it was cool to wear neon. Among
her most cherished accomplishments are, being a member of
the provincial triathlon team in Manitoba, finishing third
in her age group at Ironman Canada, and qualifying and competing
at the Hawaiian Ironman. Deanne still competes in races today,
with the same passion and love for the sport that she felt
almost 15 years ago. Deanne is the founder of Leaping Dog
Racing.
View Deanne's athletic profile
and coaching and volunteer experience.
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