
2019 Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon Race Medal
Athlete Guide
The 2023 Guide IS HERE
Download 2023 Guide
What to Expect on Race Day
Reading and following these instructions will help assure that race day will be a safe and enjoyable day for kids and adults alike.
Bring your child to the event NO LESS than one (1) hour before their age-group wave start time. One hour should give you time to pick up your packet, t-shirt, and goodie bag, get body marked, set up your transition area, and get ready for your swim wave.
Please allocate extra time if you have not attended a pre-race bike and helmet check. If you are late and miss your assigned wave, we cannot guarantee your child will be able to participate.
Please be sure to review our race rules before the day of the race.
There is a $3 parking fee that the college charges. Parking permits are purchased from meters that accept quarters, dollar bills or in some cases credit cards. No change is available so please come prepared. YOU WILL BE TICKETED by the Foothill/De Anza Police Department if you do not purchase the $3 parking permit!
PARKING IS FREE THIS YEAR – WHEE!
You will have to check-in for the Kids Triathlon on race day and pick up your race packet, t-shirt and goodie bag. Check-in will be held on the morning of the event beginning at 7:00 am. Signs will direct you to the Check-In Table.
You will be checked in by scanning your QR code. This code is in your confirmation email. Please locate the QR code before you leave for the race.
Your athlete must be at the event no less than one hour before their wave start to allow time to set up their transition area and be ready to swim. If you need to go to race day “Bike and Helmet Check” then you need to come earlier.
Registration on race day is ONLY between 7:00 am – 10:00 am and registration fees on race day are $150.00 + USAT license – so save money and sign up early!
OUR RACE IS FULL SO THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION THIS YEAR
You will have three numbered articles in your Race Packet: a large colored race bib and two smaller black and white adhesive tags. The colored bib is to be attached to a race belt or pinned on the front of a t-shirt or running shorts (safety pins are available at check-in). The color denotes your child’s age group. Chip timing will be used again this year. Instructions will be sent via e-mail prior to the race. Check the information on the bib to be sure it is correct. If there is an error go to the “Registration” table for a correction.
The small black and white tags are for the helmet and bike. Check to be sure that the two numbers match the number on the race bib. Put one tag on the front of the helmet. Put the other tag on the cross bar or handle bar of the bike.
The bib must be worn on the bike and run course. The color of this bib is how volunteers help your child count their laps! The bib should not be worn in the pool as it is not made to get wet.
The helmet sticker is used to sort your child’s photo so you can find them. This bike tag is used to identify your child’s bike when they remove it from the Transition Area after the race is over. A volunteer will match the bike tag to your child’s bib number.
(Note to past race participants: Please remove any old helmet stickers and/or race number tags from past or previous races. There will be volunteers in the Transition Area to assist with proper Race Number placement.)
We will be starting the triathlon at 8 AM. We will proceed by age groups beginning with the oldest (13-16) and ending with the youngest (3-6).
There will be many waves in each age group but your athlete must be at the event no less than one hour before the FIRST wave in their age group to allow time to set up their transition area and be ready to swim.
Age Group Wave Start Times:
These will be published the week leading up to the event. All swim waves will have two swimmers per lane in the pool.
Please be sure your young athlete knows how many bike/run laps they needs to do. Volunteers will attempt to help count laps of athletes from 7 through 16 using bracelets on the wrist and bib colors. However, it is the responsibility of each athlete to count their laps and get the bracelets.
There are several timing mats on the course so we will be able to tell if an athlete has done less or more laps than required.
In the sport of triathlon the Transition Area is like home base for the swim, bike, and run. The athlete passes through the Transition Area twice during the event. In the Transition Area the athlete moves from the swim (or run for the Duathlon) to the bike; and then from the bike to the run.
Every athlete has a spot in the Transition Area (by age-group) where their bike, helmet, shoes/socks, shirt, shorts, towel and other essentials are located. The transition area is set up BEFORE the race starts.
The triathlon race itself begins at the pool, even for the Duathlon.
DO NOT WEAR YOUR BIB IN THE POOL
Following the swim, the athlete moves to the Transition Area where they removes any swim equipment such as goggles and swim cap, quickly dries off, puts on what is needed for the bike ride, takes their bike and walks the bike to exit the Transition Area following the sign that says “Bike Out”.
Bathing suit removal is not permitted. Athletes put on shorts and a shirt over their bathing suit with their race number pinned on in advance. Some athletes prefer to just put on a shirt (with number) and ride with bathing suits instead of shorts-over-suits.
After the bike ride the athlete returns to the Transition Area and walks the bike back to where their equipment is located. The bike is placed in the rack, helmet and other riding equipment is removed, and the athlete prepares for the run.
THE BIKE MUST BE PUT BACK IN THE SPOT IT CAME FROM OR THE ATHLETE WILL GET A TIME PENALTY
Generally young athletes ride their bikes in their running shoes so after removing the bike equipment they are ready for the run. Runners may jog to the “Run Out” sign in the Transition Area, watching for bikes and other runners. The triathlon finishes at the end of the run on the track through the Finish Line chute.
Preparing Your Transition Area
Get to the race early enough to set up your young athlete’s Transition Area location. Look for signs designating the age-group of your athlete. Locations are not reserved and there will be enough for all athletes.
The race starts with the oldest and progresses to the youngest so there will be racers in the Transition Area when you are setting up. Please be courteous to them and stay clear.
For children aged 7-10, only one adult will be permitted with the athlete for setup and removal. A wristband is required. This is for the safety of the athletes.
After setup, please leave the area immediately. Only the athlete will be permitted in the transition area during the race, except for 3-6 when one adult may accompany the child.
Bring two towels, one of which should be old. Put the old towel on the ground beside the bike at your child’s location and place their race equipment on it. The other towel is for drying off after the swim. A colorful, easy to recognize towel is recommended.
The time spent in the Transition Area counts in the overall time so it should be as fast as is reasonable but not so fast that your athlete forgets to put on the helmet or tie their shoes. We will have volunteers in the Transition Area to assist athletes so we REQUIRE that all adults stay out for the safety of all of the participants. An exception to this is for the 3-6 age-group where ONE adult may assist the athlete if needed.
The Transition Area will be guarded by volunteers. To remove a bike from the Transition Area you must show a race number and match it to the race number on the bike. Your race packet will have a numbered race bib to be worn on the shirt or shorts and two small stick-on race numbers, one for the bike and one for the helmet. In addition each athlete will have their race number marked on their body by volunteers using pen. All of these numbers must match.