What you can and cannot do – provided by USA Triathlon (yes these are the rules only for the triathlon).

1. Most commonly violated rules

2. Rules

Race Etiquette:

• Observe all race rules at all times.
• Don’t use a radio headset during the bike or run.
• Don’t place your bike and equipment on top of someone else’s in the transition area. Respect the athlete’s space and equipment.
• If you are a slower rider stay on the right side except when passing. Keep a straight line when riding. Only discard your water bottles and trash at an aid station. If you have to discard a bottle, make sure your throw it away from the other athletes.
• There is no littering on the race course.
• If you have mechanical problems, pull off the course on the right. Always let the rider ahead know you are passing on the left. And above all obey all safety rules on the course.
• Keep your pets at home if you are racing. Do you really need another distraction?
• The swim is always tough, but I’ve seen athletes actually push and crowd others away from their start positions. Don’t grab, push or pull others during the swim. It’s not combat swimming!
• During the run keep to the right except to pass. When you do pass someone or see them at the turnaround offer a word of encouragement.
• Be careful at the aid stations. This is usually the area where most of the items like gel packs and bottles are dropped and the pavement can be extremely slick. There is plenty to drink for everyone. Give each other room to drink and go.

After the race:

• When you cross the finish line, don’t be dramatic. You did a good job by finishing, now remove your chip or number, get a drink and move away from the finish chute without a lot of drama!
• Treat the finish line workers with respect. Your day is over they still have a lot to do.
• After you recover a bit, cheer on the other competitors and talk with the athletes. Pat all the youth on the back and offer words of encouragement when they finish!
• If you stick around for the awards then wait until all the awards are given out. I know it is tough at times but support the other competitors till the end.
• Good or bad race – “Be your own HERO!” after the race. Smile, hold your head high and take pride inside. You stepped up to the start line and you did it, you put yourself in the heat of competition and you finished even if the only person you were competing with was yourself!

Check out www.usatriathlon.org for more info

Relay Team Rules:

All rules applying to individual competitors apply to relay competitors except where such rules conflict with specific relay rules.

• Relay teams must be composed of three athletes – one swimmer, one cyclist and one runner. Team members can be either the same gender or any combination of male/female. The minimum age of a participant is 16 years old.
• The relay team ‘chip transfer’ area must be within the marked Relay Team Area in the transition area. There will be a Relay Team Referee overseeing the ‘chip transfer’ of each team member. If a ‘chip transfer’ happens outside of the Relay Team Area, the team will not be included in the official results.
• Any relay team interfering with an individual competitor or any way placing an individual competitor at a competitive disadvantage will be disqualified.

RUN

• Relay runners will start in the relay team wave (see schedule above).

BIKE

• All relay bikes must be placed in the designated bike racks in the Transition Area. Team bikes must not be removed from the designated bike rack until AFTER the timing chip has been passed onto the team cyclist.
• After receiving the timing chip the cyclist must WALK their bikes through the transition area to the MOUNT LINE. At this time cyclists may mount their bike and depart on the 15k bike.
• Upon completion of the 15k bike and arrival at the Transition Area, cyclists must dismount at the DISMOUNT LINE and WALK their bike back to the designated bike rack. Once the cyclist has entered the marked Team Relay Area, they may hand off the timing chip to the swimmer. Once the swimmer has attached the timing chip, he/she may depart to the swim course. Cyclists must re-rack their bike on the designated bike rack.

RUN

• Relay swimmers must turn in their timing chip at the designated timing table behind the finish line immediate after crossing the finish line. Any team failing to turn in its timing chip will not be considered an official finisher