COMPETITION RULES

Paradise Aquathlon

A. General Rules

1. Registrations are not transferable and are non-refundable. All athletes must participate using their own identities.

2. All participants must be 16 years of age or older to compete in the individual sprint event, however, for a single leg of the team sprint participants can be as young as 13*.

3. Good sportsmanlike conduct is expected of all participants. Athletes will be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.  Treat other athletes, race officials, volunteers and spectators with respect and courtesy.  Abusive language will not be tolerated.

4. The use of any type of headset or earphones on any part of the course is prohibited.

5. Unauthorized outside aid/support or escorts are grounds for disqualification.

6. Pacing by a non-competitor during any portion of the race is forbidden. 

7. Only athletes and officials will be allowed in certain designated areas (i.e. transition area, finish line area). Participants are not permitted to have assistance during transitions or at any other point during the race,  with the exception of participants requiring assistance with adaptive equipment or special needs.

8. The Technical Officials and medical personnel have ultimate and final authority to remove a participant from the race if (a) they have violated any of the rules of the race or (b) the individual is judged to be incapable of finishing the race safely.

9. Participants who drop out of the race must notify the nearest course marshal/official. Those who drop out for medical reasons should also check with the medical personnel. Official race vehicles will be marked as such, and are equipped with cellular telephones.

10. Failure to comply with any or all the rules may result in immediate disqualification, or other penalties as assessed by the Technical Officials.

B. Violations & how to avoid them

1. ILLEGAL POSITION (BLOCKING) - Always ride on the right side of your lane to avoid blocking another participant.

2. RACE NUMBER - you must display your race number during the race on your front on the run portion.

3. LITTERING - Do not throw away anything outside of the official aid stations.

4. UNAUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT- Absolutely no cell phones, MP3 players, iPods or other audio listening devices and no headphones.

5. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE— Do not accept any assistance from anyone other than a race official, and do not have non-racers ride or run alongside you.

6. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT - Please remember to treat other athletes, volunteers and referees and race officials with courtesy, respect and consideration.

 C. Race Timing

The race will be timed by the ANE timing team. Your responsibilities as a competitor include:

1. When you pick up your timing chip at Athlete Check-In on race morning ensure that your correct name shows up on the computer screen.

2. You must wear your timing chip at all times while you are racing.  Fasten it to either ankle with the Velcro strap provided before the swim start and leave it on until after you finish the run.  You may apply Vaseline around your ankle.  It will not affect the chip.  Volunteers will help you remove the strap and chip at the finish line.

3. If you do not start the race, you are still responsible for returning the chip to race management.  Chips and straps should be returned to the Finish Line or handed to any race official.

4. If you drop out or are pulled from the race at any time, turn your chip and strap in to a race official.  It is essential that we know where you are on the course at all times for your safety.

5. Your race chip is a loaner.  By picking up your race number and chip, you are agreeing that you will return the chip to race management, or you will be billed for its replacement.

D. Body Marking

In your race kits, you will be provided:

1.     two adhesive race numbers (one for each arm), 

2.     one swim cap with your race number, 

3.     one race bib number with safety pins for the run. 

Race numbers must always be visible during the race.

Race numbers must be placed as follows:

●      Body: one adhesive race number must be placed on each upper arm. If you are wearing a long-sleeved tri-suit, place your race numbers on your forearms. These race numbers must be placed the night before the race for best adhesion.

●      Swim: number will be on cap (to be completed at race kit pickup) 

●      Run: the race bib number must be worn on your chest during run portion (using provided safety pins to attach to race kit) or attached to a race number belt (not provided). 

E. Athlete Check-In

07:000am - Athlete check-in opens 

Race bib number at check-in to participate. Athletes must also have their body marking completed (adhesive race numbers applied) before they will be allowed into transition.

Once you have been checked-in, proceed to set up your equipment at your preferred spot in the transition area. Your transition spot is on a first-come first-served basis; we do not designate transition spots for any participants 

Other important Times to Note: 

 07:00am Check-in

07:30am            In-water warm-up opens

07:45am            Welcome message and pre-race briefing 

8:00am             Super Sprint,  Sprint and Olympic Distance Race Start.  

10:00am            Run Course Closes 

F. Transition Area

See image at bottom of the page. 

F.i. Pre-Race Set-Up

1.     Only athletes are permitted in the transition area. 

2.     Athlete’s must not interfere with another athlete’s equipment in the transition area. Please be courteous to your fellow participants; do not move another participants equipment or take up too much space. If there is an issue, please see a volunteer or race official. 

3.     Marking positions in the transition area is forbidden. Marks, towels, and objects used for marking purposes will be removed and the athletes will not be notified.

4.     Only items required to complete the race are allowed in the transition area (e.g., wetsuit, running shoes, etc). All other items/bags must be placed in the secure “Bag Area” located outside of the transition zone near the Bike In/Out area.

5.     Prior to exiting for the swim start, timing chips must be picked up in transition near the Swim In/Run Out area.

F.ii. During The Race

1.     Athletes must not impede the progress of other athletes in the transition area.

2. Stay to the right on the run route . Respect other participants or residents walking the trail

Nudity or indecent exposure is not permitted at any time.

G. Swim Course

 G.i. Swim Course Description

1. Course length - 1500m for Olympic, 750 m for Sprint; 300 m for Super Sprint

2. The 1 lap swim is a triangular course, swimming COUNTER-clockwise. The swim is an in-water start marked by bouys.  The swim caps (provided in race package) must be worn throughout the entire swim course to ensure safety of all athletes during this time.  After a warm-up swim, all swimmers will be asked to exit the water and line up at course entry zone to be counted by the volunteers/lifeguards  prior to re-entry for the race. 

3. Swim to beach area and transition mat's will be lined up next to the pond. 

4. Swim security for athletes will be maintained at the highest level from morning entry to race transition until the return from the swim.

5. Any athletes electing not to race must notify a race official immediately.

6. Above all, the safety of each swimmer is our prime concern.  A full sweep of the course will be made directly behind the last swimmer exiting the water.

Swim cut-off: 9:00 am

 G.ii. Swim Rules

1. Snorkels, fins,  paddles, pull buoys, are NOT allowed.  Flotation devices are allowed if required. Technical Officials will announce water and air temperature, which will determine whether the race is a wetsuit legal or illegal.  

2. Swimmers shall swim 2 loops of the 750 meter triangular counterclockwise course for the Olympic; 1 loop of the 750 meter triangular counterclockwise course for the Sprint swimmers ; Super Sprint will swim 1 loop of the 300 meter in a triangular counterclockwise course.

3. Swimmers should seed themselves on the deep water start line according to their own speed.

4. No escorts are allowed in the water; however assistance given by a lifeguard for temporary support will not result in disqualification provided the competitor’s forward progress is not assisted. Swimmers may stop at a kayak if necessary. In an emergency, a competitor should raise an arm overhead and call for assistance.

5. Swim caps provided by the race organizers must be worn by all competitors.

6. The swim portion of the event finishes when an athlete runs between the two markers set up on the beach water line.  All athletes must exit the water between these markers.

7. The swim portion of the race will be cancelled if the water and air temperature combination  does not meet ITU guidelines at race time.  And / Or The swim portion of the race will be cancelled if the weather causes the swim portion unsafe for the swimmers. The race will then become a run only event.

H. Run Course

H.i. Run Course Description

The mostly flat 5 km run course on a well groomed gravel trail.  Leaving transition area the athlete will proceed as follows:

As Athletes leave transition they will immediately run straight along the trail in the COUNTER-CLOCKWISE direction.

Athletes will then cross the parking lot (near Dragon Boat dock) following pylons.  (Water station will be setup in this area). There will be two short sections where runners will be running on the sidewalk/shoulder of Topsail Road.  After the second section, athletes will turn left back onto the trail, run the remainder of the pond trail back to the Y-junction (second water station in this area) and back towards Paradise Parking lot / Splashpad area.

Turn RIGHT at the railbed. There will be a small section onto the railway bed trail before completing a U-Turn (at pylon) and running back toward Octagon Pond trail.  Athletes will make a RIGHT turn through the gate onto Sarah Davis Way . Turn LEFT and Finish line will be on Sarah Davis Way.

Run cut-off: 10:00 am

 H.ii. Run Course Rules

1. Runners must complete one lap of the run route for the Sprint.  No form of locomotion other than running or walking is permitted.

2. Runners’ numbers must be visible from the front. 

3. Runners are expected to follow directions and instructions of all race officials and public authorities.

4. A bare torso is not permitted while running.

Thank you for coming out! Good Luck!

Paradise Triathlon Committee