What is a Triathlon?
This event begins with a swim at the Texas Tech Leisure Pool, then transitions to a bike ride and ends with a run around the Student Recreation Center. Age groups will have different distance to compete in:

	Swim	Bike	Run
7-10 year olds	100 yds	2.5 miles	1 mile
11-14 year olds	200 yds	3.75 miles	1.5 miles

Where is the race being held?
At the Texas Tech Student Recreation and Leisure Pool which is located on Main Street just east of Indiana Avenue. If you are familiar with Lubbock, we share the parking lot with the United Spirit Arena.

Maps
Printable Run Map for 11-14 year olds
Printable Run Map for 7-10 year olds
Printable Bike Map for Both Age Groups

Registration Information
You can register in the Fit/Well at the TTU Rec Center or online at
Download our informational brochure (Brochure Front and Back) with registration form and return to the Fit/Well in person or in the mail.

$15 for the first child in a family and $10 for each additional child in that family.
$5 late fee after Monday, July 20 and you won’t be seeded in the swim.

Packet Pickup/Last Chance Registration
Friday, July 24th 4:00 - 8:00pm
North Entrance of the Student Rec Center
All participants must pick up numbers, etc. There will be no race day packet pickup.

How does a Triathlon work?
A triathlon has 3 events with a transition area in between to change equipment and clothes.
The Swim:
Swimmers will go off 1 by 1 at 15 second intervals. They will push off the wall for the start (no diving). They will swim up one lane, flip (or duck) under the lane line and swim back the next lane. The pool is 25 yards long and is 4 feet, 6 inches deep. The younger age group will swim 4 lengths and the older group will swim 8 lengths. They will exit the pool at a ladder and there will be carpet leading to the exit for them to follow. There will be a time gap between the age groups to give the younger age groups time to complete the cycling before the older group begins. How long will depend on the number of entries.
First transition:
Participants run (carefully because they will not have shoes on) to the transition area where their bike is and the pile of clothes that they want to wear. Parents and other helpers are not allowed in the transition area after the triathlon begins. Children may change clothes, put on shoes etc before mounting the bike. Helmets must be BUCKLED and bikes must be WALKED out of the transition area. There will be a red tape line on the driveway indicating where they can get on their bikes.
Cycling:

The 2nd Transition:
After the bike has been racked and the helmet off, the triathletes will begin their run. Please see the attached map for directions. There will be cups of water available for participants as they leave the transition area to the run.
The Run:
The running event is on the jogging track/sidewalk around the Rec Center and adjoining fields. The younger children will run 1 lap of the 1 mile course. The older children will run 1.5 miles of a slightly altered course. Please see the map. Every finisher will be awarded a medal as they cross the finish line. No one can run with the child.
The End:
There will be refreshments for participants. We encourage you to stay and cheer on others. Drawings for prizes will be held after everyone is finished. For the safety and fairness of all participants, please do not remove bikes from the transition area until the last triathlete has begun the run.

What do I need to bring?
• A swim suit. Goggles are not mandatory but most swimmers like them. (no flippers, kickboards or flotation devices allowed)
• A bike that has working brakes and an ANSI or SNELL approved helmet that fits your head. Sorry, training wheels are not allowed.
• Running shoes

How much can parents help?
The best help that parents can give is in making sure your child is ready to compete.
• Make sure their bike is in working order (especially the brakes) and that their helmet fits. We anticipate kids to be on kid’s bikes—a racing bike is not expected—so please don’t feel intimidated but make sure it is a safe bicycle!
• Take them swimming to make sure they can complete the distance. No flotation devices are allowed. The pool depth is 4 feet, 6 inches. They can rest at the ends of the pool if necessary. You might swim with them in a lane and make some splashes because this will probably occur.
• Find a bike course around your neighborhood of a similar distance (or ride at Tech in the evenings/weekend if you live in Lubbock). Make sure they understand that they need to stay to the right side of the road (with traffic). Teach them that if they want to pass another cyclist, they should pass on the left of the other cyclist but fairly close—not in the middle of the road. Follow behind them on your bike as they get better to let them lead and gently remind them when they veer to the left or right. Get them to tuck their shoes lace bows into the laces or the outside of their shoes so the laces will not get caught in chain ring.
• Run with them on a similar distance course in the neighborhood, at a track (or run at Tech in the evenings/weekend if you live in Lubbock).
• For all of these activities, please start early and work up to the distances. Then try to combine 2 of the activities at one time and, if possible, do all 3 at least once before the triathlon. Give them positive encouragement. Let them figure out what clothes they are going to wear, how they are going to change (i.e. I am going to put my glasses in my shoes so they won’t get broken; I am going to stack my shorts on my shoes with my shirt on top) and practice transitioning from one event to another.
• When you come to pick up your packet (if not before), please drive (or ride) them on the cycling course and drive, walk or run the running course so they will feel comfortable knowing where they are going. We will have plenty of volunteers along the way, but they will be more confident if they know where they are going and “how much further” until the end.

Pre-Race Night Preparation
• You will find numbers in your packet.
• The small one goes on the right front of their helmet and the cardboard one goes on the front of their handlebars.
• The running number goes on the front of their shirt.
• If your child is going to compete in just his/her swim suit, you will have to have some sort of elastic belt with the number attached to it that they can slip around their waist for the run. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A NUMBER ON FOR THE RUN.
• Put all numbers on clothing, bike the night before.
• Try to get your child to bed early as it will be an early awakening on race day.
• Have the car packed as much as possible.

Helpful Transition and Nutrition Hints
These great tips and hints are provided courtesy of Tim Key, Certified Personal Trainer and Triathlete
Triathlon Hints PDF

Race Day
• Get up in plenty of time to eat a light breakfast and get to the Leisure Pool on time.
• You may help your child place his/her bike in the transition area and get clothes ready. Bring them to the marking station.
• See that they have been to the bathroom.
• Get them into the pool area by 7:15, give them a kiss and a wish for a fun time! They are on their own from here!
• You can cheer them on, watch them transition and walk to different points to watch them. Please do not follow in a car or bike on the cycling section. It will be difficult for you to drive to the center of campus to watch that part of the cycling. The run is on the jogging track that surrounds the Rec—you can watch but cannot run with them. We will have light refreshments after the race. Please cheer for everyone—it is a great confidence builder!

Where do I park?
The lot northeast of the SRC, across from the outdoor tennis courts provides the best parking for this year's Kid's Triathlon. Parking will be free Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
If you are dropping off a registration form, please use the 30 minute parking spots in the semi-circle north of the building.

Printable Parking Map

What time should we be there?
We will be open at 6:30 am. Everyone will have their arms and legs numbered with a magic marker and bikes/transition area will need to be set up. Please do not come later than 7 am in order to be ready on time. Everyone (even the older age group) must be at the pool for instructions at 7:15 am. Parents and helpers are allowed in the transition area before the race begins to help organize the bike, helmet, towel and pile of clothes/shoes. Placement of bike in the transition area is on a first come, first placed basis. Once the race begins, only participants are allowed in the transition area. Competitors will not be allowed to remove their bike and/gear from the transition area until the last competitor has begun the run.

What if a child needs medical attention?
We will have plenty of volunteers to contact the race directors who are CPR certified. EMS will be called.

What if a child does not finish?
Please report this to a race volunteer so we will know. Please encourage the child to stay and enjoy the day and cheer on others.

Are there awards?
The emphasis of this triathlon is in the name—Fit4 Fun—so there will be no awards for the fastest competitors but each child will receive a medal around his or her neck as(s)he crosses the finish line. We will post individual times by Monday afternoon on this website for those who wish to see how they did.

What happens if the weather is bad?
The race will take place rain or shine, unless the conditions are severe enough to cancel because of safety concerns. The directors have the right to shorten distances or delete a section if safety is an issue.

Past Results and Pictures
2008 Photo Gallery: Click Here
2008 Results: Click Here
2007 Results: Click Here