This special update contains the FINAL pre-race instructions and schedule for the
2008 Merrill Lynch Race for Sight Triathlon.
We are expecting over 600 participants at this year's event.
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY!
The Ultramax Event staff will be busy getting ready for the race beginning day (5/1) afternoon. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us before Thursday at 573-443-7036 or info@ultramaxtri.com, preferably via e-mail. If you have friends/family members that have not yet signed up for the race, they can do so until Saturday (5/3)at packet pickup.
NO RACE DAY REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ALLOWED - WE WILL CLOSE THE RACE AT 600 ENTRANTS.
We are only a few dozen away!
If you have a problem, don't see yourself on the
live entry list, or have any other general questions, please do not
worry if you are unable to contact us before Thursday! We
can make changes, answer questions, and even add you to the entry
list at packet pickup. Just be there with your bike and running
shoes!
IMPORTANT CHANGE NOTICE: SATURDAY PACKET PICK UP LOCATION CHANGE - SEE BELOW
Most race information you will need has been updated on our website! http://www.ultramaxtri.com/races/rfs/index.php
Don’t Forget Your ID! You MUST pick up your OWN packet, and you must have a picture ID to pick up your packet. USA Triathlon allows NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. If you do not have a picture ID, we cannot let you participate in the event.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
• 1:00p-7:00p - Packet Pickup at The Starting Block!
THERE IS NO PACKET PICKUP AT MISSOURI UNIVERSITY
SPECIAL - Bring your racer number into The Starting Block for 15% off all purchases. GOOD ON SATURDAY ONLY!
• 3:30p-4:30p - FREE CLINIC: Introduction to Multi-sport presented by The Starting Block and Injury Prevention Tactics presented by University of Missouri Orthopedic Department. See the description below!
• 10:00am - 7:00pm - The Starting Block is open offering their free video gait analysis. See promotional message below
• 5:30am - 7:00am - Packet Pickup/Transition Area Opens (@ MU/Stankowski Field)
•5:30am - 7:00am- Pick Up Time Chips (The Big Shark/Ultramax trailer)
IMPORTANT - No time chips will be distributed after 6:45 am - YOU MUST BE CHECKED IN BEFORE THEN!
• 6:30 am - Swim area opens to participants. No warmups or access is available before that time.
• 7:00 am - Elite Wave Start
• 7:30 am - AGE GROUP Wave Start
• 9:00am - Food Tent Opens (Famous Shakespeare's Pizza and Soda!)
• 11:00am - Awards Ceremony - Presented By Les Bourgeois Winery - SEE NOTE BELOW
• 12:30pm - Course Officially Closes
The swim is “snake-style”, with one person entering every 10-12 seconds (you will swim down one lane, then go under the rope into the next lane and swim to the end of that lane… and so on). You will line up according to your ESTIMATED swim time, with the fastest swimmers going first; please time yourself at 440 yards, before race-day. Be sure to add time to change lanes and go under the ropes. Most people add 45 seconds to their total time.
IMPORTANT: If you estimate your time too fast or too slow it will DRAMATICALLY HURT YOUR overall time and the others around you. Your best time will come if you don't pass or get passed. That means an accurately estimated swim time. We reserve the right to remove athletes from the pool and re-start them if needed.
AWARDS NOTE: WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIP AWARDS IN 2008! You must attend the awards ceremony to receive your award.E PHOTOS
Photogliff is NOW the official photography service of Ultramax Events. Photogliff will be providing custom finish photos and staged green screen  photos at our events all season long.
SPECIAL ATTRACTION: Photogliff will setup a green background screen at each event. They can take your picture(s) at the finish with your bike, friends, family whatever you like. Their staff will then superimpose your image onto a custom designed Ultramax background. They will print those photos onsite and can even include your finish time or any other unique statement you like. You can preview the photo before you decide to purchase, no obligation. All of this can be done on-site.
All for only $12 (8X10 photo).
IMPORTANT - All awards that are not claimed at the race will be available for 10 days following the event at The Starting Block - 2902 Forum Blvd. Suite 103 Columbia, MO 65203. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIP AWARDS IN 2008!
 Awards will be presented to the top 3 Overall Champions, male and female, along with $150, $100 & $50 Trisports.com certificates. Les Bourgeois Custom Label Wine Awards will be presented to the top 3+ in each Age Group Division & Clydesdale/Athena. Each Age Division Champion will also receive a $25 Trisports.com certificate. Awards will be presented to the top 2 teams in the male, female and coed divisions. Thanks to this great partnership will go 4-5-6 deep in many age groups, depending on total entries.
ELITE DIVISION - Awards will be presented to the top 5 males and top 5 females in the Elite Division, along with $2,500 cash.
Prize money is the same distribution among men and women.
1st - $500
2nd - $300
3rd - $200
4th- $150
5th - $100
Les Bourgeois is known for its spectacular blufftop view of the Missouri River Valley, Les Bourgeois Winery and Vineyards is one of Mid-Missouri's premier cultural and recreational attractions. To make reservations or for questions about the Blufftop Bistro call (573) 698-2300 or bistro@missouriwine.com.
NOTE: You must wear your race number during run portion. Your bike must have the bike number provided attached to your bike at all times.
We strongly recommend using a race belt. Your number must be in the front when you finish. If you don't have one you can pick one up at The Starting Block during packet pickup on Saturday!
Swim Course - The RFS swim is held in the brand new competition pool at MU. The swim is "snake-style" meaning that everyone will line up according to their swim time (please time yourself at 440 yards before the race) and start individually (~10 seconds apart), swimming one behind the other. You will do "laps" to the end of the pool (swim to the end of one lane, duck under the ropes and swim to the end of that lane, duck under the ropes and so on). If you must pass, simply tap the toes of the person in front of you.... if your toes are tapped, move to the side and let the person through.
Cycle Extreme Bike Course - The bike course is a loop on open roads, with some turns and rolling hills (two laps). There are a few hills. Arrows, signs and volunteers will help you. THIS IS A NEW COURSE. There is potential construction planned during the time of the race, so we have made a few small changes to avoid the construction area (THE WALL is not longer in the course!!).
Run Course - The run course is a loop on a paved roads through the MU Campus. There are no significant inclines.
Transition Area (TA) - The entire transition area will be located on the Stankowski Field turf. The area has been designed first and foremost with safety and ease of traffic movement in mind. You will run from the swimming pool into the TA through the RUN IN door. You will exit, on your bike through the BIKE OUT DOOR. After the bike is finished, you will enter the TA through the BIKE IN door, put your bike away and head out of the RUN OUT door, then complete the run course and finish under the finish line arch. Arrows, signs and volunteers will help you.
PLEASE - Know the Course! This is an open course (no roads are closed). It will be manned by volunteers and law enforcement, but is still your responsibility to know where you are going and to keep yourself safe. Please stay aware of traffic and obey traffic laws – you will be able to roll through intersections that are controlled by volunteers and police, but please still pay attention as we do not have control over motorists that do not listen to our directions. Do not pass the centerline of the road any time for any reason! If you have time to drive the course before Saturday morning, do so – it’ll make you feel more confident about knowing where to go during the bike.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF MAP PACKET HERE
The Race for Sight Triathlon will be timed using AMB chip timing transponders, commonly called “the chip”. Please follow these simple instructions carefully. Not wearing the transponder properly may prevent you from being timed. Transponders are non-transferable! Be careful not to switch with other participants. The chip must be on ankle at all times or you will not be scored in the event. Your timing chip will be removed by volunteers once you reach the finish line.
If you find you still have your timing chip after the race, please put it in a padded envelope and mail to: Ultramax Events 2902 Forum Blvd Suite 103 Columbia, MO 65203. YOU WILL BE CHARGED A $85 REPLACEMENT FEE IF YOU DO NOT RETURN YOUR TIMING TRANSPONDER Failure to return a chip will result in disqualification from all future events owned or timed by Ultramax Events!
USA Triathlon Rules
All USAT rules apply (and can be found at usatriathlon.org), but a couple of major ones to keep in mind… Helmets must be on and strapped at all times that you are on the race site (the is the course, start, transition, finish, etc)… this includes warm up, riding your bike from parking to race site, etc. You can be disqualified if your helmet is not on and strapped. There is no drafting allowed (this means you must ride at least three bike lengths behind the person in front of you, unless actively passing).
- Always ride to the right, unless actively passing (and pass only on the left). Move back to the right as soon as you have safely passed the other biker.
- When passing, yell to the biker in front of you “on your left”.
- If you must get off of your bike while on the course, pull as far right as possible, and make sure to check for other bikers before merging back onto the bike course.
- Be polite to ALL volunteers and staff. Most of the volunteers will be at the race for about 8-10 hours. They are only out there for one reason – to make it possible for you to race. If you have a problem with a volunteer or staff member or feel their actions have harmed your race, please simply tell the Race Director or Assistant Race Director. Any mistreatment of volunteers can result in disqualification.
- Clean up your trash when you’re done racing. It will take you about 45 seconds to pick up and throw away your trash… it will take a volunteer an hour or two to clean up if everyone leaves their trash.
Teams will transfer their timing chip inside the bike transition area. Each member of the team must return to the area to make the chip exchange. The last member of the team should wear the race number on the final run leg. The chip must be on the ankle of each team member at all times while racing.
Option 1- There is limited parking in a lot just down the street from the Rec Center/Stankowski Field, at Rollins & Maryland.
Option 2 – There is plenty of parking in the Maryland Parking Garage, less than 1/4 mile from the Rec Center/Stankowski Field (from Rollins turn North on Maryland – the garage is about a block down Maryland).
If your family and friends are coming to cheer for you (and we hope they are!) we encourage them to stay at the race site for the duration of the event. We understand that it’s pretty sweet to have them out on the course to cheer as you go by, but every additional vehicle that is on the course while racers are on the course just adds to any risk of injury.
 Free Beginner Level Clinic
The Starting Block and the University of Missouri Orthopedic Department will host a free “intro to multi-sport” and "injury prevention clinic" at The Starting Block from 3:30p-4:30p on Saturday.
This clinic is not limited to just racers, so bring or invite anyone who is interested in getting into the sport, or wants to know more about it. Space will be limited however, so please arrive a little early.
We plan to cover getting through your first triathlon. How to approach the race? Preparing for the race, reviewing your race setup and race tactics to improve your time. We will leave time for a good question and answer session at the end.
Presenter Amy Livesay - Amy has learned a few things along her multi-sport journey and she is excited to share some of this knowledge with you. Amy has competed in dozens of triathlons including 5 Ironman Triathlons. She qualified for and raced in the 2002 Ironman World Championships, held on the Big Island of Hawaii. Amy is a certified USA Triathlon coach and two-time USA Triathlon All-American. She has won the Columbia WIN Woman of the Year Award and most recently named Columbia's Best Female Athlete by Inside Columbia Magazine
Why should you be professionally fit for running shoes?
The technology that has gone into running shoes over the past decade has made it possible to fit nearly every foot type. Shoes are now specifically designed to address a vast variety of foot shapes, weight differences, and biomechanical anomalies. There is simply no way most people can buy shoes off the internet or box stores and know they will both fit your feet and be the correct shoes for you in terms of your foot function.
At The Starting Block our team will actually prescribe the correct shoes for youou - taking into account running style, running goals, body type and build, foot and body biomechanics, foot shape and  profile, and injury status. We accomplish this with our exclusive Fit Perfect Analysis system. We have studied and researched how shoe fitting and gait analysis techniques are being done around the world. We merged the very best concepts we found into our system. Ultimately this lead to the development of our unique “FIT PERFECT" system.
This technique allows us to review your gait, foot, alignment, and pronation degree in both a dynamic and static setting. This dynamic shoe fitting process is EXCLUSIVE to The Starting Block, and incorporates the following reviews:
- Arch Type
- Static Leg Axis
- Foot Alignment
- Dynamic Leg Rotation
- Mid-line Evaluation
- Foot Width
- Shoe Tilt Analysis
- Foot Flexibility
- Left and Right Independent Pronation Review
- Video Gait Analysis
We will take 30-45 seconds of video while running or walking on a treadmill, with and without shoes. These images are then reviewed with you on a computer screen and played back frame-by-frame. Our trained staff will review the entire process with you. You will see for yourself how your legs and feet interact. After this process is complete you will understand how the correct shoes will dramatically improve your walking or running.
The total “FREE” Fit Perfect process takes about 20-25 minutes to complete. Using our Fit Perfect system our staff has professional fit over 2,700 individuals.
Stop by on Saturday during packet pickup and see for yourself what everyone is talking about!
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!
DIRECTIONS |
Packets can be picked up on Saturday at The Starting Block or Sunday at the Race Site, Missouri University Recreation Center . |
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Missouri University Recreation Center
[Google Map Link/Directions]
Columbia, MO
(From I-70) Take the Stadium Exit & go South. Turn left on Providence (by the Football Stadium). Turn right onto Rolllins. The Rec Center is on Rollins, just after Maryland. University of Missouri Rec Center 573-882-2066 (please call for directions only)
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Special Thanks to our 2008 Partners! |
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The Starting Block - Fit Perfect Video Gait Analysis Reviewed 
