These are rules that every participating athlete is expected to follow. It is worth repeating that any athletes that draft on the bike course will risk a disqualification. All participating athletes are responsible for knowing the course. Course marshals will be busy controlling traffic and are not responsible to give directions to athletes.

 

COMPETITION RULES

Paradise Triathlon

 

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 15 years of age or older.

3. Good sportsmanlike conduct is expected of all participants.

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. Pacing by vehicles is also forbidden.

7. Only athletes and officials will be allowed in certain designated areas (i.e. transition areas, 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 Chief Course Marshal 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. 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 Race Committee.

Specific Regulations

Paradise Triathlon operates under the “three strikes and you’re out” principle. Any type of violation will count toward the three strikes.

B.1 Violations & how to avoid them

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

2. DRAFTING - Keep four bike lengths (7 meters) between your bike’s front wheel and the rear wheel of the cyclist in front of you to avoid drafting.

3. ILLEGAL PASS - Always pass on the left of the cyclist in front of you, never on the right to avoid an illegal pass.

4. DRAFTING - Complete your pass within 20 seconds to avoid a DRAFTING call.

5. DRAFTING (OVERTAKEN) - If passed, drop back four bike lengths before attempting to re-pass to avoid an overtaken or drafting call.

6. HELMET CHINSTRAP - the chinstrap of your helmet must be securely fastened whenever you are on your bike on race day.

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

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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 with the Atlantic Chip timing. 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 guaranteeing that you will return the chip to race management, or you will be billed for its replacement.

Swim Course

 

D.1 Swim Course Description

1. Course length - 750 meters

2. The 1 lap, 750 m (approximately) swim is a triangular course, swimming clockwise. The swim starts in the water in front of the boat ramp next to the docks. The swim caps (provided in race package) must be worn throughout the entire swim course to ensure safety of all athletes during this time. The volunteers/lifeguards will line the course. The course will be patrolled by a motorized boat, as well as kayaks.

3. You will need footwear to run from the swim exit to the bike transition as you will have to run 430 meters across a gravel parking lot.

4. Due to the water temperature, waves and wind potential, we highly recommend that you train and compete in a wet suit.

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

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

7. 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.

 

D.2 Swim Rules

1. Swimmers are required to have “Race Numbers” marked on both shoulders and calves. These will be applied by race officials before the start of the race.

2. Shorts, swimsuits or triathlon suits must be worn; however no snorkels, fins, paddles, pull buoys, flotation devices or buoyancy suits are allowed. Wetsuits are allowed. The race committee reserves the right to make wetsuits mandatory if the water temperature is deemed to be a safety concern.

3. Swimmers shall swim 1 loop of the 750 meter triangular clockwise course.

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

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. The swim portion of the race will be canceled if the water temperature does not meet or exceed 10°c at race time.

 

E. Bike Course

E.1 Bike Course Description

1. Course length - 25 km

2. The 25 km bike course will leave the Town Hall parking lot and take a right on McNamara Dr. heading south and then east for 3.7 km to the West bound Trans Canada Highway (TCH) on ramp. Do NOT go under the TCH overpass. Immediately before the TCH overpass, take a sharp left turn crossing one lane of traffic, entering the TCH West bound on ramp. On the TCH, travel 1.6 km exiting to the right on the Conception Bay Bypass (CBB) Highway. Travel 4.6 km on the (CBB) Highway, then exit to the right onto Fowlers Rd. Take a left on Fowlers Rd. crossing over one lane of traffic. Continue on Fowlers Rd. for 700 m then turn left onto the CBB Highway entrance ramp and return. Enter the CBB Highway and travel east for 4.7 km going over the TCH overpass and exiting on the right to the East bound TCH on ramp.  Continue on the TCH heading east toward St. John's for 2.25 km, taking the 42 B (Karwood, Paradise) exit ramp exiting on the right to McNamara Dr. (do not take the 42 A Kenmount Rd. exit). This short section of highway has rumble strips, extreme caution must be taken when passing on this section. Travel 4 km west, under the TCH overpass on McNamara Dr. arriving back at transition in the Town Hall parking lot.  

3. All athletes should familiarize themselves with the route and must ride with caution. Police and volunteers will be positioned at key intersections but the course is NOT closed to traffic. Please be cautious. Draft marshals will patrol the course.

4. The course will be swept before the race, however please watch for debris and potholes; the volume of traffic on this road makes it very difficult to keep the area totally clean.

 

E.2 Bike Rules

 

E.2.1 General Biking Rules

 

1. TAKE CAUTION AND STAY ON THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. DO NOT CROSS OVER THE WHITE LINE INTO TRAFFIC. This rule is a requirement of the Department of Works, Services and Transportation and is there for your safety. Riders found in violation will receive a warning with a “Yellow Card” warning for the first offense, competitors will be give a “Red Card - Stop and Go” penalty for the second offense and disqualified for the third

2. Athletes must ride single file on the far right side of the road except when passing another rider. Side-by-side riding is not allowed.

3. Absolutely no drafting off of another bike or any vehicle. A bike will be considered drafting when the bike is within 3 bike lengths or 2 bike widths of another bike, or 10 lengths of a vehicle, for 15 seconds or longer. Riders found in violation will receive a warning with a “Yellow Card” warning for the first offense, competitors will be give a “Red Card - Stop and Go” penalty for the second offense and disqualified for the third.

4. Riders must keep 7 meters (~3 bike lengths) distance between bikes except when passing.

5. An overtaken rider must fall back 7 meters (~3 bike lengths) before attempting to regain the lead from a front- running bike.

6. Overtaking riders may pass on the left for up to 20 seconds, but must move back to the right side of the road after passing. Please try to issue a verbal “On your left” warning to riders you are about to pass.

7. All competitors are solely responsible for the actual repair and maintenance of their bicycles and equipment. Repairs are allowed to bicycles during the course of the race; however competitors are not allowed to change wheels or bicycles during the race.

8. Cyclists must heed the rules of the road according to the Newfoundland Motor Vehicle Act. Marshals may be available to assist cyclists through “stop” signs, although the cyclist should be prepared to stop at these intersections.

9. HEADSETS OR HEADPHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED DURING ANY PORTION OF THE EVENT.

10. Bicycles may be walked, carried or run, but an athlete must finish with his/her bicycle in his/her possession. The cycle portion finishes when an athlete places his/her bicycle on the bike rack in the transition area before commencing the run.

11. CSA-approved helmets are mandatory. Helmets must be properly fastened at all times while on the bike.

12. Bikes must be walked in/out of the transition area.

13. All bicycles must have a water bottle cage or a place to store a water bottle.

14. A bare torso is not permitted while cycling.

 

E.2.2 Drafting Regulations

Any competitor found to be in violation of the drafting rules by a Course Marshal will be subject to the drafting penalty. Violators will receive a warning with a “Yellow Card” warning for the first offense, competitors will be give a “Red Card - Stop and Go” penalty for the second offense and disqualified for the third.

During the “Stop and Go” penalty the Drafting Marshal will ask the athlete to bring their bike to a complete stop, dismount and with both feet on one side of the bike lift the bike so that both wheels are no longer in contact with the ground. When satisfied that the violator has completed the “Stop and Go” penalty, the Drafting Marshal will allow the competitor to continue the cycle portion. Any competitor found to be guilty of more than two drafting violation by the Drafting Marshal may be disqualified by the race jury after the race has been completed. Disqualifications will be posted within one hour after the last finisher crosses the finish line. Competitors on the disqualification list will have thirty (30) minutes after the publication of the list to protest their disqualification. The decision of the race jury in all matters will be final.

 

F. Run Course

F.1 Run Course Description

1. Course length – 5.5km

2. The 1 lap, 5.5 km course winds its way around Octagon Pond on a well groomed gravel trail. Leaving transition, athletes will run a short distance on a paved road that skirts along the fence of the town depot on the south side of the Town Hall before connecting with the Trailway. Turning right on the Trailway, runners continue south west on the Trailway trail for 200 m until the route forks to the right linking up with the Octagon Pond trail. When you see a wooden bridge and benches turn left and follow the trail around the pond in a clockwise direction. At the far end of the pond, do NOT cross the stream on the stepping stones but continue till you see Topsail Road where you will run along the right side of the road for several hundred meters before re-entering the trail on the right. You will run on the shoulder of Topsail Road briefly two other times before you reach the swim docks. Pass the docks and continue around the pond to the wooden bridge and benches. Then turn left on the Trailway back to transition and the finish line.

3. To ensure an accurate finishing time your race number must be visible on the front of the athlete.

4. Aid stations will be located at the 1 km and 3.5 km mark of the run.

 

F.2 Run Course Rules

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

2. Runners’ numbers must be visible from the front. During the section of the run that travels along Topsail Road, runners must stay on the shoulder of the road.

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