Race date: June 30, 2012
Swim: 800m, Bike: 13 mile, Run: 4 mile ***starts at 9:00am sharp***
Who should participate in the Tri the Trails Triathlon?
The Tri the Trails Triathlon is a challenging race. It’s designed to push athletes who want more out of themselves and propel them beyond their comfort zone. If you have the Triathlon bug, this race might be for you.If you are looking for a beginner triathlon, we recommend the Wasilla Why Not Tri, which is specifically designed for newbies. It will be held on June 16, 2012 in Wasilla, Alaska. For further information on this triathlon, go to www.whynottriwasilla.net . If you are ready to “Tri the Trails” and experience a great triathlon, then proceed.
Brief description:
This will be the first running of the “Tri the Trails” “sprint” “off road” triathlon. The course is situated on the “greenbelt” between Palmer and Wasilla AK, right close to where the Glenn and Parks Highways split. The swim will take place in the Matanuska Lake, the bike and run will take place on the trail system. The course is all off road and a good mountain bike will be required. This is being scheduled to be a USA Triathlon sanctioned event, therefore, each participant will need to be a member of the USA Triathlon Associations (This can be a one day membership for a minimal fee- however, it is mandatory.) http://www.usatriathlon.org/
Length: Swim ~800m, Bike ~13 mile, Run~ 4 mile- These distances are estimated- the exact distances will be posted in the coming weeks, but these distances are close.
Date and Time: June 30, 2012 The race starts at 9:00am sharp, manditory pre-race meeting starts at 8:30am
Registration online: March 1, 2012 through April 30,2012. Late Registration: May 1, 2012 through June 15, 2012.
Registration Closes: June 15th or sooner when maximum participants permitted is reached.
Bib/Race packet pick up will take place in Anchorage and Palmer – check this site as the race approaches for the exact date(s), times and locations for bib pickups.
Start location: Matanuska Lakes State Park
General Requirements: 18 years old or older, Bike Helmet, wet suit to be determined
Fee: $60.00 — If you are not a member of the USA Triathlon, you will need to have at least a one day membership ($10.00 fee). There will be no exceptions. This is necessary for us to have the race sanctioned, which in turn makes the insurances more affordable. Become a member of the USA Triathlon by visiting http://www.usatriathlon.org/member-services
Volunteering: Pre- race and post-race volunteer work is a great way to prepare for the race. We are deeply indebted for all the volunteers that have made this event possible. We would love to have your help. Contact Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers trailhead@vmbah.org or Matanuska Green Belt Trails http://www.matanuska-greenbelt.org/ for information.
Recommended level of experience: One needs to feeling confident with their abilities to swim in cold water lakes, mountain biking on single track trails and trail running.
Parking
There is very limited parking at the campground. Be courteous and patient! We are sharing this park with everyone. If you are going to spend the night at the campground, reservations are HIGHLY recommended you can set reservations for the park by contacting Dan at mailto:info@lifetimeadventures.net
There will be volunteers directing traffic the morning of the race. Carpooling is highly recommended. There will be a shuttle from the Matanuska Susitna Visitor’s Center parking lot over to the starting line. All parking within the campground (and the small area outside the gate) is subject to a $5 Day Parking Fee, or you can purchase a season parking fee for $40. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/fees.htm Did you know that if you do hours of volunteer work on the parks and trails with an organization such as Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers you can get a free MSB parking permit? http://www.vmbah.org/
Going Green
The Tri the Trails Triathlon is a green event. We are doing everything possible to make as small of an impact on the local trails as possible. If you drop a water bottle, GU wrapper, GPS, cell phone, or anything else during the race please go back after the race is over and pick it up. If you can help with the maintance of the trails before and after the race as well, that is even better. Contact joe@smartenergyalaska.com for information on volunteering.
