HARWICH SPRINT TRIATHLON
FINAL RACE INFORMATION
With just one week to go, it is time to familiarise yourself with this year’s pre-race information.
Please take your time to read all the info, look at the maps and documents, and check out the news and FAQ pages of our website to ensure you have all the things you need ahead of next weekend!
We can’t wait to see you all for a weekend of racing in our town, but if you have any queries before then, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will help you as best we can!
Enjoy the taper week – and see next weekend!
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Harwich Sprint Triathlon
Hello! Thank you for entering and supporting this year’s Harwich Sprint Triathlon. We are so excited to see you on the start line this weekend. We ask that all participants please fully READ AND UNDERSTAND the information below. If anything doesn’t make sense or you have any questions or queries, please just drop us an email at triathlon@harwichrunners.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Timings
Sunday 14th June
Registration and transition opens: 07:30
Registration closes: 09:50
Transition closes: 10:15
Race briefing: 10:00
First adult start: 10:30
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How To Find Us
Race HQ is at Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles Leisure Centre, Low Road, Dovercourt, CO12 3TA. Please note YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARK AT THE LEISURE CENTRE. Parking will be available at the car park at the end of West End Lane, next to the recycling centre (CO12 3SF). Please follow the marshals who will be able to direct you the correct place. There is a short walk to race HQ. Please walk with your bike along the promenade if at all possible, but if you walk across the playing fields, please follow the blue arrow on the map and walk between the skate park and the all-weather pitch to reach the entrance to Race HQ. Registration will open at 07:30, but it may be possible to rack your bike before that.
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Registration
Registration for Sprint and Juniors will be the athlete village. Follow marshals and signs and you’ll be directed there.
Registration will open at 07:30 and closes at 09:50.
Transition is outside and adjacent to the swimming pool and we appreciate you may want to drop your bike off before you register. Start lists with your start time and race number can be found on the link below. Please REMEMBER YOUR RACE NUMBER so you can go to transition before registering and leave your bike at the allocated rack.
At registration, you will be given a race pack envelope containing a sticker pack, and a bib number. Follow the instructions on the sticker pack – there will be some for your bike and some for your helmet.
We will be using bib numbers this year, so you will need a race belt. You must have your bib number on your back during the bike, and on your front during the run.
With the envelope will also be an ankle strap with a chip on it – this is your timing strap. It is very important you do not lose or misplace this, so we recommend putting it on your left ankle right away, and don’t take it off till you cross the finish line. It is very important that this chip goes on your LEFT ankle, with the red plastic box facing OUTWARDS.
After you have registered, feel free to use the swimming pool changing rooms, toilets and lockers to store any belongings. A £1 coin or trolley token is required to lock the lockers in the pool, but you will get this back on retrieval of your items.
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Transition
The transition area is outside Dovercourt Swimming Pool.
The entrace to transition will be the same place as the bikes leave and enter the transition during the race.
Please place your bike and running gear in the transition area. Once your bike has been racked inside the secure transition zone, it cannot be removed unless you can prove you are the rightful owner.
It is your responsibility to ensure your bike is in a safe, roadworthy condition and suitable for racing. Safety checks will be carried out before the event, and all competitors must wear an approved cycle helmet.
If you rack your bike before registering, please ensure it is placed in the correct numbered position on the racks. Once you have registered, attach one of your numbered stickers to your bike and another to your helmet. For security reasons, transition marshals will only allow you to remove your bike if the number on your bike matches your race number and that on your helmet.
When racking your bike, stand facing your race number, which will be attached to the rack. Hook your saddle over the racking bar so that your entire bike is facing towards you, with the handlebars closest to you. If you've done it correctly, you'll still be able to clearly see your race number on the rack while standing in your transition space.
Please note that transition will close at 10:15. After this time, no competitors will be permitted to enter the transition area. Make sure you have everything you need for the start with you before 10:15 and that all of your equipment is set up and ready to go.
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Race Briefing
Race briefing will that place at 10:00 outside on the grass next to transition. Race briefing will be finished with plenty of time for the first starters to make their way to pool side. There will be marshals inside the pool to direct you where to go.
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Swim Course
The swim will take place in the indoor swimming pool. It will consist of a 300m swim in a snake formation where each swimmer swims two lengths in the lane and then ducks under the lane rope. Each swimmer will set off at 30s intervals and will be able to enter the water once the previous competitor has set off. Just follow your race start time. We will sort out the sequencing.
Swimmers must only swim front crawl or breaststroke for the safety of all participants. Backstroke and butterfly is NOT allowed.
On completion of your swim, you will leave the pool via the back entrance and head across the grass a short distance to transition. There is to be no running in the swimming pool building as the floor will be slippery when wet.
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Bike Course
We will be using open public roads and all the normal rules of the road apply. You will be required to wear an approved cycle helmet. Your cycle helmet must be on and fastened before removing your bike from the rack. You will also be required to wear your race number to the rear.
Take your bike out of transition and follow the orange fencing, marshals and signs out of transition, down the path and onto the road where the mount line will be. DO NOT mount your bike until you pass the mount line, you must run/walk with your bike down the path, not cycle.
For the bike section there is a no drafting rule. Please respect this rule as we want the race to be a fair as possible.
The bike route is available on the website, following the below directions.
The full course can be found on the website here.
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Run Course
The route is mainly along the promenade, which is likely to be busy. To minimise disruption please keep to the RIGHT of the prom at all times. We are sharing the prom with the general public, and it is your responsibility to keep out of their way. The map above displays the route. but please follow the direction of marshals.
Out of transition turn left along the fence of the all-weather pitch to the Rugby Club. Turn left at the Rugby Club and onto the footpath that takes you up to the path and onto the prom. Turn right onto the prom and run along to the metal gate at the very end of the prom. Do a U turn and continue along the promenade until you are below the park (you can't see it from the promenade). Between the last row of beach huts there is a slope (marshalled). Turn almost 180 degrees to your left and climb the ramp from the seafront. At the top follow the signed and marshalled path to the top of the steep downward slope. Descend with care.
Follow the promenade back along the seafront to the next marshal, who will direct you to the final run into the finish.
The full course can be found on the website here
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Weather
In the past the Harwich Triathlon has experienced (and gained a reputation for) some quite exceptional weather. High winds, biblical flooding, thunderstorms and torrential hail. Hopefully this year it will be nice warm conditions with a gentle cooling breeze, but please do bare this in mind and come prepared.
If on the other hand, it is as warm as it is last year, please can I remind you all to not unzip or undo your trisuits while racing. Following BTF guidelines, it is really important that your trisuit remains done up for the duration of the race.
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Prizes & Results
Medals and t-shirts will be awarded to all finishers of the Triathlon when you cross the line.
Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the first female and first male finishers overall, as well as prizes for each age category winner. There are no prizes for the relay teams.
Results will be published live on the day via our timing partner, Race Timing Solutions. You can access them using the link below:
Click here to view race results
The page will update throughout the day as athletes come through, so you can follow friends and family in real time — whether you're on the course, at home, or cheering from the sidelines.
Once you have finished your race, please speak to the marshals in transition with regards to collecting your bike and gear. They will advise on when transition is back open for athletes to collect their belongings after the race.
Tips for Race Day
Bookmark the link before you travel so it's easy to find on your phone.
Results are usually available within minutes of finishing, so check back shortly after you cross the line.
You'll be able to see your individual splits for each discipline, not just your overall time — great for spotting where you flew and where you've got room to improve next time!
If you're spectating, you can use the results page to track your athlete live and know when to be at the finish line.
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Photography
We will have professional photographers snapping away to capture your achievements at our event. Please smile if you see them, these photos will be published on our website after the event. If you did not wish for your photo to be published on our website, let us know when you register. We will also happily remove any photos you wish to have taken-down.
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Refreshments
This year we have a bigger event village than any previous year! On offer will be Mimi’s Kitchen with her amazing cakes and sweet treats, Hazy Dayz with a selection of savoury foods and Rebel Monkey Coffee, keeping us all hydrated and caffeinated throughout the weekend!
Food and drink will be available before, during and after your race, so do be sure to go and get yourself some well-earned grub!
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Spectators
Thank you for coming out to support your child/friend/family member compete in the Triathlon this year. We ask that spectators follow the instructions of any marshal given to them, for their own safety but also for that of the participants safety.
In and around Race HQ there will be a lot of orange fencing, blue matting, and cables for chip timing. Please do not duck under any orange fencing and walk around to the nearest available crossing point should you need to get around to avoid any disturbance to our infrastructure. This also ensures you are not at risk of colliding with your athlete should they come running out of transition when you don’t expect them to. Under no circumstances should any spectator enter the transition area.
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