FAIRMONT TRIATHLON
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Gomsrud Park
FAIRMONT TRIATHLON - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I find Gomsrud Park in Fairmont?
A: From the East: Take Exit 102 off of I90 onto Highway 15 South. Continue on Highway 15 South through town until Highway 15 South and State Street diverge. Follow State Street as it curves to the right. Take a right onto Lair Road and look for the park.
From the West: Take exit 99 off of I90 onto Highway 39 South/ Bixby Road. Go South on Bixby Road about 3 miles, turn left onto Lair Road and look for the park.
Q: What is the average water temperature in Budd Lake on Father's
Day?
A. 71 degrees
Q: Should I wear a wetsuit?
A: Wetsuits are neither required nor discouraged. The decision is strictly a personal judgment call. Some triathletes wear wetsuits because they feel it makes them more buoyant in the water. Others choose not to wear wetsuits because they believe that taking them off adds to their transition time. Many Minnesota triathlons are held earlier in the year and 71 degrees is considered relatively warm.
Q: How scary is the swim course?
A: The swim course is set up in a triangular shape. Sprint athletes will swim one lap and Olympic athletes will swim two. The course is marked with flotation devices every 50 feet or less. Athletes may make use of the flotation devices for safety reasons but may not use the devices to make forward progress. The course is protected by motorized and non-motorized boats on both sides. The Sprint and Olympic swim events will begin 30 minutes apart. The Sprint swim start will be broken into waves if there is a sufficient number of athletes. Waves would be broken down into gender and age groups.
Q: What’s the bike course like?
A: The Sprint and Olympic events share the first leg of the bike course. Both events are out- and-back courses. The bike course starts off with a hill but is flat for the remainder of the course. The bulk of the course is on Highways 37 and 8, both of which have very little auto traffic. The course is well marked and law enforcement or volunteers staff every corner. The Olympic course turns around on the north shore of Lake Okamanpeedan. There is a bottle exchange at the Olympic turn-around.
Q: Describe the run course?
A: The run route is the same for Sprint and Olympic courses. Sprint athletes will complete the 3.1 mile lap once and Olympic athletes will complete it twice. The run course does have some rolling hills. The run takes you through some quiet residential sections of Fairmont. There are three water stops on the loop, approximately one every mile. The course will be marked with paint on the street as well as with signage. Volunteers will control all of the major intersections.
Q: Where can I register?
A: Online registration is available at midwestevents.com and allsportscentral.com. Mail-in registration forms can be downloaded from the 'Registration' page or requested from mto@frontiernet.net. Registration forms are also available at the following locations in Fairmont: the Bicycle Shoppe, Community Education and Recreation and the Chamber of Commerce. Walk-in registration is also possible on the Saturday evening before the race, and on race day assuming the race is not already filled to capacity.
Q: How is the race timed?
A: The race is professionally timed by Pickle Events using computer chip timing. Participants will be able to review their splits at the completion of the event.
Q: What is the Mini?
A: The Mini is a very short course designed for people who would like to try a triathlon but don’t have the time to train. The Mini Swim will take place in the park. The Mini will have a separate transition area. The Mini Bike will follow the Sprint Run course. The Mini Run course is around the outside of the park and will finish at the same finish line as the longer events, however the Mini will be conventionally timed. Mini participants will receive an event t-shirt and a ribbon for completing the event.
Q: When and where do I pick up my race packet?
A: Athletes can pick up race packets (and/or register) at the Red Rock Center (222 E. Blue Earth Ave., Fairmont) from 4:30 pm until 9:00 pm on the Saturday evening before the race. Packet pick-up can also be done on race day from 6:30 am until 8:00 on race day at Gomsrud Park. Timing chips have to be picked up separately on race day.
Q: What is a race packet?
A: Your race packet will consist of your race number, a color-coded swim cap, an event t-shirt, a free meal ticket, and various promotional items from our sponsors and area businesses.
Q: When is body marking?
A: Body marking will take place at the Gomsrud Park Shelter House from 6:30 am until 8:00 am on race day.
Q: When does the transition area open?
A: The transition area opens at 6:30 am on race day.
Q: Where can I park?
A: Parking for several hundred people is available at Gomsrud Park. Lair Road and Gomsrud Park will be closed to through traffic from 8:20 am - noon on race day. Parking is also available at the nearby Fairmont High School Parking lot on Johnson Street, and the parking lot across from the Fairmont Aquatic Center on South Prairie Avenue.
Q: Is food available at the park?
A: Fruit, some form of carbohydrates and bottled water will be provided for the athletes. Participants will receive a free meal ticket for the post race BBQ. The Granada First Responders will be selling concessions in the park for spectators.
Q: Are spectators allowed?
A: Spectators are encouraged in Gomsrud Park and along the race route. The swim can viewed from the park. The bicycle race is too spread out to view easily. The running portion of the race takes place primarily on Summit, Fairlakes and Canyon roads. We do ask that spectators stay off of Lair Road and avoid the areas of Gomsrud Park where the competition will take place.
Q: What facilities are available in or near Gomsrud Park?
A: Gomsrud Park has a large shelter house and bathroom facilities which will be supplemented by tents and port-a-pottys. The park has two beaches, a large playground, sand volleyball courts, docks and boat launches. The Channel Inn Restaurant, nationally known for its burgers, is located just outside the park.
Q: What else is going on that weekend?
A: The triathlon and the Red Rock Center are presenting two speakers. Bret Bernard, a world champion unicyclist will speak at the Red Rock Center on Friday, June 13 at 7:00 pm. The Fairmont Kiwanis Club will host a pasta party at the Red Rock Center on Saturday, June 14 from 4:30 pm until the food runs out. 2008 World Championship Ironman Qualifier David Holden will talk about his experiences as a triathlete at the Red Rock Center on Saturday, June 14th at 5:45. Fairmont is also hosting its annual city festival the weekend of June 14 and 15th. Details are available on the events calendar at the Fairmont city website www.fairmont.org.
Q: How can I help (Sponsors and Volunteers)?
A: We are always looking for financial contributors and volunteers. Potential sponsors should contact Michael O’Rourke at mto@frontiernet.net or 507.238.4711. Volunteers should contact us the same way or show up at one of our two volunteer meetings. The 2008 volunteer meetings will take place in the basement of the Red Rock Center on Wednesday, June 11, and Thursday, June 12 at 7:00 pm. Volunteering takes 2-6 hours of your time. Volunteers have front row seats to the competition, receive a free event t-shirt and our eternal gratitude.
