Dear Kids, Parents & Partners:
Congratulations on your involvement in what will be the largest kids' triathlon in the United States for the fourth year in a row. That's right, we already have 1,744 kids registered to swim, bike & run. This is a great accomplishment for the First Coast, and there are hundreds of volunteers across the region who deserve all the credit. We hope you are looking forward to May 4 & 5 as much as we are. It should be a lot of fun!
With this in mind, we are working hard to make sure everyone is well-informed and prepared for the festivities. Part of this effort will be a series of 3 emails (starting with this one) that you will receive between now and race day. Please take the time to read all of the details below and feel free to get back to us with any additional questions, suggestions or concerns. If we do not answer your questions in this email, it is likely we will cover them in 1 of the next 2.
New & Improved Venue
The beautiful Jacksonville University campus will host the 2013 First Coast Kids Triathlon, and we believe the new course design will be ideal for our record number of participants and more than 6,000 spectators. In fact, we are very excited about the changes for 2013 that will improve safety, enhance the spectator experience and upgrade the bike course. We are especially proud of our new partnerships with the City of Jacksonville and JU that make all of this possible. We think you will be impressed with the Dolphin Green on the banks of the St. Johns River, and it will serve as the hub of our Pep Rally and race day activities. We encourage you to click here to view the 2013 Course Maps and to familiarize yourself with all the exciting improvements.
Please remember. . . do NOT go to UNF. It will be a lonely place.
It is Almost a Sellout!
Our participation goal for 2013 is to be the first kids triathlon ever held with 2,000 participants, and we are almost there. Safety remains our top priority, and we are able to add 200 more kids than last year because of our new venue and a few other, cool improvements. However, time is running out for your friends, classmates and neighbors who have yet to register. Please encourage them to sign-up right away, as we do expect a sellout within the next week.
Equipment Guidelines
Over the past month, we have received hundreds of emails about the proper equipment for a triathlon and the rules governing what type of bikes you can ride. For safety and insurance purposes, our event is sanctioned by USATriathlon. As a result, we need to follow their rules. While we will talk more about what to bring with you on race day in future emails, here are some of the most important equipment guidelines:- No training wheels are allowed (except in the case of medical athletes).
- All participants must wear a helmet at all times when riding their bikes.
- No aerodynamic equipment is allowed. This includes no use of aero bars, no use of aero helmets and no use of full disc wheels.
- We will supply every participant with a color-coded swim cap.
- All kids must swim in their bare feet. This is a "house rule" at Jacksonville University to help keep their pool clean.
- No flotation devices will be allowed in the pool. The kids can grab onto the lane lines and rest at the end of each lap, but they cannot use any preservers, noodles or floaties.
Huge Team Response
As many of you know, one of the hallmarks of this event is our outreach effort to teams, schools and other organizations across Florida and Georgia. This year, we have 44 registered teams who will bring more than 1,300 kids to our event. Leading the way are teams from Loretto Road Elementary (212 kids); Cunningham Creek Elementary (120 kids); Riverside Presbyterian Day School (105 kids); Ocean Palms Elementary (52 kids); and Duval Charter School (52 kids). Congratulations and thank you to every team leader. Of equal importance, the incredible support of the Jaguars Foundation has made it possible for us to donate more than $13,000 back to your teams and organizations.
New & Improved for 2013
In addition to the move to Jacksonville University, we want to make sure everyone knows the venue is not all that has changed for 2013. In an effort to ease race morning congestion and to make race day more enjoyable for all participants, we have made a number of significant improvements to our schedule of events. Here are some of the highlights:
- Transition will be open on Saturday. In order to eliminate that "extra rush" on Sunday morning, all participants arestrongly encouraged to bring their bikes (and other gear) with them on Saturday. Transition will open promptly at 4:00pm, and we will provide overnight security to ensure nothing happens to your stuff.
- There will be 2 Sessions on Sunday. Because almost everyone will bring their gear on Saturday, there is no need for the older participants to arrive before 9:30am on Sunday. The Junior Division (race ages 10 & under) will start promptly at 7:30am. They will complete their race and have a separate awards ceremony at 10:30am. Then, the Seniors (race ages 11 to 15) will take the course at 11:00am. Their racing should be done around 1:30pm, and they will also have a separate awards ceremony at that time. Please click here to link to our website for a complete schedule of events for both days.
- Celebrity Big Kids will Race with the Kids. We have also made changes to improve our Celebrity Big Kids Race. Now, instead of participating in their own event, they will join the kids on the course. How cool will that be when you pass your teacher on the bike or run by a Jaguar at the finish line?
Thank You Sponsors
Everything we do (including this email) is possible because of the incredible support of our sponsors. Headlining the 2013 Sponsor Team are our 3 Presenting Sponsors: The Jacksonville Jaguars, Firehouse Subs and Florida Blue. We are also extremely grateful to our other 9 Sponsors, many of whom have been a part of our event since it started. Please take a minute to visit the Sponsor Page on our website and to reach out to say thank you to each and every one of them. There is no better group of organizations to partner with in the country, and Jacksonville is lucky to have them as part of our community.
Sunrise Service
Race day is on Sunday for many reasons. At the same time, we realize Sunday is a very important day to many people. For this reason, we are proud to offer a non-denominational, sunrise service on Sunday morning at 6:30am. It will be held on the stage of the Dolphin Green Amphitheater, and everyone is invited.
Almon Gunter will be in the House
The weekend events will officially kick-off with a high-energy Pep Rally on Saturday, May 4, at 5:30pm. It is not mandatory, but you will not want to miss it. In addition to many new Celebrity Big Kids, there will be some very cool entertainment, and Mr. Almon Gunter (former track star and athletic trainer) will deliver a motivational message for all ages. Without a doubt, his enthusiasm will get you ready for Race Day. He will also be autographing copies of his new book, The Super Freak Way.
Volunteers Needed
Last but not least, we need your help. Obviously, a huge team of volunteers is required to keep everything running according to plan. If you have any friends or neighbors who might be interested, please direct them to the Volunteer Section of our website. Every volunteer receives a great t-shirt and cool gift. Also, Community Service Hours are available. Click here to learn more about how to become a First Coast Kids Triathlon volunteer.
Once again, congratulations on your decision to be a part of the 2013 First Coast Kids Triathlon. We are proud to have you as a member of our family, and we sincerely appreciate your support. If you have any additional questions, click here to visit our website. If the questions are not answered there, follow the instructions to contact us directly.
Watch your email for our next update and get ready! Race Day is only 10 days away!
Sincerely,
The 2013 Organizing Committee
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