Ironman Corporate Race Course

The Race Course

The Corporate Triathlon Challenge race distances are a tenth of the Ironman Triathlon. The Challenge takes place over a 380m swim, 18km cycle and a 4.2km run. The race will finish in the same finish chute, prepared for the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa race taking place the following day. The race course includes the two transitions. The write up below will guide you through the whole race.

Bike Check In & Race Briefing

There is a procedure for checking your bike and helmet into the transition area. Please ensure that you have your cycling helmet, securely fastened on your head when you check your bike into the transition area. Referees will check your bike and see that your helmet is securely fitted. Your helmet will also be checked for defects. Once inside the transition area, there are volunteers to assist with the racking of your bikes.

Once you have racked your bike, your next engagement is to attend the pre-race briefing that will take place on the beach. Athletes must congregate on the area between the pier and the demarcated swim exit area.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ATHLETES/TEAM MEMBERS MUST ATTEND RACE BRIEFING, NOT JUST THE SWIM TEAM MEMBER!

The rules and regulation, together with the course description and event schedule will be available in the 2013 Athlete Info Guide which will be uploaded closer to the opening of registration for the 2013 event.

Relay Procedure

A hairband will be used as the "relay baton” for the team division of the race*. The hairband must be worn on your wrist.

*(In the past the timing chip served as the "relay baton.” This caused congestion as the procedure of removing a timing chip from an ankle, passing it onto the next team athlete's hands, who then had to re fit it to their ankle took time. Some athletes ended up running with the chip in their hands, nullifying the timing system.)

Teams of THREE

The swimmer must start with the hairband and timing chip, finish the swim and pass only the hairband on to the cyclist. The cyclist finishes the bike and passes on the hairband to the runner. Once the hairband is handed over to the cyclist, the swimmer must go to the runner, who will be waiting at the runners holding pen, and hand over the timing chip. The runner must then secure the timing chip to his/her ankle and remain in the runners holding pen until their team cyclist returns from the bike portion of the race. Only once the runner receives the relay hairband from the cyclist may he or she start the run leg. The team runner must finish with both the relay band AND the timing chip – or face disqualification. The timing chip must be handed in by the cyclist once bike check-out starts to get their bike out of transition. No chip, no bike.

Teams of TWO

Using a similar process as three-person teams:

• Should the swimmer and the runner be the same person: The chip must be kept by the swimmer/runner. Only the hairband goes to the cyclist (and then back to the runner)
• Should the swimmer and the cyclist be the same person: the chip and the hairband gets handed over to the runner at the completion of the cycling leg (Second Transition).
• Should the cyclist and the runner be the same person: The chip and the hairband gets handed over from the swimmer to the cyclist/runner on completion of the swimming leg (First Transition).

The team runner must finish with the relay hairband AND the timing chip – or face disqualification. The timing chip must be handed in by the cyclist once bike check-out starts to get their bike out of transition. No chip, no bike.

Individuals

People participating in the individual category will not have a relay band in their race packs. They will only receive a timing chip, which they must wear on their left ankles throughout the race. The timing chip must be handed in by the cyclist once bike check-out starts to get their bike out of transition. No chip, no bike.

All the different wave starts, start on Hobie Beach. The swim follows a rectangular route into the bay in an ANTI-CLOCKWISE direction around the buoys. The first leg is 150m towards the first buoy where you will turn 90° left, passing the buoy on your left. From here it is an 80m leg to the next buoy where again you will again turn 90° left, passing the buoy on your left. From here it is the final 150m leg back to the beach.

Once on the beach, runners will go up the stairs, under the temporary pedestrian bridge, do a sharp right around the side of transition, to the entry point at the transition area (behind the Hobie Yacht Club House).

The water temperature should be between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. The surf is usually very small so getting beyond the breakers should not pose any problems at all. Currents vary, but are typically very weak. There are lifesavers and a full water safety plan in place. A swimmer experiencing difficulty and in need of assistance MUST raise an arm overhead, pump it up and down, and call or seek assistance.

• All Swimmers must have the timing chip secured to his/her left ankle.
• Team Swimmers must have the hairband on his/her wrist during the swim.
• All Swimmers must wear the red Vodacom Swim Cap provided
• Wetsuits are optional, unless the water temperature is less than 14°C, then wetsuits become compulsory.

Transition 1 (Swim to Bike)

Follow the procedure as indicated in the Relay Procedure section on this page.

The team cyclist or individual must proceed to his/her bike. It is very important that you first put your helmet on your head and clip the chin strap in, prior to handling your bike. The cyclist will push the bike out of transition to the mount/dismount line. Only once the mount/dismount line has been crossed may the cyclist get onto his/her bike.

• Fit and secure your helmet chin strap before you handle your bike.
• No cycling inside the transition area or before you reach the mount line

Bike Course (18km)

Once you have gone through the T1 formalities leave Shark Rock parking lot and turn left into Marine Drive cycling on the LEFT-HAND SIDE of the road. Keep going down Marine Drive in the direction of Schoenmakerskop. After 9km you will reach the TURN-AROUND POINT. Turn around the beacon clock wise and head back towards Hobie Beach, keeping to the left.

The route is mostly flat with a few gentle rolling hills. There is the possibility of a wind blowing. Temperatures can vary between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius on the day. This is a draft-legal race. Triathlon bikes are permitted, provided that you are on your tri-bars ONLY if you are leading a bunch. You may use a road bike or a mountain bike to complete the cycle. Dismount BEFORE the mount/dismount line and push your bike into Transition. (See paragraph below on T2).

• The cycling leg is draft legal, so pack riding is allowed (only use your tri-bar when you are leading a pack).
• Cycle in a consistent and predictable way.
• Please don’t litter on the course - littering on the course will result in a DISQUALIFICATION.
• Race number on your back during the cycle.
• Cyclist must have the hairband visible on his/her wrist during the cycle.

Transition 2 (Bike to Run)

The cyclist must dismount BEFORE the mount/dismount Line and push his/her bike into Transition. You must rack at the same spot that you have collected it from. Only once your bike has been securely racked may you unclip and remove your helmet. Follow the procedure as detailed in the Relay Procedure section on this page.

Run Course (4.2km)

Once through the T2 formalities, runners will leave their holding pen and run along the Marine Drive verge, past Barneys towards King's Beach. Runners must keep to the left of the course (there is two-way running traffic on the majority of the run course).

Going out, runners will go past McArthur Baths, keeping left and remaining on the pedestrian pathway, parallel to the sidewalk and Marine Drive. At the end of this pathway they will turn right into the main entry into the King's Beach parking lot. Runners will hug the periphery of the parking lot as marked out by the orange cones, past the water table. From the parking lot, they will take the pedestrian walkway past the back of the King’s Beach Lifesaving Club House. From here runners will take the pedestrian walkway to McArthur Baths, where they turn left onto the promenade, to back track all the way to transition. Again, please remember to stay on the left. Once you get to transition you will proceed past the sea side of the transition and onto the finish chute where you will finish under the Vodacom Corporate Triathlon Challenge finish arch.

• Race number on your front.
• Runner must cross finishline with both timing chip secured on their ankle and relay hairband visible on their wrist.
• Please don’t litter on the course - littering on the course will result in a DISQUALIFICATION.

Post Race

Once you have crossed the finish line the individual athletes will each receive a medal and the team runner will receive a medal for each team member. From the finish line area, individuals/team runners can go to the final aid station where they can meet fellow athletes/team members. It is imperative that the team runner hands the timing chip and timing belt back to the team cyclist, as the team cyclist needs the timing chip and timing belt to release his bike out of the transition area. The commentator will make the announcement on when the transition will open for bike check-out. Remember, no chip - no bike.