Heel & Crank

Heel & Crank Duathlon
June 23, 2012

2.5-mi. run, 10-mi. bike, and a 2.5-mi. run.

Race Location:

Northrop Grumman Corp.
301 Voyager Way
Huntsville, AL 35806

Thank you for coming out and making this a great race!

Here are your 2011 Results!!

Registration:

Register online at imAthlete

Packet Pick-Up:

This race is sanctioned by USA Triathlon. All participants must either be an annual member of USAT, or purchase a one-day membership for $10. Annual membership can be purchased from USAT for $39. Youth racers 17 years old and under MUST be an annual member of USAT. Annual membership for youth members (17 and under) can be purchased from USAT for only $5.00. Visit www.usatriathlon.org for more information about becoming an annual member.

Last minute registration and Packet Pick-up will be 10:00 am – 7:00 pm at Fleet Feet on Friday, June 22, 2012.  I encourage you to please do this on Friday if at all possible to alleviate race day delays. This event is now a United States of America Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned race, meaning YOU MAY PICK UP YOUR RACE PACKET ONLY. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but it is a strict USAT rule. At packet pickup you must show a PHOTO I. D. and your USAT card. If you are not a USAT member, you must sign up for a special one day fee ($10 CASH or CHECK only) and sign a USAT waiver.

These are very strict guidelines we must follow to retain USAT sanctioning. If they are not met, you will not race, no exceptions. The decision to become a USAT event was made due to the astronomical cost of private insurance for a one day multi-sport race. As a USAT race, USAT completely covers all insurance needs, plus earns you points toward national rankings, and ensures you are competing in a USAT approved event. As over half of our competitors are USAT members, this becomes a very cost effective means for covering our race. If you are not a USAT member, you may want to consider joining as more and more races are falling under USAT governance. Please consider going to the USAT website and reviewing the benefits of membership.

All USAT races use the "age-up rule" for award distribution and ranking. the "age-up rule" means you are racing based on your age as of the last day of the year (12/31/2012).

Refund/Transfer Policy:

No refunds or transfers unless you are a member of Team Rocket Tri Club.

Help Us Donate to the Local ALS Chapter:

The Heel & Crank Duathlon raises money and awareness for ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). This charity was chosen because of the late Darin Kruse, one of our local triathletes and friend, who recently lost a 3-year battle with ALS.

Courses:

Transition:

Run:  Each turn on the run courses (both courses are exactly the same this year), will be marked with a RED turn arrow sign. RED for RUN.

Bike:  Each turn on the bike course will be marked with a BLACK turn arrow sign. BLACK for BIKE. Please pay attention to these signs as we will not have turn workers on course. HPD will be blocking traffic for us at each intersection giving you the right of way over vehicular traffic. Their job is to keep each of you safe from traffic, not to direct you where to turn, so PLEASE pay attention to the turn signs. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the course maps.

The bike course will have mile markers, a small triangular sign on a post beside the road.This is a NO DRAFTING race. You can read that as, this is a race of individual skill, not the “power of the Peloton”. Yes, I have a real problem with drafters.

Please note, if you feel you must leave the area before the conclusion of the race, there will be parking across the street. We will limit egress from the race area during the race.

Schedule:

Friday: Last minute race registration and packet pick up will be June 22, 2012 at Fleet Feet Sports (http://www.fleetfeethuntsville.com/) from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Race Day: Saturday, June 23, 2012
0530 - 0630 - Packet pick up, NO RACE DAY registration
0600 - 0700 - On-site emergency bike repair provided by our friends at Trailhead
0530 - 0645 - Transition area open
0645 - Move to start line for last minute instructions and start ceremony
0700 - Race start
~10:00 - Awards

Additional Bike Info:

Bike racks are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Please be considerate of your fellow athletes while racking your bike. Don’t be a “rack hog”, and whatever you do, don’t mess with someone else’s stuff. If you have issues with someone else and their bike racking, please see the race director and let me resolve any problems.

Make sure ALL HANDLEBAR ENDS ARE PLUGGED. If you have open ends, you will not be allowed on course. There will be bike mount and dismount lines, no riding in transition. Your helmet must be on (properly) and buckled before you get to the bike mount line. It must remain on and buckled until AFTER crossing the bike dismount line.

Awards:

At ~9:30 am (depending on finishers), we will have the award ceremony at the race site this year. Be sure and stay for door prizes!

You must be present to accept your awards, or arrange to have someone pick them up for you. I will not mail awards.

Good luck to all of you, and please remember the cause of this race. We are raising money for ALS patients in order that their remaining days on this planet might be just a little bit easier. Please take a moment to think about the late triathlete, Darin Kruse and what he and his family went through for three long and painful years, and be VERY glad for what you have!

Race hard, and race safe!
Rick Greif
(race director)
heelandcrank@yahoo.com