I. ACCOUNTABILITY OF PARTICIPANTS
Accountability of all participants (that is, a tracking system) at key
times and locations is one of the most important aspects of a Safety Plan.
Accountability will be accomplished by:
A. Computerized timing system
Each triathlete will wear a computerized timing chip which will be scanned
6 times during the triathlon:
1. At start of swim (starting line)
2. At end of swim
3. At start of bicycle course
4. At end of bicycle course
5. At start of run
6. At end of run (finish line)
The “transition accountability officer” will know which participant
(by bib number and name) has not returned for each leg of the triathlon
by referring to the computerized timing system.
B. Accountability officers on the bicycle course at strategic geographical
locations
C. Event personnel following the last individual in each leg of the transition
Accountability and Safety will be addressed in detail for each individual
event leg of the triathlon (swim, bicycle, and run).
II. THE SWIM
A. Hypothermia
The water temperature on June 10, 2006 is expected to be about 58 degrees,
depending on weather conditions during the Spring.
According to USAT regulations for this water temperature and length of
swim (1 mile) wetsuits are optional. Therefore, wetsuits will be recommended
to all participants, but not required.
B. Visibility of all swimmers for accountability
All swimmers will be required to wear a swim cap provided by the event.
The color will be a bright color for easy recognition.
C. Watercraft
1. One- person kayaks: 6; equipped with 1 extra life jacket and emergency
whistle
2. One or two person row boat and/or motorized boat; 1 or 2; equipped
with 2 extra life jackets and emergency whistle
3. At least 4 of the watercraft volunteers will be certified in CPR and
basic first aid (Event Director is on the Board of Director of a large
nationally recognized kayak club and has access to qualified volunteers)
4. A swimmer can at any time call for assistance from watercraft volunteers
to rest while holding onto a stationary watercraft without any penalty.
Triathletes will be encouraged to seek assistance from watercraft without
any penalty.
5. Watercraft will be evenly spaced along the swim course
6. Once the last swimmer has passed a watercraft, that watercraft will
move towards the middle of the pack of swimmers.
7. At the start of the swim, one watercraft will stay immediately behind
and follow the last swimmer.
D. Rescue
A swimmer in distress will be identified by watercraft personnel. Watercraft
personnel will sound their personal emergency whistle to attract the 2
closest watercraft. The 2 closest watercraft and the row (or motor) boat
will move to assist the caller. Once the boat meets the caller, the 2
other watercraft will return to their previous position. Watercraft personnel
will evaluate the condition of the distressed swimmer and initiate appropriate
aid from the boat and/or transport swimmer to Medical Officer at Medical
Headquarters.
E. Multiple starting groups (wave starts).
Depending on the total number of participants there will be more than
one wave start. Each wave will consist of approximately 60 swimmers. This
will prevent swimmers from bumping into each other, and allow watercraft
safety personnel to see individual swimmers in a line, and not in a less
individually identifiable clump of splashing swimmers.
F. Design of swim course
1. Triangular to keep swimmers closer to shore
2. The 1 mile swim is divided into 2 one-half mile loops (with a short
beach run in between each lap) in order to keep swimmers closer to shore.
3. Geography of Wellington Lake makes it a relatively safe body of water
in that it is small, protected, and rarely gets waves from wind or motorized
watercraft.
4. The swim course is well marked with large orange buoys
5. The swim exit is well marked and easily visible.
III. THE BICYCLE COURSE
Description: The bicycle course leaves Wellington Lake on Forest Service
Road 543 forming a “figure 8 lollipop”. The course is approximately
13 miles of dirt road and 8 miles of single/double-track trail. The course
alternates 4 times between dirt road and trail, thereby allowing easy
access to the entire course for safety/support stations and for vehicle
rescue and transport. The course is as follows (please refer to map):
Forest Service (FS) Road 543
FS Road 550
Spur to Gashouse Gulch Trail
Gashouse Gulch Trail
FS Road 554 (Miller Gulch Trail)
FS Road 553
Skipper Trail
Homestead Trail
FS Road 554 (Miller Gulch Trail)
Gashouse Gulch Trail
Baldy Trail
Gashouse Gulch Trail (end of “figure 8”)
“Double back” to Wellington Lake via FS Roads 550 and 543
(the “lollipop”)
Support Stations: There will be 3 Support Stations:
1. Support Station 1: Located at FS Road 550 and the Gashouse Gulch Trailhead
Spur. Consists of 2 volunteers, 1 communications radio, 2 vehicles, water
emergency carbohydrate
2. Support Station 2: Located at FS Road 553 and Skipper Trailhead. Consists
of 1 volunteer, 1 EMT, 1 communications radio, 2 vehicles, water, emergency
carbohydrate
3. Support Station 3: Located at intersection of Miller Gulch Trail and
Gashouse Gulch Trail. Consists of 2 volunteers, 1 communications radio,
2 vehicles, water, emergency carbohydrate
Communications and Medical Headquarters will be located at Wellington
Lake. Course Marshals (total number 9, plus each support station serves
dual function as a Course Marshal also; indicated in orange on map, numbered
1 through 9). Course Marshals will be utilized at all 11 trail intersections
and to ensure triathletes stay on the course and do not mistakenly take
the wrong route and get lost. Since the bicycle course is not a “closed
course” and is open to public use, the Course Marshals will also
inform other trail users of the ongoing event. Signage (small blue wooden
arrow on a stake, about 1 foot high) will also be utilized to ensure triathletes
stay on course. Course Marshals will also be stationed along FS Road 543
to warn motorists of bicyclists on the road. Orange cones will be placed
4 to 5 feet from the east edge of the road while the bicyclists travel
north on road 543. After the last bicyclist exits road 543, the cones
will then be transferred 4 to 5 feet from the west edge of FS Road 543.
The orange cones serve two purposes: 1) Bicyclists are required to stay
to the right of all traffic cones, thereby delineating the course to the
extreme right to allow safe movement of vehicles; 2) To serve as a safety
warning to remind motorists of the presence of bicyclists on the road.
The orange cones will be placed on FS Road 543 at 8:30 a.m., and totally
removed after the last bicyclist returns to Wellington Lake at about 12:00
noon. There will be an Event Safety Marshal (the “sweep”)
on a bicycle following the last bicyclist throughout the length of the
bicycle course. This “sweep” safety bicyclist ensures that
no one is left behind on the course and identifies the last bicyclist
to the Course Marshals and safety and support station personnel. Orange
traffic cones will be placed in a similar manner on the short stretch
of road 550 between road 543 and the entrance to Gashouse Gulch Trailhead.
Course Marshals will stop traffic only when a bicyclist approaches the
intersection of FS 543 and 550 in order to safely cross the road. Signage
will be placed roads 543 and 550 near the intersection in order to advise
motorists of the event and the presence of bicyclists on the edge of the
roads.
PREVENTION: Part of any safety plan should first be prevention.
A. Education of the event participants
1. Educating in sharing multi-use trails. Participants will be required
to sign a statement that they have read, understand, and will abide by
the rules outlines both on the event website and at registration. Participants
will agree to yield to pedestrians, hikers, and horseback riders.
2. Warning signs of potential hazards on the course
3. Event participants themselves acting as course safety “marshals”
reporting any injuries of their fellow triathletes.
4. Participants having prior knowledge of the bicycle course prevent surprises.
Participants can have knowledge of what to expect of the course:
a. Course maps will be available on the event website
b. Encouraging participants to pre-ride the bicycle course during the
weeks prior to the triathlon
5. The course route will be clearly “marked”, and with Course
Marshals at all road and trail intersections
6. Participants choosing to drop out of the triathlon must check in
to the nearest Support Station to allow for accountability.
7. Educating other trail users. Two weeks prior to the triathlon,
signage will be posted and maintained to inform the public of the upcoming
event. Signage will be posted on kiosks at:
a. Wellington Lake
b. Green Mountain Campground
c. Meadows Group Campground
d. Gashouse Gulch Trailhead
e. Miller Gulch Trailhead
f. Skipper Trailhead
g. Tramway Campground
h. Pine Valley Open Space Park
Signage will include the following information:
a. Date and time of the event
b. Map highlighting the roads and trails utilized for the bicycle course
c. Purpose of the triathlon
d. Contact information (Event Director home phone number)
e. Acknowledgement of permit by the U.S. Forest Service. Signage will
be 8 ½ inch by 11 inches, laminated, and posted appropriately approved
by South Platte Ranger District (and Jefferson County Open Space Park).
8. USA triathlon sanctioning rules require all participants to wear
approved helmets during the entire bicycle portion. Helmets must be worn
and buckled before leaving the transition area at Wellington Lake and
kept on until reentry into the transition area. Failure to wear approved
helmet results in immediate disqualification.
9. A “safety talk” given by the Event Director is a routine
procedure prior to all triathlons. At this time all safety rules are reviewed,
and any other special concerns are repeated. All triathletes are required
to be present and attentive during this approximately 10 minute safety
talk. Other special concerns reviewed at this time include environmental
issues, and special Forest Service regulations.
B. Physiological Support of participating triathletes
1. Self support. Most triathletes are self-supporting on the bicycle
portion of a triathlon. USAT rules prohibit triathletes from accepting
support of any kind from other triathletes or spectators. Self reliance
is always practiced (except in emergency/injury situations). Participants
will be encouraged to carry with them:
a. Water bottles. Most triathletes carry at least 1 water bottle on their
bicycle and/or wear a hydration system on their back.
b. Carbohydrate. Most triathletes carry energy bars and gels. NOTE: Leaving
any equipment or materials on a bicycle course results in immediate disqualification
from the triathlon (USAT rule). That is, no water bottles, inner tubes,
inflation devices, or food wrappers can be left on the course. However,
these items can accidentally fall onto the course. The “sweep”
(the safety event bicyclist following the last bicyclist) will pick up
any materials found along the way.
2. Event Support Stations
Three Support Stations will be located on the bicycle course (indicated
in pink on map). Note: Support Station #1 will serve bicyclists twice,
both when leaving FS Road 550, and when again entering FS Road 550 on
the return to Wellington Lake. These 3 Support Stations will provide:
a. Preventive Physiological Support:
1) Water
2) Carbohydrate in emergency
b. Communications to Medical Headquarters at
Wellington Lake
c. Transport of injured
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPORT
A. Trained emergency medical personnel will be placed at the
following locations:
1. At each of the 3 Support Stations
2. At Medical Headquarters at Wellington Lake
B. The 3 Support Stations will provide:
1. Assessment of injured
2. Basic First Aid and Life Support
3. Communication to Medical Headquarters for further
instruction by Chief Medical Officer
4. Activation of EMS through radio contact
5. Transport of injured to location determined by the Chief
Medical Officer
C. The participating triathletes themselves will report to personnel at
Support Stations of any injuries seen on the trail (providing the injured
or potentially injured triathlete’s bicycle number (same as the
triathletes Identification Number entered on the computer).
D. Advance notice to local Fire Departments of planned event
E. Advance notice to local Hospitals of planned event
IV. THE RUN COURSE
Description: The run course is a 4.75 mile loop around Wellington Lake. The Short course run is a 2 ½ mile loop from the transition to the waterfall and then back to the finish line via the beach road.
Support Stations: There will be 3 Support Stations on the XTERRA run course:
A. Support Station #4: 4 just after the waterfall where the XTERRA and Short
courses divide
B. Support Station #5: the XTERRA run course enters onto FS Road 560
C. Support Station #6: where the XTERRA run course leaves FS Road 560 and
begins along the beach
The run course Support Stations will provide:
1. Water
2. Emergency carbohydrate
3. Radio contact with Medical Headquarters
4. Transport to Medical Headquarters