The Vermilion Harbour Triathlon & Duathlon will return the weekend of August 14th-15th. New this year, a "Women Tri Too" event on Saturday morning. Thousands of spectators watch hundreds of athletes compete in the Vermilion Harbour Triathlon at Vermilion's Linwood Park each year. Athletes swim Lake Erie and bike and run through Linwood Park, the Lagoons, downtown and Vermilion's picturesque country roads. Hundreds of hours of planning and hundreds of volunteers make Vermilion's annual triathlon a phenomenal success.
Individuals are needed at intersections along the bike and run courses and to assist with registration, parking, swim course, crowd control, aid stations, and transition/finish line areas. To volunteer, contact Staicey at ylwlabs@roadrunner.com or (440) 829-2639. To enter the race, visit www.hfpracing.com.
The public is advised that traffic delays should be expected from 8 am to 12:30 pm. Main Street Vermilion asks for patience and support while we host hundreds of athletes. Please help by staying off the race course roads during designated times and come out to cheer everyone on! Residents and businesses on the north side of Liberty from Linwood Park to Main Street, and those from Main Street north to Huron, will experience long delays trying to leave and enter their properties. The right lane of Liberty from Linwood Park to West River will be closed for bike traffic, but two-way car traffic will be maintained over the bridge. Liberty west of West River up to Main Street will have the right parking lanes coned for run traffic. Main Street north to Huron right parking lanes will be coned off for run traffic. Questions or concerns, please contact Staicey at ylwlabs@roadrunner.com or (440) 829-2639.
How It Works
The race starts with athletes running into the lake, taking on the challenging waters of Lake Erie. The athletes then exit the water and run to the transition area where they quickly mount their bikes. After the exhausting ride, the triathletes drop their bikes and leave for the last leg of the race, the run.
The Vermilion Triathlon is one in a series of triathlon/duathlon competitions staged throughout Ohio. Vermilion Harbour Triathlon competitors state Vermilion offered the best venue of the series.
The triathlon begins at 8 am with 1,500-meter and 750-meter swims in Lake Erie at Linwood Park. Triathletes move from Linwood Park with 20K and 40k bicycling events, and 5K and 10K runs, through downtown Vermilion, the Lagoons and scenic country roads. More experienced athletes competed in the longer distance Olympic-style events.
Hundreds of athletes from across the country compete, cheered by thousands of spectators.
The Vermilion Harbour Triathlon/Duathlon was the brainchild of Smith. Since he was 15 years old he dreamed of bringing a triathlon to Vermilion. Working as the Operations Co-ordianator for all HFP Racing events, he was able to realize his dreams with the Vermilion Harbour Triathlon/Duathlon.
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The Course
The bike course: Leaving Linwood Park, turning right onto Liberty Avenue. Left on West River Road. Left on Darrow Road. Bends right onto Gore Orphanage Road. Left on North Ridge Road, then immediate right back onto Gore Orphanage Road. Sprint course athletes turn left on Morse Road to head back to Linwood Park. Olympic course athletes stay on Gore Orphanage Road. It turns into Sperry Road. Left on Dean Road. Right on Rt. 113, then immediate left onto Green Road. Bend left onto Ward Road. Left onto Gore Orphanage Road. Right on Portman Road. Left on Vermilion Road, which turns into North Ridge Road. Right on Gore Orphanage. Left on Darrow. Right on West River back to Linwood Park.
The run course: Run along the lake of Linwood Park to the Vermilion Lagoons beach house. Around the Portage Drive oval and out Portage Drive to Liberty Avenue. Right on Liberty Avenue. Right on Main Street. Sprint athletes turn around in front of Decidedly Different on Main Street. Olympic athletes keep going down Main Street towards the museum. Left on Huron Street. Left on Decatur Street. Right on Liberty and head west towards Sherod Park turnaround. Back to Linwood Park.
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The Race...
The race starts at the shot of a gun as athletes begin their swim, running into the lake. The swim is crowded with a lot of pushing and kicking to get ahead in the challenging waters of Lake Erie.
The athletes exit the water. Running to the transition area, they quickly mount their bikes.
After the exhausting ride, the triathletes drop their bikes and leave for the last leg of the race, the run.
The Annual Wheelie Fun Triathlon and Duathlon Series is America's longest running simultaneous triathlon and duathlon series. The Wheelie Fun Triathlon and Duathlon Series offers multisport athletes four great choices:
- Sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run)
- Olympic distance triathlon (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
- Sprint distance duathlon (5km run, 20km bike, 5km run)
- Olympic distance duathlon (5km run, 40km bike, 10km run)
All races in the Wheelie Fun Triathlon and Duathlon Series are open to anyone wanting to take on the challenge, including the series championship on September 6-7. Good luck and see you at the finish!
Multisport athletes will love the small town feel of this venue as they race through downtown Vermilion and tackle one of the most challenging courses in the series. Triathletes will be treated to a spectacular rectangle swim course (2-laps Olympic, 1-lap Sprint.) The Duathletes opening 5k run is out and back featuring a run through downtown Vermilion. The bike courses feature an out and back course for the sprint course and a demanding loop course for the Olympic distance course featuring two Vermilion River gorge crossings. The race finishes with an out and back run through downtown Vermilion with breathtaking shoreline views of Lake Erie for the entire course. This race is a perfect addition to the series and a must do for northern Ohio multisport athletes.
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Course Info:
- Sprint Tri/Du: 750m Swim/5k Run – 20k Bike – 5k Run
- Olympic Tri/Du: 1500m Swim/5k Run – 40k Bike – 10k Run
Registration & Packet Pickup:
- Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm in Linwood Park
There is NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION, packet pickup ONLY!
AMB Chip Pick-Up:
- AMB Chip pickup is Sunday (race day) from 6 am - 7:30 am
*You must wear a chip in order to be timed and receive results after the event.
*You will be charged $100 for each lost or non-returned chip.
Race Packets:
- All pre-registered participants will receive an official race technical t-shirt, water bottle, post race food and beverages and much more.
Awards:
- The top three Elite Open and Elite Masters male and female in the sprint and Olympic races will receive medals. In addition, the top three in all age groups (15-19, 20-24…75+), Clydesdale, Athena, Mountain Bike, Aqua Bike and all relay teams divisions will receive medals.
Certification Information:
- USAT Sanctioned
Volunteers Needed:
- HFP Racing is currently seeking volunteers and athletes for the Vermilion Harbour Triathlon and Duathlon. To volunteer please contact Staicey Scholtz at ylwlabs@roadrunner.com, (440) 829-2639 or (440) 967-4001.
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Accommodations
Sawmill Creek Resort is offering special rates to Triathletes August 13th - 21st. Deluxe guest rooms, single or double, will be offered at $119 per night. Sawmill Creek features indoor and outdoor pools, golf, shopping, a beach and marina, and 235 acres to practice your run. Athletes can also practice their swim on Lake Erie and hike Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve. Sawmill Creek is 5 miles from Cedar Point Amusement Park and 13.8 miles from Vermilion. After your day at the Triathlon, come back and relax at Sawmill Creek Resort, 400 Sawmill Creek Drive W, Huron, OH 44839. Call 800-729-6455 or visit www.sawmillcreek.com.
Additional accommodations include:
Captain Gilchrist B & B
5662 Huron Street, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-1237
Captain Young’s B & B
5815 Ohio Street, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-5354
Cottages at The Water's Edge
6419 West Lake Road, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-9480
Harbour Town Guesthouse
5725 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 935-2113
Holiday Inn Express
2417 State Route 60, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-8770
Lakeland Lodges
13115 West Lake Road (Route 6), Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-4497
The Lazy Hammock
604 Main Street, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-1237
Riverview RV Park & Marina
1270 Vermilion Road, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 967-3962
Walk in the Water Cottages
11917 West Lake Road, Vermilion, OH 44089 - (440) 963-0020
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The History...
Triathlon’s roots can be traced back to 1974, Mission Bay, Southern California where a group of friends began training together. Amongst them were runners, swimmers and cyclists and before long training sessions turned into informal races. Directed and conceived by Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan the first Mission Bay Triathlon was held on September 25th 1974 and welcomed 46 athletes. Triathlon’s foundations had been set!.
In Hawaii, 1978, an argument arose regarding which of the three disciplines required the greatest endurance. At that time Hawaii hosted The Waikiki Rough Water Swim (2.4 miles), The Oahu Bike Race (112 miles) and The Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). Originally events in themselves, they were rolled into one to become the ‘Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.’ The event attracted 15 athletes and of them only 12 crossed the finish line. By 1982 the Hawaii Ironman gained extensive coverage on ABC World Wide Sport and participation levels had increased to 580 competitors. Last year over 3000 athletes completed the grueling challenge. The fastest women finish the course in just under nine hours and the fastest men finishing in little over eight hours!
Today the sport of triathlon is growing at a rapid pace. There are triathlon clubs in almost every major city and thousands of races are held every year across the globe.
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Big City Talent Scout Returns To Vermilion Bringing Triathlon To His Home Town
Vermilion native Daniel Smith appeared to have the perfect
life. A former model turned talent scout and photographer living in Manhattan and working between New York and Miami, he crossed paths with the hottest celebrities - Brad Pitt, Madonna and Heath Ledger to name
a few. But something was missing.
After casting for Aber-crombie and Fitch catalogues, Daniel realized he wasn't in control of his health. He smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day, drank and was overweight. Daniel decided to take charge of his life.
Moving back to Vermilion, he eased himself back into a healthy lifestyle. He quit smoking and drinking and began working on a horse farm cleaning 50 stalls a day.
Determined to regain his health, Daniel began a running and swimming routine combined with a holistic diet. Feeling confident in his new lifestyle he entered his first triathlon. It was at this event that he met Sharon Knecht, an alum of Team USA's triathlon team. Sharon helped him get a job as personal trainer.
While working for the EMH Center for Fitness in Avon, Daniel and Yvonne Saul-Craigo developed a fitness and triathlon group. The pair have since trained over 70 triathletes.
The Vermilion Harbour Triathlon/Duathlon was the brainchild of Daniel Smith. Since he was 15 years old, racing his bike down Vermilion River Reservation's Mill Hollow and running through the woods alone - racing his own shadow, he dreamed of bringing a triathlon to Vermilion. Working as the Operations Co-ordianator for all HFP Racing events, Daniel was able to realize his dreams with the Vermilion Harbour Triathlon/Duathlon.
Daniel says anyone can do it.
"You only get one life to live," he says. "It's not about winning. It's about being healthy and doing the best you can."
Daniel says he now feels younger. Being healthy has changed him. He consistently finishes in the top 3 for his age group.
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Artist, Teacher, Mother Manages Healthy Lifestyle On A Grand Scale
Talented artist, teacher and mother, 40 year old Yvonne Saul-Craigo juggles a very active life while managing to maintain a healthy lifestyle that would leave most exhausted. Working as a substitute teacher and Girls Track Coach at Avon Lake High School, she is also a personal trainer at EMH center for Health and Fitness. Yvonne trains many clients and triathletes to compete in their first races and to improve themselves.
Growing up in Avon Lake, Yvonne went to Avon Lake City Schools where she played basketball and ran cross-country and track. She was a part of, and at the beginning edge of, Avon Lake's strong tradition in distance running. Two of Yvonne's cross country teams went to state in 1984 and 1985.
Yvonne said the highlight of her High school career came in track in 1986 when she held the fastest time in the state in the 800 meters for most of the season and anchored the Shoregals state runner up 4x800 meter relay.
"Our relay team also set a new national record in the 4x1600 meter relay," stated Yvonne.
Yvonne received an athletic scholarship to attend Kent State University and run track and cross-country. She left Kent with a degree in Art Education and earned varsity letters in track and CC each year.
After Kent Yvonne taught Art and coached track and basketball at Nordonia Hills city schools. When her daughter (Whitney) and son (Clay) were born in 1995 and 1997, she took time off from teaching and coaching and began to focus on raising her young family and a new athletic endeavor as a triathlete.
Yvonne competed at her first Olympic Distance Triathlon at the age of 30 and has not stopped since.
The highlights of her triathlon career include:
- WON MANY LOCAL TRIATHLONS AND DUATHLONS
- 8th OVERALL AMATUR AT THE ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ TRIATHLON IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA 2004
- 1ST OVERALL PINEMAN HALF IRONMAN 2003
- 2ND OVERALL ELITE MUNCIE ENDURATHON 2003
- 3RD OVERALL PITTSBURGH TRIATHLON 2002
- INDUCTED INTO THE AVON LAKE SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2003
- USA TRIATHLON AGE GROUP ALL AMERICAN IN 03-04-05
- IRONMAN FLORIDA (FINISHER) 2005
In 2006 Yvonne suffered a tear in her medial meniscus keeping her from competing in 2007. She raced a few races and then broke her right foot.
Determined to get back in the game, Yvonne said, "I hope to be up and running for 2008 and racing in Vermilion this August."
In 2003 Yvonne met Daniel Smith before competing in the Cleveland Triathlon as a professional. Daniel came to work with Yvonne at EMH and together they started a triathlon team and marathon group. The team has trained 40+ people to compete in either triathlon or endurance races. Dan and Yvonne do much of their training together in Vermillion where Daniel lives. While open water swimming, biking and running together throughout Vermilion, they often talked about what a beautiful venue it would be for a Triathlon. When Daniel became a race director in 2007 he was able to team up with HFP Racing to bring a triathlon to Vermillion.
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ABOUT TRIATHLONS
A triathlon is an endurance sports event consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. In most modern triathlons, these events are placed back-to-back in immediate sequence and a competitor's official time includes the time required to "transition" between the individual legs of the race, including any time necessary for changing clothes and shoes. As a result, proficiency in swimming, cycling, and running alone is not sufficient to guarantee a triathlete a competitive time: trained triathletes have learned to race each stage in a way that preserves their energy and endurance for subsequent stages.
Triathletes tend to be extraordinarily fit, and many amateur athletes choose triathlon specifically for its fitness benefits. Because all three events are endurance sports, nearly all of triathlon training is cardiovascular exercise. In addition, since triathletes must train for three different disciplines, they tend to have more balanced whole-body muscular development than pure cyclists or runners, whose training emphasizes only a subset of their musculature.
Swimming
Triathletes competing in the swim component of race. Wetsuits are common but not universal. Triathletes will use their legs less vigorously and more carefully than other swimmers, conserving their leg muscles for the cycle and run to follow. Many triathletes use altered swim strokes to compensate for turbulent, aerated water and to conserve energy for a long swim. In addition, the majority of triathlons involve open-water (outdoor) swim stages, rather than pools with lane markers. As a result, triathletes in the swim stage must jockey for position, and can gain some advantage by drafting, following a competitor closely to swim in their slipstream. Triathletes will often use "dolphin kicking" and diving to make headway against waves, and body surfing to use a wave's energy for a bit of speed at the end of the swim stage. Also, open-water swims necessitate "sighting": raising the head to look for landmarks or buoys that mark the course. A modified stroke allows the triathlete to lift the head above water to sight without interrupting the swim or wasting energy.
Because open water swim areas are often cold, and because wearing a wetsuit provides a competitive advantage, specialized triathlon wetsuits have been developed in a variety of styles to match the conditions of the water. Wetsuits are only legal in sanctioned events with a water temperature equal to or below 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 degrees Celsius). Some events allow wetsuits regardless of water temperature, and sometimes they are required. Or, in a single event, wetsuits may be allowed for "age groupers" but not for professionals, as the temperature rules differ slightly between the two groups.
Cycling
Triathlon cycling, with the exception of Olympic triathlon and ITU World Cup races, is very different from most professional bicycle racing because it does not allow drafting, so racers do not cluster in a peloton. It more closely resembles individual time trial racing. Triathlon bicycles are generally optimized for aerodynamics, having special handlebars called "aero-bars" or "tri-bars", aerodynamic wheels, and other components. Triathlon bikes use a specialized geometry, including a steep seat-tube angle both to improve aerodynamics and spare muscle groups needed for running. At the end of the bike segment, triathletes also often cycle with a higher "cadence" (revolutions per minute), which serves in part to keep the muscles loose and flexible for running. It is believed, though, that the primary benefit to spinning in a triathlon is that the strain of the effort is placed disproportionately on the slow twitch muscle fibers, preventing the athlete from accumulating an oxygen debt before the run.
Running
The primary distinguishing feature of running in a triathlon is that it occurs after the athlete has already been exercising in two other disciplines for an extended period of time, so many muscles are already tired. The effect of switching from cycling to running can be profound; first-time triathletes are often astonished at the bizarre, sometimes painful sensation in their thighs a few hundred yards into the run, and discover that they run at a much slower pace than they are accustomed to in training. Triathletes train for this phenomenon through transition workouts or "bricks": back-to-back workouts involving two disciplines, most commonly cycling and running. (The term "brick" has multiple claims of origination/derivation. Among those is the derivation from a partial anagram of Bike-Run. Also, it may simply be a descriptive term for how your legs feel for the first part of the run. Another is credited to Mark Sisson and Scott Zagarino (1988), who associated the term brick with the idea of "Just another brick in the wall"... as noted in a song by the group "Pink Floyd". Another association of this term has been claimed to originate from a New Zealand athlete by the name of Matt Brick.)
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THE ANOTOMY OF A TRIATHLON
In a typical triathlon, event organizers take advantage of a host town's hospitality. Major races require athletes to register and attend a race briefing the day before the actual race. This race briefing details the course, the rules, and any problems to look out for (road conditions, closures, traffic lights, aid stations). At registration the racers are provided a race number, colored swimming cap, and, if the event is being electronically timed, a timing band. Often racers are also given competitor wrist bands that allow them in and out of the transition area or other athlete-only areas. At a major event, such as an Ironman or a Long Course Championship, triathletes are required to set up their bike in the transition area the day before and leave it overnight under guard.
For shorter distances the racers arrive at the venue about an hour (or more) before the race is to begin. They register and receive their swim cap and number, then proceed to set up their spot in the transition area. For most races, competitors have their race number marked on their arms and legs, along with having their age group marked on their calf.
In the transition areas, athletes will generally be provided with a rack to hold their bicycle and a small section of ground space for shoes, clothing, etc. Generally, transition spots are allocated to racers by their competition number, though in some events, athletes choose their spot in the transition area on a first-come, first-served basis. In some races, the bicycle stage does not finish in the same place it begins, so athletes set up two transition areas: one for the swim-to-bike transition, and one for the bike-to-run transition.
Racers are generally categorized into separate professional and amateur categories. Amateurs, who make up the large majority of triathletes, are often referred to as "age groupers" since they are typically further classified by sex and age. One feature that has helped to boost the popularity of such a complex, time-intensive sport is the opportunity to compete against others of one's own gender and age group. The age groups are defined in five or ten year intervals.
In some triathlons, amateur athletes may have the option to compete against others in heavier-weight divisions. "Clydesdale" athletes are generally those men over 200 pounds, while "Athena" athletes are generally women over 150 pounds. These weight based divisions are not officially sanctioned in any of the professional or Olympic events.
As in most marathons and other competitive endurance sport events, there is typically a lower age limit, though many races have been organized to allow children and teens to compete in their own categories.
After setting up their transition areas, athletes don their swim gear and head to the swim area (usually a lake, river, or ocean) for the race start. Depending on the water temperature, swimmers may be permitted to wear a wetsuit - triathlon specific wetsuits are now common. Depending on the type and size of the race, there may be any of the following methods implemented to start the race. Mass starts, traditional in full distance events, see all the athletes enter the water at a single start signal. In wave start events, smaller groups of athletes begin the race every few minutes. An athlete's wave is usually determined either by age group or by predicted swim time. Wave starts are more common in shorter races where a large number of amateur athletes are competing. Another option is individual time trial starts, where athletes enter the water one at a time, usually 3 to 5 seconds apart.
The swim leg usually proceeds around a series of marked buoys and exits the water near the transition area. Racers run out of the water, enter the transition area, and attempt to change from their swim gear into their cycling gear as rapidly as possible. In some races, tents were provided for changing clothes. However, competition and pressure for time has led to the development of specialized triathlon clothing that is adequate for both swimming and cycling, meaning many racers' transitions consist of little more than removing wetsuit and goggles and pulling on a helmet and cycling shoes. In some cases, racers leave shoes attached to their bicycle pedals and slip their feet into them while riding. Some triathletes don't wear socks, decreasing their time in transition even more.
The cycling stage proceeds around a marked course, nearly always on public roads. In many cases, especially smaller triathlons, the roads are not closed to automobiles, though marshals are often present to help control traffic. Typically, the cycling stage finishes back at the same transition area. Racers enter the transition area, rack their bicycles, and quickly change into running shoes before heading out for the final stage. The running stage, also typically held on public roads, usually ends at a separate finish line near the transition area.
In most races, "aid stations" located on the bike and run courses provide water and energy drinks to the athletes as they pass by. Aid stations at longer events will often provide various types of food as well, including such items as energy bars, gels, fruit, cookies, and ice.
Once the triathletes have completed the event, there is typically another aid station for them to get water, fruit, cookies, and other post-race goodies. At the end of most larger or longer events, the provisions and post-race celebrations may be more elaborate - ranging from ice cream and professional massage tents to cookouts and barbecues.
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RULES OF TRIATHLON
Traditionally, triathlon is an individual sport: each athlete is competing against the course and the clock for the best time. As such, athletes are not allowed to receive assistance from anyone else inside or outside the race, with the exception of race-sanctioned aid volunteers who distribute food and water on the course. This also means that team tactics, such as drafting, a cycling tactic in which several riders cluster closely to reduce the air resistance of the group, are not allowed.
This has begun to change with the introduction of triathlon into the Olympic Games. Many Olympic-distance races, including the Olympics themselves and ITU World Cup events, now allow drafting during the cycling stage. This change has sparked extensive debate among the triathlon community, with supporters feeling that it brings triathlon rules closer in line with international cycling rules and practices, and opponents feeling that drafting has the potential to negate gains achieved by an individual in the swim, and gains an individual would have the potential to achieve during the cycling leg. Drafting has become the standard format for professional-level ITU events and the Olympics. However, the majority of amateur events retain the non-drafting format.
Triathlons are timed in sections: 1) from the start of the swim to the beginning of the first transition (swim time); 2) from the beginning of the first transition to the end of the first transition (T1 time); 3) from the start of the cycling to the end of the cycling leg (cycling time); 4) from the beginning of the second transition to the end of the second transition (T2 time); 5) and finally from the start of the run to the end of the run, at which time the triathlon is completed. Results are usually posted on official websites and will show for each triathlete his/her swim time; cycle time (with transitions included); run time; and total time. Some races also post transition times separately.
Other rules of triathlon vary from race to race and generally involve descriptions of allowable equipment (such as wetsuits, which are allowed in the swimming stage of some races -- generally when the water temperature is below 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 26 °C), and prohibitions against interference between athletes.
One important rule involving the cycle leg is that the competitor must be wearing their bike helmet before the competitor mounts the bike and must remain on until the competitor has dismounted; the competitor may remove their helmet at any time as long as they are not on the bicycle (i.e. while repairing a mechanical problem). Failure to comply with this rule will result in disqualification.
Additionally, while on the bike course, a competitor is required to ride their bicycle at all times. Should a competitor's bike malfunction they can proceed with the race as long as they are doing so with their bicycle in tow.
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Vermlion Triathlon / Duathlon
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August 14th-15th, 2010
