• Transition & Finish Overview
• Map My Ride Bike Course Overview for Intermediate
• Map My Ride Bike Course Overview for "Tri It On"
• Map My Ride Run Course Overview for both races(10k and 2 mile - both out and back)
  
  
  

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The Swim:
The swim course for the Alabama Coastal Distance is 1.5 k in the Gulf of Mexico. For the "tri it on" the swim will be 300 yards. The course will be managed by local water safety groups with plenty of rescue support and assistance. Should the water not be safe for any reason, race management will change the race from a triathlon to a duathlon with the swim being replaced by a 1 mile run.

The swim segment start will be conducted as a time trial start where you begin based on your assigned race number. The Coastal Tri-It-On Race will begin at 7:00 am with the Best of USA Wave beginning at 7:30 am and the Open Intermediate Distance Race beginning at 7:45 am as time trial start.

Swimmers will enter the water approximately every 3-5 second for the time trial starts, with your race start time beginning as you cross the timing loop on the beach just prior to entering the water. Should the race be changed to a duathlon due to adverse water conditions, the run start will be conducted also as a time trial start based on race number. The method of starting is being used for three reasons: racer safety (less crowded), easier passage around course turn buoys, and reduced congestion on the bike and run course.

There will be no changing of start position on race day. You must have Pre-registered by the Monday two weeks before the race to get a spot in the swim order!!!! All registrants after that time will have the UPPER numbers and be starting at the rear, sorry, no exceptions.

Click here for information on average water temperature and USAT wet suit rules


The Bike:
The bike course is 40k / 24.8 miles for the Alabama Coastal Distance. Bikers head east/right on Perdido Beach Blvd (Hwy 182) from the transition area at The Hangout. The first bike turnaround is a "loop underneath" the PASS which is a large bridge over Gulf Water. Volunteers and police will direct you off of Perdido Beach Blvd. just on the other side of the bridge. You will proceed under the bridge then will be directed back across the bridge heading west on Perdido Beach Blvd. As you head back toward the race staging area, you will be directed right on State Park Road 2 to a turnaround on State Park Road 2, then a right turn (west) back onto Perdido Beach Blvd. (Hwy 182) to the race transition area. There will be a BIKE MOUNT / DISMOUNT LINE. You will walk your bike from your space on the transition bike rack to the BIKE MOUNT line to begin the bike segment. At the finish of your bike segment, you will DISMOUNT at the same line and walk your bike back to your space on the transition bike rack.

The bike course for the "tri it on" will be a 10 mile total out and back course going east from the Hangout to State Park Road 2, going left to a turnaround, back to the Beach Blvd. (Hwy 182) and west back to The Hangout.

Important note about bike course direction:

• AT MILE 2: The Tri-It-On Race will take a left on State Park Road 2 from the beach road, go to a turnaround, come back down State Park Road 2 then head back west to the race staging area
  
  
• AT MILE 2: The Intermediate Race will CONTINUE STRAIGHT on the beach road, go to a turnaround, come back west to State Park Road 2, turn right on State Park Road 2, go to a turnaround, come back to the beach road, then head back west to the race staging area
  

THERE WILL BE VOLUNTEERS AND POLICE SUPPORT DIRECTING YOU, BUT PLEASE KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND BE AWARE OF YOUR COURSE IN THIS AREA - THANKS!!!

The Run:
The run course for Alabama Coastal is a 10k / 6.2 mile course out and back on the Beach Blvd. headed west to a turnaround and back to the finish line on the south side / beach side of The Hangout.

For the "tri it on" - the run will be one mile out west of The Hangout and one mile back to the finish line on the south side / beach side of The Hangout.

Important note about RUN COURSE miles and hydration:

• There will be water and energy drink on the course approximately every mile. Please note that the hydration stations ARE NOT at the exact mile locations! Mile Markers will mark the actual mile locations. We must choose hydration station spaces with room for setting up tables and distributing water and energy drinks and at this race setting that is not possible at the EXACT mile location.
  
  
• The actual turnaround for the Tri-It-On Race is AFTER the hydration station. DO NOT TURN AROUND AT THE HYDRATION STATION or you will be disqualified since you will be cutting the course short.
  
  
• There will be iced rags at the race finish line and on the run course. When you take a rag on the course, hang onto that rag as you can re-wet it with iced water at other hydration stations. Keeping this cold rag on your body will help keep you cool. PLEASE ONLY DROP RAGS AT HYDRATION STATIONS OR AT THE RACE FINISH LINE, NOT ALONG THE ROAD!!!

TIPS FOR RACING IN HOT CONDITIONS

You will probably need as much as 600-800 mg sodium/hr. You can still be sodium depleted if all you drink is water b/c plain water doesn't replace the sodium that you lose through sweat. The body will cool itself better when it is in electrolyte balance; avoid cramping and heat related illness.

Drink 2 gulps (4 oz) every 15 minutes (you can set a timer on your watch if you forget while cycling).

Carry 2 bottles on the bike - 1 water and 1 sports drink.

On the run: Wear a visor and take 2 cups of water at every aid stations - 1 for your head and 1 to drink. Carry ice in your hands to cool down, tuck ice towel around your neck.

During and after the race: You should eat some ice and try to drink COLD fluids.

Keep positive - Don't say the word "HOT" - remember how cold you were this winter - keep that in the front of your mind (seriously)!!

EVENT TIMING & GETTING RESULTS & PHOTOS
We use electronic timing chips, TriTats Body Tattoos, helmet numbers, bike frame numbers, and bib numbers to insure we keep track of you during the race and provide you accurate results. Click HERE or on the image below to see what you need to expect to receive at race packet pick up and what to do to make sure we know who you are in this event. If you have not participated in a Team Magic race in 2011, you will note we are using a NEW race number system that has all of your race numbers on a one-page sheet, all adhesive and waterproof!

 

IMPORTANT RULES FOR
RACE PACKET PICK UP
Please review the basics below and open the link to the USAT Most Commonly Violated Rules.

This race is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and directed by Therese Bynum and Faye Yates, co-owners of Team Magic, Inc. and Certified Race Directors.

NEW FOR 2011:
USAT annual members that register online for Team Magic races now have membership numbers and expiration dates approved through imAthlete.com and Pre-Registered USAT members no longer have to show their USAT member cards at packet pick up.

If there are any questions regarding your membership status you should receive a message from event management directing you to a check in area at packet pick up for "PENDING" issues.

REQUIREMENTS AT USAT SANCTIONED EVENTS:

1. EVERYONE MUST SHOW A PHOTO ID

2. IF YOUR USAT MEMBERSHIP HAS EXPIRED, YOU MUST PAY FOR A NEW ANNUAL OR ONE-DAY MEMBERSHIP AND SIGN A WAIVER

3. EACH MEMBER OF RELAY TEAMS MUST BE AN ANNUAL MEMBER OF USAT OR PAY THE ONE-DAY MEMBERSHIP FEE. ALL RELAY MEMBERS MUST BE PRESENT TO PICK UP THEIR PACKET, OR THEY CAN PICK UP INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE LAST MEMBER OF THE RELAY TEAM TO PICK UP RECEIVING THE TIMING CHIP.

4.     RACERS MUST PICK UP THEIR OWN PACKETS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN A RACER PICK UP ANOTHER RACER'S PACKET IF THEY ARE RACING. YOU MAY PICK UP A RACER'S PACKET IF THEY ARE NOT RACING, BUT NO TIMING CHIP OR BIB NUMBER WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

Relay Teams will be racked separately and tents will be provided as a staging area on the south end / beach side area of transition.

Follow this link for Relay Team Information