Thanks for entering. This is No 2 of 3 event emails you will receive leading up to the event. Everything from email 1 is repeated, plus more. Please read this email and send on to anyone in your relay team who may not get a copy. It contains important information. 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

TELL YOUR FRIENDS - ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE MIDNIGHT, TONIGHT WED 21 FEB. 

They can still enter on Saturday form 10.00am-4.30pm  and Sunday from 5.30am (up to 1 hour before your race start), but will pay more. It would be much better to spend that money on one of the great hamburgers at Queens Wharf Hotel, after the race!! So if they can...enter by tonight. 

Sparke Helmore Lawyers staff are on the job again. 

Apart from putting their name and energy into this event, Sparke Helmore Lawyers staff and family are always on hand to assist with volunteering on race weekend. After 25 years, Sparke Helmore has one of it's biggest contingents of both competitors and volunteers. Make sure you give them a smile as you pick up your race kits, get directed or have a drink on course. 

Check out this cool video of last years event. 

Post Race drink at Queens Wharf Hotel

Thanks to the generosity of Queens Wharf Hotel and Murrays Brewing Co, every competitor will receive a free beer (or soft drink if under 18)  after the race. You will receive the voucher in your race kits. They are for a Murrays XPA or Pure Blonde beers. They are not transferable. Make plans to hang around at this iconic venue. We, of course, recommend the responsible consumption of alcohol. 

CYCLE LEG BONUS

HALF A 'HOT LAP' - Thanks to the project team at Newcastle City Council, all cycle courses will be able to use a section of the new Super Cars track within Camp Shortland (Nobbys area) to travel east to Shortland Esplande. This is a wide, very slick piece of road that will be open for our use. It will add approx 220m to each lap of your course. We will only be using heading east..not west. Enjoy,  but ride within your limits! See course map below. 

Long Cycle Course (Sprint and Olympic Distance) Change from 2017: Due to repair works on the South Newcastle section of Shortland Esplande being completed the course will revert to the old course of heading down to South Newcastle Beach via the old cliff road and then head into King Edward Park.  The course will then ride the flat section past the rotunda and play grounds to another climb to the top of the park. The course will turn right onto The Terrace and right onto Reserve Rd (right hand side), until just after Wolfe St, where they will return to the left hand side. They will then continue down Watt St and turn right at the Police Station, (Church St) using the right hand side of the road. This is all brand new road, however there is a new traffic island in the middle, so you must take this on the right hand side of the road. PLEASE NOTE, the organisers are aware of the challenges of this corner and will be implementing a number of measures to ensure competitors are travelling at a safe speed at this point. This includes substantial warning signage, marshals and a chicane of traffic cones to slow competitors. This will be a strict NO PASSING zone .  

Overall course map 2018

Cycle Mechanic on site

Our mates at CFN will be on site on Sunday to assist with any cycling questions you have, or if you need to purchase some accessories...or even a new bike. Check them out. 

Swim Course:

Due to tides, this year we will enter and exit all swims on the western side of Queens Wharf in between the Ferry station and Foreshore . This will be on set of exiting stairs and a scaffold ramp.  This will make for an exciting start and exit with the crowd literally beside the swim. All swims are out west and and back east, a safe but close distance to the shoreline. The tide is high at 5.00am, so early swims will be against the tide going out and with the tide coming back.  Nobbys SLSC will assist implement an extensive water safety plan during this leg. Electronic maps available on the course section of each event. www.newcastlecitytriathlon.com.au   or a static map below. 

Swim and Water Quality

The water quality is superb with the temperature hovering around the 22 degree mark, so wet-suits should be optional. (over 24 degrees, no wet suits are allowed) 

Run Course:

Our run course will use the Foreshore Promenade footpath, Camp Shortland at Nobby's and part of  the Break-wall. The laps will pass through the middle of the event compound, so tell your friends to keep an eye out for lots of HIGH 5's. 

Pure will be on site with lots of great expo specials. Bring your wallet!

Pure Performance will be present at the event all weekend with some fantastic deals on all your favourites and race day essentials. With up to 50% off footwear and prices starting as low as $50 you are sure to find a great deal. Race day essentials like nutrition, elastic laces, race belts, hats and visors will all be available as well.

See you out there!

Road Conditions

The upgrade to Shortland Esplanade is now completed. The surface is fast, and does have some technical aspects. There are a few points you will need to take care with. These are: 

·        No passing zone for a section near Nobbys Club House 

·        No pass zone at Zara St

·        Raised speed mounds along Shortland Esplanade and Wharf Rd

·        As in previous years there is no passing at the Police Station on Watts St

This should not affect your result. These sections will be heavily monitored and failing to comply with these rules MAY RESULT IN A DISQUALIFICATION. Note this is a NON drafting event. 

Raising funds and awareness for Lauren Parker Foundation

This years event is supporting the Lauren Parker Foundation. The talented and courageous Lauren Parker from Newcastle is just 28 years young and was at the peak of an elite triathlon career when tragedy struck. On April 18 2017, just over two weeks from racing Ironman Australia in Port Macquarie, Lauren had a catastrophic bike accident in training that resulted in serious injuries including a broken back and severe spinal cord damage which have rendered Lauren paralyzed from the waist down. After spending almost 3 months at the Royal North  Shore Spinal Injuries Unit, Lauren has been transferred to Royal Rehab at Ryde where she will spend the next 6-9 months undergoing extensive rehabilitation. In addition to the heartache and grief associated with Lauren’s life-changing injury, Lauren and her family will face significant expenses over the next 12 months and beyond. A number of Lauren’s friends  and family members have joined forces and created the Lauren Parker Foundation to show Lauren that we are with her on  this journey. The Foundation aims to raise much needed funds for Lauren to help with current and future expenses and to ensure that Lauren may access whatever treatment and rehabilitation she need’s to optimise Lauren’s recovery. After a short time, Lauren has already started using a hand cycle as a part of her rehabilitation and is back swimming in the pool. This amazing progress is a testament to Lauren’s courageous spirit and determined nature and we would love to see that continue. The Lauren Parker Foundation is hosting a Gala Ball to help raise funds for Lauren and to raise awareness about spinal cord injury.  Click below to start. 

Bike Compound 

Due to Market St Lawns being unavailable, our whole bike compound is at Queens Wharf on Wharf Rd. We only rack bikes into the compound on the day of the event. This will be tar and you may wish to have a pair of thongs or runners at the exit of the swim leg. You can rack your bike while other races are under way.

IMPORTANT: To ensure bike security, you must have you race bib with you to collect your bike and gear from transition. Teams – this will mean you will need your runner’s race bib to collect your bike.

Team Waiting Area

Rider and runners will wait at the bike for the swimmer and cyclist. Please only enter the compound when your are expecting your rider and do not get in the way of other individuals entering the compound. Change the timing chip in the event compound. 

Team and Non Signed Waiver 

All Relay members and individuals who did not enter themselves into the event online and who have not signed an electronic waiver, need to sign the an event  waiver before they compete. This is below. Please bring to race kit pick up. 

Race registration/kit collection

Race Registration and collection of race kits for all events will be Queens Wharf Hotel off Wharf Rd, Newcastle. Note a relay team member can collect kits for other members, however you must TELL the other members, so they do not line up and seek the race kit. They must have the waivers! Due to issues around large group collections we will no longer allow Team Managers to collect all the kits, except with prior arrangement. 

There is important safety and race information available at the race registration area. We recommend you plan to arrive at the event compound at least 1 hour before your race start to make sure you have a comfortable preparation and start for the event.

Registration will be open at the following times at Queens Wharf Hotel:

·         Saturday 24th Feb – 10:00am – 4:30pm - Pick up your kit and get some bargains at the race compound. Do lunch or maybe a pasta loaded dinner!

·         Sunday 25th Feb  – 5:30am – 9:30am  

Note: Race kit collection will cut off 45min prior to each event.

Changes can be made to teams before the event by attending the CHANGES desk at the registration tent. Going from one event to another. Not we DO NOT transfer or refund entries. 

Queens Wharf hospitality

Make sure you check out the Queens Wharf Hotel and the Six Degrees venues on race weekend. There great pasta special and lots of cool spots to hang out pre and post race. Bring the family for this one!

Water Polo on Saturday 

There will be water polo games held in Queens Wharf (yes in the Harbour) on Saturday from 12pm. Call down and pick up your race kit and check out the action with our local Hunter Hurricans. 

Parking

Due to the location of the event and the cycle course road closures, you will need to park away from the course. Plan ahead as you may need to walk some way to get to the compound. There is ample food and drink and entertainment at the event compound, so plan for a good day, but leave enough time to get to the event compound. Note Scott St is under construction. If walking to the event, please access the compound via the western end of the Foreshore. There is a crossing point from the mall to get across Scott St to Wharf Rd. The parking stations in Bolton St and Argle St Newcastle are open early if you are looking for covered parking. This is a commercial parking station and fees apply. Time limits apply to much of Newcastle for parking on Sundays. Note there is no longer a train service to Newcastle Station. Change at Wickham Interchange for buses.  The best drop off point is Argyle St off Wharf Rd or off Hunter and walk across the old rail line paths. 

Safety Tips

Any outdoor event can be dangerous and we ask you to enjoy the event, but take care given the public nature of the course. Always keep an eye out for spectators or other residents who may not be aware of the event. A few particular notes:

1. Remember to slow down at the South Newcastle Beach, Nobbys roundabout and Watt /Church St intersections.
2. A quick safety reminder for spectators. Please advise your crew NOT to stand in the gutter on the bike course as cycles go past at 50km per hour. Just one step back will be much safer!
3. No MP3, IPod etc allowed during race
4. It may be warm so don’t forget to slip, slop, slap

Thanks for racing

We hope your training has gone well and we look forward to seeing you on the start line.

Our team of over 100 crew and volunteers look forward to welcome you to Newcastle and make this a memorable event.

One more update coming on friday. 

Regards
Paul Humphreys 
H Events
Event Director
Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon