GOLDEN BEARATHLON
SATURDAY, APRIL 3rd 2010
1.2k Swim, 37k Bike, 10k Run
PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE at: Image Arts Photography
This bear bites! Come test yourself against the Bear on April 3rd in this challenging and scenic event run in cooperation with the Berkeley Triathlon Team!
- Registration
- Sponsors
- Xterra Wetsuit Rental
- Lodging at Renaissance ClubSport
- Student Involvement
- Course
- Packet Pick-Up
- Shuttle Bus
- Spectator Info
- Swag
- Awards
- Start Times
- FAQ
- Directions
Registration:
At long last, registration is open!
Sponsors
BTO Multisports is happy, nay, ecstatic, to be working with the following terrific companies to make the Golden Bearathlon a great event.
Xterra Wetsuit Rental:
Looking for a wetsuit to keep you warm and trim seconds off your swim time like a fancy European tailor? Look no further than Xterra Wetsuits, the official wetsuit and wetsuit rental sponsor of the Golden Bearathlon. We strongly recommend that you wear a wetsuit, as temperatures in Lake Anza on April 3rd will not likely exceed 60 degrees. For rental information, click here.
Lodging at Renaissance ClubSport:
The Renaissance ClubSport at Walnut Creek is the official race hotel for the Golden Bearathlon; be sure to ask them for the "Golden Bearathlon" rates when booking your registration.
Click here to make your reservation, which will you automatically take you to reservations at the hotel with the special Golden Bearathlon room rate.
The hotel is located here:
Student Involvement:
The Golden Bearathlon was created by students, caters to students, features student volunteers, student athletes, and is just very studious in general. BTO Multisports is happy to be partnering with the Cal Berkeley Triathlon Team and looks forward to many happy years of future involvement.
Course Description:
Swim:
The swim course is a two loop course in Lake Anza, inside Tilden Park. Swimmers will exit the water inbetween loops and run a short distance on the sandy beach before re-entering the water. The water in Lake Anza in April can be anyw
Important Note: If you request assistance from a lifeguard, or appear to be in need of assistance from a lifeguard at any point during the swim, you will be escorted from the water. This means that you cannot rest on a lifeguard's surfboard.
Bike:
T1 will be on a large grassy field adjacent to the parking lot at Lake Anza. Cyclists will walk their bikes down a small, paved trail to the road. While inside Tilden Park (i.e., before the left turn onto San Pablo Dam Road, at the bottom of Wildcat Canyon Road), please exercise great caution. There will be cars, pedestrians, and non-event cyclists on the road. The road has several sharp turns, rough
1. Leave the parking lot on Lake Anza Road
2. Sharp left onto Valley Road
3. Left onto Wildcat Canyon Road and stay on it for approximately 3 miles
(Please exercise caution here. It's just the beginning of the race! You can hammer later.)
4. Sharp Left onto San Pablo Dam Road and stay on it for approximately 5 miles.
5. Right onto Castro Ranch Road and stay on it for approximately 2 miles.
6. Bear right onto Alhambra Valley Road and stay on it for approximately 2 miles.
7. Turn right onto Bear Creek Road and follow for 7 miles.
8. Right turn into T2 at Briones Reservoir.
Run:
At T2, athletes will be provided with their T2 bag (see packet pick up or FAQ for more info), containing their shoes, socks, etc. The run course will take place entirely on trails within East Bay Municipal Utility District Trails. There will be four aid stations on the run course, providing water, HEED, and Hammer Gels, courtesy of race sponsor Hammer Nutrition:
1. Immediately leaving T2
2. At mile 1
3. At mile 3.1 (turn-around point)
4. At mile 4
Packet Pick-Up:
Packet pick up will be available on Friday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Sports Basement, located at 1881 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, and on race morning from 5:30 to 6:30. Please note that when you pick up your packet, you will be given your T1 and T2 bags. At the time that you pick up your packet, you will need to fill up your T2 bag. Please see the FAQ for more information.
Shuttle Bus:
Two, count 'em, two 28-person shuttle buses will be available to shuttle you and your BFF, bicycle or otherwise, from T2 (Briones Reservoir) to T1 (Tilden Park). The buses will leave T2 every half hour, starting at 10:00 am, up until 1:30 pm.
Spectator Info:
The Golden Bearathlon features TWO transition area for TWICE the fun. This means that some care must be taken with regards to transportation logistics. A shuttle will be provided to transport athletes and their trusty steed-bikes back to T1. **Please note that NO CARS will be allowed to leave the parking lot at Lake Anza (T1) until all athletes have started the bike leg. Those who wish to leave earlier would be wise to seek parking elsewhere and walk to T1.
Swag:
As a finisher of the 2010 Golden Bearathlon, your swag will be pretty cool. You will receive:
a.) a high quality tech shirt (see note below)
b.) your choice of a print or digital copy of an official race photo (you choose which photo), courtesy of ImageArts Photography.
c.) race goody bag with offers and promotions from our sponsors, and product samples.
Note: If you do not sign up before 3/16/2010, you will NOT be guaranteed to receive a t-shirt, or a t-shirt in your size. Shirts are ordered that day, according to the participants who have already signed up. Extra shirts are ordered, but it is impossible to guarantee that everyone will be able to receive one, and receive one in their size. Thanks for understanding.
Awards:
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 male and female collegiate and non-collegiate winners, as well as the fastest male and female collegiate and non collegiate swim, bike, and run times. Got all that? In addition, all age group winners will receive a prize.
Start Times:
The Golden Bearathlon will feature wave starts! Exciting. Note that due to the small size of Lake Anza, unusually long wave interval times must be used. Wave starts will follow the schedule below:
6:45 am: Mandatory Pre-event Safety Meeting
7:00 am: Collegiate Men and Women
7:25 am: All Men
7:45 am: All Women
FAQ:
Q: How does the two transition area thing work?
A: Due to the separate transition areas, you will have a T1 and T2 bag. You will receive them when you register, either on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. The T1 bag stays empty. Leave it where your bike was in T1 and put your wetsuit, goggles, and everything you would like transported to the finish line. All T1 bags will be dropped off at T2/finish line for racers to collect. Note that once the last cyclist has left T1, we will break down the bike racks and T1, and the park will open to the public, so we are not responsible for anything left behind not in a T1 bag.
As for the T2 bag, when you register (either the day before or race morning) you must put everything you need at T2--such as shoes, socks, sunglasses, etc--into the bag. T2 bags will be ready and waiting for you when you get off the bike. If you do not drop off your T2 bag by 6:30 on race morning, we do not guarantee that it will be there for you at T2--so plan ahead!
Q: What will the weather be like?
A: Weather varies widely this time of year in Berkeley; it could be hot and sunny or cold and windy; be prepared!
Q: How will my bike fit on the shuttle?
A: Very carefully. Make friends with your fellow triathletes on the bus. Don't worry; it's not a long ride!
Directions:
Click here for directions.