Rochester Area Triathletes (RATs) Run-Bike-Run Description

April 6 marks the first Run-Bike-Run (RBR) of the 2011 RATs season and it will be held here in Canandaigua, NY (providing that the weather cooperates).  Attendees will meet in the parking lot of the Steamboat Landing restaurant and the workout will commence across the street on the nature trails that comprise the first portion of the Finger Lakes Triathlon run course.

Run Course Start Location/Transition Area

Nice Tri has laid out a great course that is slightly different than other RBR's that you may have attended, and the differences are worth mentioning.  We have published a video on our YouTube coaching channel that describes the course and some of the key elements, but here is a written description of the courses and rules.


The event will start at 1830, and all athletes are encouraged to show up by 1800 to make sure that they're signed up and ready to start on time.  A briefing of the course will be given at 1820 just before the start of the event.


We will run two laps on the 1 mile course.  Runners will be issued a number when they sign up for the RBR, and need to remember that number throughout the event.  Orange markers will signify the portion of the course that the athlete will need to shout out their assigned number.  If they don't shout out their number, they will not receive a time for that portion of the course.


After the run, the athletes will change into their bike gear and will mount their bicycles on the same side of the road as the transition area.  The athlete is not to cross the road until all traffic is clear.  It is not necessary to rush at this point, since the timing will not begin until the athlete has left the area and has started cycling.  In other words, you will not be timed in the transition area as it will be considered a "free zone".  You can take 1 minute or 5 minutes to transition, and the course timing will not begin until you are started back out on the course.


After biking out, the cyclist will head East on Lakeshore Drive and will turn right at the traffic signal in approximately 1/2 mile.  The course will then head south on East Lake Road until the 6.5 mile point.  Mileage markers will be spray painted in orange in the bike lane every mile, and the turnaround area will be marked brightly as well with orange paint.  The athlete must ensure that all traffic is clear before executing a course reversal maneuver.


The bike course will end at the East Lake/Lakeshore Drive traffic signal, and there will be a worker there that will take your time when you cross an orange line spray painted in the bike lane.  The athlete must yell their number again at this point in order to have their time counted.  The athlete will then wait until traffic clears (and the light turns green) to ride another "free zone" back to the transition area.  After transitioning once again, the athlete will then run two more laps around the same run area and will once again yell their number when they cross the orange markers.

Bike Course Turnaround at Mile 6.5

In summary:
1.  This is not a race.  It is a timed workout.
2.  The athlete must be a member of the RATs to participate
3.  The athlete is responsible for his/her own safety
4.  If you don't yell your number when you cross an orange marker on the run or at the end of the bike, you will not receive a time for that day
5.  Please ride safely and have fun.


Maps of the courses are attached below.


So please tell your friends to come out and enjoy the Nice Tri Multisport Coaching RATs Run Bike Run on April 6!  Please make sure you subscribe to our Facebook and blog and are on the RATs email list to get an update on this and other RBR's in the area.