Who is Tri for Life?
Tri for Life is a newly registered charity, set up to organise an inaugural mini triathlon event to raise money for charity. The event will be suitable for novices and experienced participants alike, with individuals and teams able to enter, in what will be a fun family day out.
What is the Event?
The event is a sprint distance triathlon, taking place on Sunday 21 September 2008 at the picturesque setting of Dorney Lake, Eton, Nr Windsor, to be run by the premier triathlon event organisers in the UK, Human Race. The hope is that it will become an annual charitable event. All proceeds raised will be distributed to six different and worthwhile charities, namely Rays of Sunshine, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Teenage Cancer Trust, World Jewish Relief, MTV Staying Alive Foundation and The Employment Resource Centre.
Who is Human Race?
Human Race is an organisation that runs many triathlon and other sporting events. It is a highly respected organisation within the world of triathlon and it will be running all the logistics for the event on the day. Amongst the many events it organises is the award winning Royal Windsor Triathlon. For more details, please visit the website www.humanrace.co.uk
How much does it cost to enter?
The registration fees for the event are as follows:
Juniors (aged 14 to 18): £25;
Adults (aged over 18): £50;
Relay junior team (all team members are aged between 14 and 18): £75 per team;
Relay adult / corporate team: £150 per team.
Relay teams must consist of at least two people. Relay teams made up of juniors and adults will be classified as an adult team for the purposes of registration fees and sponsorship targets.
Please note that the registration fees are non-refundable.
How do I enter?
There are three ways to enter:
What are the sponsorship targets?
All entrants are being asked to raise a minimum amount by way of sponsorship.
Juniors: £250;
Adults: £500;
Relay junior team: £750;
Relay adult team: £750;
Relay corporate team: £2,000.
You can find a sample sponsorship form for your use on this site.
How do I know I am entered in the event?
Once payment has been taken for your registration fee, this serves as confirmation of your entry.
Prior to the event you will receive by post a race entry pack. This will set out all relevant information, and provide you with details that you will need in terms of the day itself (i.e. start times, race course, etc). This pack will also include a sample sponsorship letter that you might wish to use when asking people to sponsor you.
How do I raise sponsorship money?
We have registered the Tri for Life event with Justgiving. It is quick and easy to use, and allows you to set up a customised page which you can ask friends and family to visit in order to make donations. Alternatively, you can collect cheques and/or cash, and pass this over to Tri for Life (post cheques to Tri For Life, C/o Sima Halai, Mowbray House, 58/70 Edgware Way, London HA8 8DJ). If you do choose to collect cash/cheques, you might find it helpful to refer to the sample sponsorship form on this site.
What is the event course like?
Dorney Lake and the surrounding area is a superb facility. Both the bike (around the lake) and run (alongside the lake) elements of the event are on a flat, closed private circuit, clearly visible to spectators around the lake perimeter.
What equipment do I need?
For the swim you will need a wetsuit (which can be hired from many places such as Sigma Sports or Tri and Run and goggles. The wetsuit will not only keep you warm in the water but will also assist with buoyancy. Don’t forget to practice swimming in your wetsuit before the event, as well as taking it off!
For the cycle you will, of course, need a bike and a cycle helmet. Any bike will do and you do not need a special bike to complete the course. We are trying to make arrangements to have bikes available on the day, although this is not yet confirmed. The course is totally flat and is on a closed private road circuit.
For the run, it is just your trainers (with a top and shorts)! As with the cycle, it is a totally flat course.
For more information, please see the triathlon tips section in the website.
Can I hire a bike or do I need to bring my own?
We are trying to make arrangements to have bikes available on the day although, for the time being, you should assume that you will need to bring your own bike. If this is the only thing stopping you entering, please let us know and we will see if we can help.
Can I wear running shoes for my cycle?
Yes. Any bike will do for the event so you can simply use your running trainers for the cycle.
How will Human Race cope with so many people taking part in the event at the same time?
All entrants will be sorted into ‘waves’ according to age and ability. The day itself is then staggered as different waves commence at different times. The wave times will be sent to you in your race entry pack nearer to the date of the event.
What time will the event start?
The day will not start before 9am, with the last wave expected to start no later than 3pm.
How do I get my bike to the venue – will you be putting on transport?
No. Most bikes can easily fit into most cars. If you don’t have a rack, simply take off the front wheel, put your back seats down and you’re away!
Can I arrive early?
Yes. There are plenty of viewing facilities, but the “transition” area (i.e. the place where bikes and other race equipment is kept) will be restricted to competitors. This area is secure and your belongings will be kept by your specific competitor position within the area, as indicated by your race number.
Will the event still take place if the weather turns bad?
Yes, it will just mean we will need umbrellas on hand to support the entrants.
Is this a good day out for my friends and family?
Yes. There will be on-site catering, and various activities for young children will be organised for the day. The venue is such that you can virtually see the swimmers, cyclists and runners at the same time without having to move around too much.
Can my friends / relatives / children etc come into the transition area with me?
No. They will be restricted to the viewing areas, but you will find these are very close and you will be able to communicate with them easily.
Can I nominate the charities to which I want my sponsorship money to go?
No. All monies raised will go into a central fund and allocated to the specified charities in the proportions as set out on the charities page on this website.