- What is tri for life?
- Which events can we enter?
- How do I enter?
- How much does it cost to enter?
- What are the sponsorship targets?
- What equipment do I need?
- Can I hire a bike?
- Can I wear running shoes for my cycle?
- What is the event course like?
- How do I know I am entered in the event?
- How do I raise sponsorship money?
- How does the minimum sponsorship work?
- What time will the event start?
- How do I get my bike to the venue – will you be putting on transport?
- Can I arrive early?
- Will the event still take place if the weather turns bad?
- Is this a good day out for my friends and family?
- Can my friends / relatives / children etc come into the transition area with me?
- Can I nominate the charities to which I want my sponsorship money to go?
- Who are Big Cow?
- How will Big Cow cope with so many people taking part in the event at the same time?
- Tell me more about the course
- What is tri for life?
- tri for life is a registered charity with a simple ambition; to provide a fantastic multisport event for as many participants and their families as possible and encourage them to raise money for charity along the way. 2012 will be the fifth tri for life event and the first ever triathlon to be held in the beautiful surroundings of Woburn Abbey. To-date, tri for life has raised £815,000 and with your support, 2012 will be the year we break the £1m mark.
- Which events can we enter?
- The events on offer are:
1. Short distance triathlon (16 and over) (400m/20km/5km)
2. Medium distance triathlon (18 and over) (800m/30km/7.5km)
3. Long distance triathlon (18 and over) (1500m/40km/10km)
4. 10k run (16 and over) NEW for 2012
5. Scootathlon (4yrs to 8yrs) (400m scoot, 400m cycle, 250m run)
6. Kids duathlon (9yrs to 15yrs) (500m/3k/500m) - How do I enter?
- Visit www.triforlife.co.uk and enter online by clicking the Enter Now button. Any queries, email us at info@triforlife.co.uk
- How much does it cost to enter?
- The registration fees for the events are as follows:
- Short distance triathlon
- individual entry for adults (aged 16 and above as at 31 December 2012): £70
- Medium distance triathlon
- individual entry for adults (aged 18 and above as at 31 December 2012): £70
- Long distance triathlon
- individual entry for adults (aged 18 and above as at 31 December 2012): £70
- Short distance triathlon
- relay entry for adults (all team members aged 16 and above as at 31 December 2012): £200 per team
- Medium distance triathlon
- relay entry for adults (all team members aged 18 and above as at 31 December 2012): £200 per team
- Long distance triathlon
- relay entry for adults (all team members aged 18 and above as at 31 December 2012): £200 per team
- 10k run
- (aged 16 and above as at 31 December 2012): £30
- Scootathlon
- (aged 4 to 8 as at race day): £20
- Kids duathlon
- (aged 9 to 15 as at race day): £25
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 the registration fees.
Please note that registration fees are non-refundable - What are the sponsorship targets?
- All entrants aged 18 or over are asked to raise a minimum amount by way of sponsorship and it is a condition of entry that entrants raise the minimum amounts set. No minimum sponsorship = no race! Sorry, but it’s all about raising money for charity as well as having a fun and challenging day out.
- Individuals participating in the triathlon
- £200
- Individuals participating in the 10k run
- £100
- Relay teams
- £500 per team
Under 18’s participants are not required to raise any money by way of sponsorship.
- What equipment do I need?
- For the swim you will need a wetsuit, swim hat (provided by us) and goggles. The wetsuit will not only keep you warm in the water but will also assist with buoyancy. Click HERE to hire a wetsuit for £35. Don’t forget to practice swimming in your wetsuit before the event, as well as taking it off! Visit the tri for life official retail partner, B2P sports at www.b2psports.com. They can help you with all the kit you need.
For the cycle you will, of course, need a bike and a cycle helmet. No-one will be allowed to race without a helmet. We do have a bike hire service on offer and bookings for bikes can be made online. Click HERE to hire a bike. All road bikes cost £37.50 to hire for the day. Bike mechanics will be available on the day to fix any punctures or help with seat height adjustments. The course is on a closed private road circuit, no cars anywhere (maybe just the odd deer).
For the run, you just need your trainers (with a running top and running shorts).
- Can I hire a bike?
- Yes. We are delighted to have teamed up with totally bikes (www.totally-bikes.com) who have a special offer available for all tri for life participants. You can hire a road bike from them for the day for £37.50. Simply book it online and the bike will be ready and waiting for you. The team at totally bikes will make any adjustments you need to make the ride more comfortable. Click HERE to hire a bike. Note that you will need to bring your own helmet as these cannot be rented and you will not be allowed to take part if you do not have one.
- Can I wear running shoes for my cycle?
- Yes you can simply use your running trainers for the cycle. If you are hiring a bike from our bike hire partner (www.totally-bikes.com), please make sure they know you need pedals for regular trainers.
- What is the event course like?
- Woburn Abbey is a stunning venue and we are privileged to be the first triathlon ever to be held there. Both the bike and the run are on closed roads within the estate, so nothing to worry about other than the odd deer who might have a look at you as you run past.
- How do I know I am entered in the event?
- Once payment has been taken for your registration fee, your email receipt serves as confirmation of your entry.
A few weeks before the event, in early September 2012, you will be emailed race entry information which will provide you with all the details you need regarding the day itself, your race times, the course info etc. - How do I raise sponsorship money?
- Sponsorship money can be raised in the following ways:
1. Online through Justgiving.com
2. Online through Virgin Money Giving
3. Using our tri for life sponsorship form. Click here to download.
4. Sending a cheque, made payable to tri for life, to tri for life, ℅ Sima Halai, 45/46 Berners Street, London W1T 3NEIf you use Justgiving or Virgin Money Giving, when you set up your page, make sure that you select tri for life as the charity you are competing the event for, and not our individual charity partners. tri for life is registered with both Justgiving and Virgin Money Giving as a charity in its own right.
- How does the minimum sponsorship work?
- It is a condition of entry that each participant over 18 raises the minimum sponsorship money “no minimum sponsorship=no race”. We at tri for life will reconcile every participant entered with the money raised. Anyone who has not raised the minimum amount will be asked to pay this on the day otherwise entry to the registration tent will not be permitted. You have been warned! Remember, we’re all about having a great day out and supporting worthwhile causes in the process.
If you have raised your money through Justgiving or Virgin Money then there is nothing you need do as we will obtain data on all amounts raised. If you are sending us your money in the post then please email us at info@triforlife.co.uk to let us know.
You can give us your sponsorship money on the day if that would be easier. There will be tri for life crew available on the day, specifically there to collect money raised from participants.
- What time will the event start?
- The kids events will be first and whilst exact timings are yet to be finalized, it is likely that the scootathlon will commence around 9.30am.
- How do I get my bike to the venue – will you be putting on transport?
- No. The majority of bikes can easily fit into most cars. If you don’t have a rack, simply take off the front wheel and put your back seats down.
- 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. As well as on-site catering and lots of activities for children (face painters, bouncy castle, go-karts), the venue is such that you can see the swimmers, cyclists and runners very easily, therefore great fun to support. Don’t forget there is the stunning Woburn Abbey (www.woburn.co.uk/abbey) and its gardens to visit, not to mention Woburn Safari Park (www.woburn.co.uk/safari) nearby.
- 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 that these are very close and you can easily hear them cheering you on
- Can I nominate the charities to which I want my sponsorship money to go?
- Once you have raised the minimum amount of sponsorship and paid this to tri for life, you are more than welcome to raise any additional money for a separate charity of your choice. Let us know if this is what you want to do.
- Who are Big Cow?
- Started in 2003 by five triathletes from Milton Keynes, Big Cow will be handling all logistical elements of tri for life. We are absolutely delighted to be working with them and they will be doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the day runs to plan and that you have an unforgettable experience. If you enjoy tri for life, why not try out one of their other events – www.big-cow.com.
- How will Big Cow 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 gender. The day itself is then staggered as different waves commence at different times. The wave times will be sent to you by email nearer to the event.
- Tell me more about the course
- The whole event centres around Woburn Abbey, the magnificent ancestral home of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford. Transition and the children’s entertainment area will be located right in front of the house with the Abbey’s grand façade the backdrop to your whole race.
The swim will be either one or two loops of the ornamental lake that sits in front of the Abbey, depending upon which event you have entered. At no point is the lake deeper than shoulder depth and this, together with the presence of a well trained water safety crew, should reassure any nervous open water swimmers.
Following your swim you will exit the lake and enter transition, some 30m away, where you will collect your bike, put on your helmet, and make a number of laps of the road that loops around the Abbey and undulates gently through the famous deer park. You will be afforded fabulous views of the grounds before returning over the lake bridge and past the front of the Abbey. If you have brought your family and friends with you they will be able to cheer you on each time you pass around the front of the Abbey, that’s if they aren’t too busy taking advantage of the entertainment available.
Once you have completed the appropriate number of laps you will return to transition, rack your bike and start your run. Again you will complete one to four laps depending upon your event, each lap passing transition and your supporters, running between the lakes and away from the Abbey to the farthest point, all on the grass of the deer park and in full view of the Abbey and the watching crowds.
Crossing the finish line, as well as being a welcome relief, will climax your race experience. Pom Pom girls, much cheering, the race announcer shouting your name and a well earned drink and something to eat. All that will remain will be to bask in a sense of achievement and the rest of the day to perhaps enjoy the formal gardens, the safari park or something from the caterers!
