MARSHALLING 

We ask that all competitors be in the upstairs viewing room at least 30 minutes prior to their swim time (time your heat begins to swim in the pool), to be marshalled. There will be lists of approximate swim times (heat sheets) posted in the Marking Room. These times may vary – it is your responsibility not to miss your race start time. Just prior to your swim, a ‘chip time’ ankle bracelet will be fitted for you and activated during your race. Please check at the PEFAC Body Marking Room for your start time in the pool.

POOL AREA

Once the athletes have been marshalled for the swim in the upstairs fitness room at PEFAC, parents of the Mighty Minis (3-5 yo) may stay with their child until they enter the pool deck area. Due to limited space and safety issues, parents/guardians of children swimming the ongoing heat will be allowed to see their child in a small viewing area on the pool deck. If your child is NOT swimming that particular heat, please do not go on the deck. Many volunteers will be available to assist by the pool.

TRANSITION AREA 

On the morning of the race, between the designated hours – and after receiving your race kit if you are picking it up that morning – bring your bike into the transition zone. Place your bike on the rack with the matching number to your bib number – there will be volunteers there to assist you with this. Your bike must have a sticker showing your race bib number (it will be with your bib) and helmets should be fit checked by the parents before race day. For security reasons, after the race, the number on the bicycle sticker must match the race bib number in order to claim your bicycle.

Parents may accompany their children into the transition zone to help them set up; pre-race only. Some athletes like to place a small basket beside the back wheel of their bike in which to place their articles including their towel, socks, running shoes, shirt with the bib attached to the front, water bottle, and any other items to help them with their race.

Helmets may be hung onto the handle bars of the bike, or placed on the ground beside.

Once the transition area is closed, parents will NOT be allowed entrance until the race is complete and the last competitor has crossed the finish line. This will be strictly enforced.

Please alert a volunteer in the transition area if you have any concerns about your child. No bicycles will be allowed in to the transition area after 8:30 a.m. Be there promptly or you will miss the race!

After the last competitor has crossed the finish line the transition zone will be opened up for bike retrieval. For security reasons, the number on the bicycle sticker must match the race bib number in order to claim your bicycle.

BIKE COURSE

The bike portion of the race has many volunteers, radio operators and police officers. The course is clearly marked and blocked to through traffic – it is important to stress to the children to use normal caution while riding a bicycle. There will be other competitors coming the other way and the cyclists need to stay to the right of the lane. As the County Kids of Steel is an equal opportunity event, you may see different types of bikes on the course, please respect your fellow athletes.

Each competitor is responsible to be aware of where their turn around is; so we encourage parents to try to show them prior to the race. The volunteers will be there to help all of the children with this. The children’s race bibs are colour coded (see below) indicating their turn around point. New this year, coloured balloons will be added to mark the turn around point. A volunteer will assist your child at each turn around point.

RUN COURSE 

The run portion is marked by balloons and again, the competitor is responsible to be aware of their turn around – there will be signs telling them where this is and again the volunteers will help them as much as possible. As the County Kids of Steel is an equal opportunity event, athletes are reminded to respect fellow runners with varying speeds and abilities on the trail.

There is water available along the run course and we encourage the athletes to drink as they go, especially if it is a hot day. 

Parents are not permitted onto the run course – if you have concerns, please notify a volunteer.