PARTICIPANT GUIDE
To help you feel race ready at the 2025 County Kids of Steel, we have prepared an information sheet to help with the day’s events.
Your triathlon will kick off in the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre (PEFAC) pool, followed by the bike course along Millennium Trail, and finish on the running course eastbound down Main St. Please review your age group distances at countykidsofsteel.ca for your SWIM-BIKE-RUN so you know how far you need to go!
There will be plenty of volunteers along the route to guide and support you throughout the race. While they are there to help, it’s important that each athlete knows to look out for their turnaround points on the bike and run course. These will be clearly marked for each age group with colour-coded signs that match your race bib colour, so keep an eye out for them. We also encourage you to review the course maps ahead of time here.
The Mighty Minis (3-5 year old age category) will stay on the grounds of the facility at all times, swimming in the pool, biking around the empty parking lot and running on the run course on the sod adjacent to the empty parking lot to the finish line
WHAT TO BRING:
Swim:
Arrive dressed in your bathing suit
Swim Goggles (optional)
Swim Cap (provided on the day of once you are in the marshalling area)
Towel (set down by your bike in transition)
Floatation/PFD - Please note: if you would like your child to be wearing a PFD please bring one for them to wear on race day, flutter boards will be available on the pool deck. There is no maximum age limit for PFD use, we encourage anyone who feels they need a PFD to wear one.
Bike:
Bicycle (tires pumped, brakes working and kickstand removed/zip tied)
Helmet (mandatory)
Running Shoes (no CROCs™ or sandals) & Socks (ankle length recommended) *bring another pair of shoes as you will be leaving your running shoes beside your bike in transition zone
Shorts (optional, remember there is no time to change after the swim)
Shirt - your bib must be worn on your shirt – pinned on the front or attached to a race belt
Water bottle
Run:
Nothing extra required
Post-Race
Dry clothes (optional)
CHECK-IN AND RACE KIT PICK UP
Race Kit Pick Up is available on Saturday June 7 from 4:30-7:30 PM and Sunday, June 8 from 7:00-8:15 AM inside PEFAC. Please allow plenty of time for the check-in process as there are additional waivers to sign and body marking to be completed.
Your race kit consists of your race bib (with safety pins to attach it to your shirt), bike tag (to attach to your bike) and swag bag. Please make sure you remember to bring the bib and attach this number to the front of what you wear during your bike and run portions of the race. Do not attach the race bib to swim suits BEFORE the swim. They should be left at your designated bike rack in transition to put on AFTER the swim.
On race day, everyone must be on site with their bikes in the Transition area before 8:30 a.m., and have picked up their race kit, with no exception.
Body Marking will also take place during the check-in process which is where a volunteer will confirm the racers name, birthday and bib number before writing the bib number on the athlete’s arm and leg. This is a safety measure so that racers can be easily identifiable around the course.
Before leaving check-in, please make note of your pre-assigned heat number and swim start time.
Just prior to your swim, a ‘chip timer’ ankle bracelet will be fitted for you and activated during your race. The Mighty Minis race is not timed and therefore, racers aged 3-5 will skip this step, and proceed with the race by heat without a timing chip.
PARKING
Parking for this event, for competitors, will be provided in specific areas of surrounding local businesses including; County Farm Centre, Printcraft, No Frills, Foodland, BMO, Shelin, Benjamin Moore, and the parking lot across Highway 33 from Stormy’s. Please refer to the parking map on our website to review the designated parking KOS areas and ensure you park in one of the designated areas that these local businesses have generously allowed Kids of Steel to use on race day. Parking will not be permitted at the NoFrills gas station. Volunteers will be directing traffic at PEFAC in our “kiss and ride” area for bicycle drop off only. No parking is permitted on site at PEFAC.
Course Areas
TRANSITION AREA
On the morning of the race, between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. – and once you have your race kit, bring your bike into the transition zone. If you have picked up your race kit on Saturday, you may head straight into transition to begin your set-up.
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. An alternative to a basket is laying a towel flat and placing all of the race gear on top of it. Please review the list of “what to bring” above if you’re unsure what you need. Please ask a volunteer if you have any questions about how to set-up your bike and race gear.
Helmets may be hung onto the handlebars of the bike, or placed on the ground beside. Please ensure you remove or zip tie kickstands.
Once the transition area is closed at 8:30 a.m., 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 one will be allowed to add anymore bikes or race gear into transition after 8:30 a.m. Be there promptly or you will miss the race!
During the race, our transition zone volunteers will help to guide athletes back to their assigned bike racks and where needed, help to assist with getting racers ready for the next leg of the course. For our Mighty Minis we will have a dedicated team of volunteers who will be assisting our 3-5 year olds with getting on shoes, shorts, helmets etc.
Once ready for the next leg of the race, signage and volunteers will help direct athletes out the correct entrances/exits of the transition zone.
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. For the Mighty Minis there will be an opportunity before the end of the race to collect bikes and race gear but please await the announcement before removing items.
SWIM/ POOL AREA
Athletes will gather 30 minutes before their swim start time in the upstairs group exercise studio at PEFAC. Look for signage or ask a volunteer if you are unsure where this is.
Athletes will be organized or “marshalled” into their pre-assigned heats and given swim caps. Please note swim caps are encouraged but optional. Once the athletes have been marshalled for the swim, they will be led downstairs by a volunteer and will enter the pool deck area. Due to limited space and safety issues, parents/guardians of children swimming in the ongoing heat will be allowed to see their child in a small viewing area on the pool deck. Parents can access this area through the side door of the pool. Look for signs or ask a volunteer. If your child is NOT swimming in that particular heat, please do not go on the deck. Many volunteers will be available to assist by the pool. Please note that 1 parent/guardian for each participant in the 3-5 year age category ONLY will be allowed to wait with the child in the upstairs marshalling room.
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. A volunteer will assist your child at each turn around point.
Turn around point volunteers will remind riders to make slow, safe turns around their point and guide athletes back towards the transition area.
There will be a clearly marked MOUNT/DISMOUNT line outside of the transition area where athletes will be instructed to get on or get off their bikes. Athletes will be instructed to walk or run their bikes in the area between the transition zone and the MOUNT/DISMOUNT line. Volunteers will be stationed at this line to help remind racers.
RUN COURSE
The run portion is marked by coloured signage and the competitor is responsible to be aware of their turn around – there will be signs colour coded to correspond with their age groups and bib colours telling them where this is. 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. Please note, that only running shoes are permitted for the race, no CROCS™ or sandals.
Parents are NOT permitted on the run course, but we encourage you to cheer from the sidelines – if you have concerns, please notify a volunteer.
Once you have passed the finish line, your ankle bracelet (chip timer) will be removed by a race official and a medal will be awarded. Please enjoy a complimentary lunch and drink for your hard work. You did it! Participants should be proud just for challenging and conquering the County Kids of Steel Triathlon.
COLOUR CODES
Racers' bibs will be colour coded to match their age category:
After the race…
REFRESHMENTS
All racers will receive post-race refreshments and food in the food area near the Finish Line. Food and refreshments for family and friends can be purchased throughout the day from the BBQ provided by the Picton Firefighters Association. There are also many food options within Picton for post-race meals.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Once the last athlete has crossed the finish line an awards ceremony will commence recognizing the top three female and male athletes in each age group (with the exception of Mighty Minis as they are untimed). In addition, special awards will be given out recognizing two athletes who display positivity, dedication, and inspiring attitude. This is also when we will announce the winners of our door prizes for volunteers and parents.
Please be sure to high five and thank our volunteers for their time. The success of the County Kids of Steel Triathlon depends on their commitment and generosity.
Get ready, set… and don’t forget to smile! 😄