| Hosting a triathlon takes quite a lot of planning and | | | | It will also be necessary to have a race timing |
| organization because of the complexity of the event. | | | | system and finish line clock in place. |
| If you were planning to host a marathon, at least | | | | Hosting a triathlon means getting things started long |
| you know you are dealing with one event and it | | | | before race day. There are entry forms to get out |
| makes the organization of the event much less | | | | and process when they are received. You will also |
| difficult. | | | | need plenty of volunteers to help out on all parts of |
| With a triathlon, you must have a body of water for | | | | the course and that might be the most important |
| the swim. It must have a large enough beach-front | | | | aspect of the organizing. Often, it is the volunteers |
| to accommodate all the athletes that will be taking | | | | who will determine if the race if a success or not. |
| part. | | | | Once all the entries are received, it will be necessary |
| The swim will also have to be closely monitored for | | | | to have a registration venue where the athletes can |
| safety purposes and sufficient life-guard support | | | | pick up this race packets. Often these packets will |
| must be available out on the water during the course | | | | include their numbered swim cap, timing chip, race |
| of the swim portion of the race. often canoes and | | | | numbers, and pertinent race information. |
| kayaks are the best option because of their | | | | Sponsors should also be approached for such things |
| maneuverability. Some races will even have scuba | | | | as drink and food donations for the race. Many |
| divers out on the course. The course itself must be | | | | companies will be glad to do this as it is great |
| properly marked so the contestants know where the | | | | advertising for their business. Often races will have a |
| turns are. | | | | pre-race dinner a night or two before the race. After |
| The bike course will also have to be clearly marked | | | | the race there is normally an opportunity for the |
| and often the course will be marked in 5 km | | | | athletes to have something to eat and drink while |
| intervals, and the length of the bike leg will determine | | | | the awards ceremony is taking place. Don't forget to |
| how many aid stations you will set up to supply food | | | | buy the medals, trophies, or any other prizes you |
| and water to the bikers as they reach each station. | | | | hope to award the winners. |
| The run course is marking is quite similar to the bike | | | | It will be necessary to have all the proper legal |
| course and as a rule there is an aid station at regular | | | | paperwork in order to hold your event. This is |
| intervals through-out the course. Of course the | | | | especially true if you plan on closing off any |
| amount of aid stations will depend on how long the | | | | roadways. In that case you might also have to pay |
| race is. A 10 km run for instance, might have only a | | | | for a police presence to make sure everything goes |
| few aid stations. On the other hand an Ironman | | | | smoothly and the contestants are safe out on the |
| triathlon will have aid stations at every mile on the | | | | roadways. |
| course. | | | | Once the race is over, be sure you have enough |
| There will have to be an area set aside to hold the | | | | volunteers staying around to help take down and |
| bikes, and for longer races, you might also need to | | | | clean up the race area. You might also want to |
| supply change tents and a medical tent. It might also | | | | inform the local media so they can enter the results |
| be necessary to have an ambulance out on the bike | | | | in the local papers the next day, or perhaps a T.V. |
| and run courses, especially in longer races. Even in | | | | station might want to come out and do a story on |
| shorter races, an ambulance should be at the race | | | | the event. |
| site in case of emergency. | | | | |