Event Information
Welcome to the Race on the Rock in Wyoming!
Hi there and welcome to the Race on the Rock. We are in our third year as a USAT certified event. We hosted at least 70 racers last year including a youth event, and we are anticipating more than 100 this year. There is a lot of information about this race on the race website: www.raceontherock.weebly.com or you can go to our Facebook page: Race on the Rock for up to the date info including the information already posted - specifically we posted a video of the bike route on our Facebook page. I will be posting updates on the Facebook page regularly.
We have now been named a Talent ID Race for the second year as well. We will have some elite youth competitors with us this year again. But the great thing about the Talent ID Series of Races is that it is generally thought of as the Olympic Pipeline. So if you believe your child might have what it takes to be the future face of USA Triathlon this is how they get started. All times for youth racers will be sent to USA Triathlon and their development coordinators.
Remember this race is a high altitude race, the average altitude is about 6300ft. This adds to the difficulty of the race for those not used to training at high altitudes. We are at the top of the Rockies, in the desert plateau, that means our humidity is low, the air is a bit thin, and the temperatures at the start of the race will be somewhere in the 50's. The nice thing about living at the top of the Rockies is that no matter how hot during the day, night time temperatures fall into the low 60's or 50's every night. So you can expect the air to be crisp and cool the morning of the race. Generally being a desert as well we rarely have a lot of rain, we haven't had any rain over the past two years, if it does rain generally it is very light and very short.
As for what you can expect. The race has a pool swim. We are looking at 2018 to relocate the entire race to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, but for now the race starts with a pool swim at the College Aquatic Center. We have counters for you, so you do not have to count laps. You will be sharing a lane with one person, no serpentine, no needing to pass people. You have your own side to a lane. There are a total of 8 lanes in the pool, due to ADA accommodations one and possibly two lanes will be just one swimmer, the lanes are first come first choose. We start with our Olympic Racers at 6am (or as close as possible) Last year we had to delay by 30minutes. If we have a need for a second Olympic heat that will start at 645am. If not, our first sprint racers will take off at 7am and every 30 minutes after that will be the next group. Start times are assigned by order of registration. If the start time is an issue for you, please discuss that with me leading up to the race by email or phone. The number and email are listed. The pool generally is kept at 87-degrees although on the week of the race, the heater is turned off on Friday morning and the pool is allowed to cool for about 24 hours before race time. So the pool temperature will be somewhere near 80-83 degrees. (it isn't as warm as you would think).
The transition area is right outside the Aquatic Center on the lawn of the college. The bike path leaves the college and will head toward White Mountain and the route will take you into subdivisions with very light traffic. We expect to have more police presence this year at intersections stopping traffic for racers, we are also anticipating the city agreeing to allow us to shut down a couple of lanes on two of the roads which are the busiest and most heavily travelled. The roads do have to remain open, as the road we use is the route to the hospital but we hope to have a couple of the lanes closed specifically for the race this year. But most of the bike route is on low traffic subdivision roads.
The run will follow with the bike path with turn-around areas for Olympic and Sprint racers. We will have two to three water/PowerAde stations. We will have one at the Olympic run turn around and one at the Sprint turn around, both of those are also on the bike path and available for that portion of the race as well.
After the race we will have refreshments, music, and eventually awards. Everyone who signs up gets a race t-shirt and a goodie bag. Those who cross the finish line will get the finisher's medal. We have prizes then for the top time finishers. We do broadcast the race live on the college radio station that streams on the internet, so you can give the internet address to friends and family who may want to listen. This year we are also hoping to include video footage.
For those who might be coming in from outside of the local area the directions are simple, take Exit 103 off I-80 and follow the signs to the college. There is plenty of parking on campus. We will have packet pick up at the Bike and Trike the night before the race, I will send out the address and directions to that store in an email after you register.
Remember if you are not a USAT member there is a $15 one day membership fee that helps with insurance costs that will need to be added to the cost of the race. You can pay that online here with the additional donation box on the registration form or you can bring $15 with you on race day. I will email everyone to remind you about the $15 fee if you are not a member of USA Triathlon.
For members of USAT I do have some special prizes this year.
Some of the things that you can do while in town include:
The Wild Horse Loop: Up on White Mountain there is a herd of Wild Mustang Horses. As you drive along the top of the mountain you could come face to face with some of the herd. On top of that mountain as well is Pilot Butte, a prehistoric volcano. It used to be used for navigation from the Oregon Trail to when pilots first took to the skies.
Sand Dunes: on the opposite side of the highway from the entrance to the wild horse loop basically is the entry way to the sand dunes
Flaming Gorge: South from I-80 at Exit 99 you will be able to view this national recreation center. Not only are the sights something, there is also the ability to swim, boat, paddle board, or fish if you so desire.
The College: There are a number of dinosaurs throughout the college. Casts of actual bones found locally have been made and are assembled throughout the college including the T-Rex, the walking tour guide is right at the front desk when you walk in. Last year we had the opportunity to be hosting a Volleyball tournament at the college the same weekend as the race, I don't know the schedule yet but if there is a game, tickets will be available for racers.
Grand Tetons and Yellowstone: if you want to make the race part of a vacation the Grand Teton National Park and of course Yellowstone are only about 3 -4 hours north of the race site. During the drive north you will actually pass the very scenery that you may have seen in Pixar's new film - The Good Dinosaur. Artists with Pixar spent a year in Wyoming finding and duplicating the scenery used in the film. Most of that scenery stretches from Rock Springs to Yellowstone.
Shopping, movies, food: We have plenty of shopping opportunities, a movie theater, and lots of restaurants for anyone's tastes. If you need suggestions just let me know.
