Kids Course - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We don't check IDs when a child registers or at packet pickup. As a parent, you probably have a pretty good sense of your child's physical abilities and where their head is at. If your 5-year-old is enthusiastic about the sport and can realistically participate in all three legs of the kid's triathlon, sign 'em up.
The kids' swim course parallels the shore and gives the kids an option of swimming at different water depths. All the kids initially slosh into the water towards the first turn buoy. If the turn directly at the buoy they will be in water about 2.5-feet deep. So even the smallest kids can put their feet down and slosh along the entire course length. If they really want to swim (which is faster then sloshing), they should move out into the lake past the turn buoy by about 8 feet, then turn. At this point they will be in water that is about 4.5 feet deep and easy to swim in. At the final turn buoy, they will turn back towards shore and slosh back into the sand.
There's an informal memo on our website that provides an overview of what you and your child can expect at our event. We recommend you give this a read at (http://www.issaquahtri.com/Public/Docs/KidTips-1.pdf). You should also go to the Course Map link on the web site print both the Kids Triathlon Course Map and the course description document. Once you and your child have studied these documents together, you'll have a better understanding of how the race will flow. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us info@issaquahtri.com
The focus of our Kids Triathlon is fun and on learning the basics of triathlon. We like to emphasize the unique sense of accomplishment that comes with completing the event. As they cross the Finish Line, each kid will receive a Finisher Award, and they get a commemorative shirt in their race packet. We list race results in alphabetical order so that each kid can focus on their own results. To be honest, this approach also helps to curtail issues when the parents of the young participants get a bit too, uh, competitive about their kids performance (yes, it happens) or there is some question as to whether a kid did the correct number of laps, started in the correct wave, etc. If a child is interested in getting more involved in triathlon, we recommend looking into the USAT's youth triathlon program. Check out http://www.usatriathlon.org/AthleteFocus/Youth.aspx for more details.
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