University of Vermont Campus Recreation

You'll be receiving an email from us the week of November 11 with details regarding your heat times, your check-in times, and any other information you will need the day of the event. Please check out the information in the tabs below so you have a full understanding of the event. 

The Mini Triathlon has two different divisions that you can self-select based on your preferred level of competition.

Recreational Division:

If you're less competitive and more focused on the social and recreational benefits of competing in a triathlon, then the rec division is your best fit! If you're competing in a triathlon for the first time, or just doing it for fun with friends, sign up for the recreational division. There is no weighing of the different events, all distances traveled will be measured the same way for the final cumulative scoring process.

Competitive Division:

If you’re looking for a competitive environment that focuses on having fun AND going the farthest distance, the competitive division is for you. Distances in the competitive division will be weighed to account for the swimming and biking events. All swimming distances will be multiplied by 4, and all biking distances will be divided by 4.

Arrival

The day will start with optional time in the cycling studio to learn or practice setting up your bike for the cycling portion. Staff will be there to assist you during this early time and there is a video above, under “helpful links”, that shows you how to set up our indoor bikes. 

When you arrive at the gym, please stop by the Rally Cat's Cupboard table to drop off your donation(s). You can then move to the check in table to grab your bib number and swim cap. You may choose to either have your bib number written in sharpie on your skin for the swim, or to lay your bib number at the end of your lane when you swim and attach it to your bike outfit when you change. Next, we will take a picture of you with your bib number to post on our Instagram if you win in any of our categories. You may opt out of this if you choose to. If you are competing in a team, you will only receive one bib number and must transfer it between athletes for each leg of the race. 

The Swim 

Each heat starts in the pool with a 10 minute swim. Please arrive to the pool at least 5 minutes before your heat time so we can ensure a prompt start. There will be someone counting your laps for you, and distance will be measured by how many yards you have swam rounded to the nearest interval of 5. Athletes will start the swim in the pool shallow end, diving in will not be permitted. Each lane will have 2 participants, each participant will be given one side of the lane to swim on. When your swim ends, you will have 10 minutes to change and make it up to the cycling studio. 

The Cycle

The cycling will start promptly at your designated heat time, and will be 20-minutes. Participants will not be allowed to be on their bike (excluding setup adjustments) until their heat starts. Participants will be able to adjust tension as they are cycling. A higher tension means more distance traveled per wheel rotation. You will be asked to take a picture of your distance on the bike at the end of your ride and show it to a staff member so they can record your distance. If you do not have a phone that you can take a picture with, please let the staff know when you arrive. At the end of your ride, you will have 10 minutes to transition to the run/walk/roll in the indoor track.

The Run/Walk/Roll

The run/walk/roll will be 15-minutes long. Please ensure you arrive as quickly as possible so that you can begin promptly at your designated heat time. This leg of the triathlon will be recorded by self-reported distance, and at the end of the 15 minutes you will meet a staff member in the middle of the track to report how far you traveled. You will count and report your distance by completed laps and cones, which will be at each quarter of the track. You will round to the nearest cone at the end of your time. After you're done here, you may leave the event. Please be aware that other athletes will be doing their run/walk/roll while you are leaving, and be mindful not to get in their way as you cross the track to exit. 

Scoring

During each event, your distances will be converted to meters if not already counted that way, and added to an online scoring system which you can check throughout the day. Winners in each of our categories will be announced via our Instagram later in the day, and prizes will be available for pick up the following week at the Campus Recreation front desk. 

If you need accommodations for any of the events, please let us know when you register or reach out to Sam Lacey with any questions. 

In the pool, we have an ADA accessible lift to get in and out of the water, and can provide flotation devices. We can also count distance by water jogging in the shallow end. For the cycling portion, we have a SciFit upper body/hand cycle option. For the run/walk/roll, wheelchairs are welcome to be used on the lower track. If you need more the 10 minutes of transition time between each event, let us know and we can make it happen. Please make sure you have communicated with us ahead of the event if you would like any of these accommodations so we can ensure we are set up to best support your triathlon when you arrive.

Rally Cat's Cupboard is UVM's on-campus, student-run food pantry located on the first floor of the Davis Center. It is available to all members of the UVM community. All of the food donated at this event will go to Rally Cat's Cupboard. Here is their mission statement:

"Rally Cat’s Cupboard is a student-run food pantry at UVM that seeks to address food insecurity among the campus community. We believe the road to success does not have to include struggling with hunger. Through a lens of empathy and understanding, we hope to create a collaborative environment in which we all recognize our common goal of pursuing a higher education.”

Donation expectations: Any unopened, non-expired food can be donated to Rally Cat's Cupboard.  Some recommended donations include but are not limited to: Pasta (Spaghetti), Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, Nut Butters (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.), Juice Cartons, Canned Vegetables, and Rice (Basmati, Jasmine, White and Brown). This is a great chance to go through your own pantry and cupboards and take out those boxes and cans that you and your roommates have had for a while. More information regarding specifics on expiration, sell by, and best by dates on food labels can be found below.

We recommend getting your friends, family, and community involved with the donation process. Feel free to ask around if others would like to donate to support your triathlon and the UVM Community. Here is an example of what you could say: I am excited to say that I will be participating in the UVM Campus Recreation Indoor Mini Triathlon on November 17th. Instead of paying any costs to participate, they are accepting donations to Rally Cat's Cupboard which is the on-campus food pantry at UVM. I am hoping to contribute as much as possible, and would love your support if you have anything you would be willing to donate that I could bring. Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in and able to contribute to.

*If you are food insecure and unable to bring a donation to the event you are still welcome and highly encouraged to participate! Rally Cat's Cupboard staff will be present to talk to during check-in.

The UVM Campus Recreation Mini Triathlon is accepting unopened, non-expired food items. However, there can be different food labels on different items. To help as you are clearing out your pantry and getting donations, here is a breakdown of what can and cannot be accepted at Rally Cat's Cupboard.

Expiration Date:  If you have a product with an expired expiration date, throw it out.  While other dating terms are used as a basic guideline, this one is absolute. Items past their expiration date cannot be accepted at Rally Cat's Cupboard.

Best if Used-By and Use-By date: “Use-By” or "Best if Used-By” dates are a suggestion for when the food item will be at its best quality.  Food is generally safe if consumed past this date, but may have deteriorated in flavor, texture, or appearance.  “Use By” dates are most often found on canned goods, dry goods, condiments, or other shelf stable items.  The Food and Drug Administration is supporting the food industry’s efforts to standardize the use of this on its packaged food labeling. Items past their “Best if Used By” or “Use By” dates can be accepted by Rally Cat's Cupboard.

Sell-By date: Many fresh or prepared foods are labeled with a “Sell-By” date as a guide for how long the item should be displayed for sale before quality deteriorates.  Items are generally safe for consumption after this date, but may begin to lose flavor or eye appeal.  “Sell-By” dates are chosen with the assumption that the buyer may store or eat the item a few days after purchase.  To be sure your food is fresh and will keep at home, it is best not to buy items that are past their “sell by” date. Items past their “Sell By” date can be accepted by Rally Cat's Cupboard.

Guaranteed Fresh: This date is often used for perishable baked goods.  Beyond this date, freshness is no longer guaranteed, although it may still be edible. Items past their “Guaranteed Fresh” date can be accepted by Rally Cat's Cupboard.

(Taken from UCONN College of Agricultue, Health and Natural Resources Extension News, 2019)

Follow this link if you would like to learn more about best by, use by, expiration, and other food label dates while looking through your pantries.