Swim (event #1)

The first leg in the TRI! 400 yards of fun in the pool! This year’s event will be a snake swim format. See below for key information on the snake swim. A map of the Bartlett pool area and snake swim format will be available soon.

What is a snake swim?

Snake swim is a format where swimmers all enter the pool from the same lane/start with 20 seconds space between each racer. Racers swim the length of the lane, turn at the wall and then swim back down the same lane on the other side – completing a full lap (50 yards). With the first lap complete, racers then swim under the lane line, entering the next lane and proceed in the same manner as they did in lap one. They will continue snaking up and down the lanes until completing the 400-yard/16 lengths/8 lap/lane snake swim.

Why a snake swim

The snake swim format allows us to manage distancing and other safety requirements throughout the entire swim from on-deck staging prior to entering the water, to the actual swim itself (minimizing the number of times people swim adjacent to each other and crowding when exiting the swim). It also requires less volunteers, resulting in significantly less people in the pool area and keeping people spread out.

GNT has done the snake swim since 2021, and racers shared how much they enjoyed the predictability of the snake swim. Knowing, almost to the minute, when they would actually start their race, and not having long wait times on deck was a huge plus! “Less-stressful” was used numerous times by many of the racers to describe their swim experience last year

What are the rules for snake swimming?

Layout of the snake swim to come. However what you really want to know is, ‘can I pass’ or ‘where do I pass, right?

Yes! You can pass and pretty much anywhere that is safe to do so. Short answer…….be careful. Long answer…….if you are going to pass you MUST look up first to assess no one is coming towards you that you might run into while passing. If it is safe to do so then yes, feel free to pass. If it is not safe to pass, simply tap the person in front of you on the foot signaling to that person they need to pull over when they get to the wall and let you pass.

What if I get tapped? So, if you’re the one that is getting their foot tapped please be respectful and move over at the wall, let that person kick off before you and then slide in to position right behind them.

Get all the information you need about the swim here.

Honorary Starters

2023 Honorary Starters Race Founders: Judy Sedwick, Diane Barnett, Marianne Wieland The Gold Nugget Triathlon Board of Directors are pleased to announce the GNT’s race founders, Judy Sedwick, Diane Barnett,…

     

Sport Tattoo’s

gear, swim
Body Marking — race tattoos — sport tattoo. You will hear it called many things! You will receive two strips in your race packet. Use one strip (logo and all)…

     

Cut Off Times

bike, day of race, logistics, race rules, run, swim, training, transition
Are there cut off times for each of the Tri events? Yes, there are cut off times: Swim – 40 minutes Bike – 2:30 hours Run – 1:30 hours Please…

     

Lap Counting and Timing

swim
SWIM TIMING and LAP COUNTING Timing  Your official swim time will begin when the timing device for your bib number is activated as you push off of the pool wall.…

     

Know your 400 yard swim time

swim
Why do I need to know how fast I swim 400 yards? Due to the nature of a snake swim it is imperative that we know your estimated swim time…

     

Timing Mats are tricky

swim, transition
TIMING MATS What if I need to use the restroom before I swim? May I use the toilets in the locker room? Yes, (read this carefully now) BUT YOU MUST…

     

Transition Area 1

bike, race rules, swim, transition
TRANSITION AREA 1 (T1 – Bartlett High School) This is the swim-to-bike transition area. It is called T1! Also known to some as the Bike Corral. When you leave the…

     

Ready. Set. Go!

swim
Ready. Set. Go! Swim timing. Your official swim time will begin when the timing device for your bib number is activated as you push off of the pool wall. When…

     

Once inside the Pool – What’s up now?

swim
What do I do when I get to the pool building? For starters: Bib number start times will be posted on the GNT website at least two weeks prior to…

     

Showering after the Swim

race rules, swim
May I take a shower after my swim or change my clothes? Pool Locker Room – Racers may not take showers in the pool locker room during your transition from…