2013 4th Lech Lech Triathlon Scheduled:
Saturday -- June 15, 2013 -- 8:05 A.M.
About the name, the history, and this year's charity....
Q. What does Lech-Lecha stand for?
A. Lech-Lecha, Lekh-Lekha, or Lech-L'cha (לֶךְ-לְךָ — Hebrew for "go!" or "leave!" or "go for you" Perhaps a modern translation would be get up and do it for yourself. It is a biblical concept found in Genesis 12 when God calls Abram to leave to a new, foreign land. He had to leave in order to go to a new place. In order to succeed at at any action and especially something new it require that we let go of something and move forward. The word "decide" means to cut away or to cut away any other option. We hope that you decide to join us this year at the Lech Lecha Triathlon. Cut away the other options, have some fun, support a neighborhood 501(c)3, and just do it. Lech-Lecha!
Q. What is Pebbles and Stones, this year's 501(c)3 charity?
Pebbles and Stones is an international, intergenerational Christian ministry that encourages God’s children of all ages to listen to His voice and respond to Him. As they do, they experience the great commandment of loving God and loving each other in the communities in which they live. This love, then, compels them to fulfill the great commission of going and making disciples of all nations. Our mission is to intentionally bring the generations together to experience God’s love in community. Kathleen Trock is the founder of Pebbles and Stones, a ministry focused on bringing communities together to experience God’s love. She is a frequent speaker at seminaries, churches, and communities in the U.S. and all over the world; including Ethiopia, Mali, Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, Mexico, Canada and India. She lives in Grandville, Michigan. The girl below with the purple goggles is one of her Pebbles and Stones "children."
A. Lech-Lecha, Lekh-Lekha, or Lech-L'cha (לֶךְ-לְךָ — Hebrew for "go!" or "leave!" or "go for you" Perhaps a modern translation would be get up and do it for yourself. It is a biblical concept found in Genesis 12 when God calls Abram to leave to a new, foreign land. He had to leave in order to go to a new place. In order to succeed at at any action and especially something new it require that we let go of something and move forward. The word "decide" means to cut away or to cut away any other option. We hope that you decide to join us this year at the Lech Lecha Triathlon. Cut away the other options, have some fun, support a neighborhood 501(c)3, and just do it. Lech-Lecha!
Q. What is Pebbles and Stones, this year's 501(c)3 charity?
Pebbles and Stones is an international, intergenerational Christian ministry that encourages God’s children of all ages to listen to His voice and respond to Him. As they do, they experience the great commandment of loving God and loving each other in the communities in which they live. This love, then, compels them to fulfill the great commission of going and making disciples of all nations. Our mission is to intentionally bring the generations together to experience God’s love in community. Kathleen Trock is the founder of Pebbles and Stones, a ministry focused on bringing communities together to experience God’s love. She is a frequent speaker at seminaries, churches, and communities in the U.S. and all over the world; including Ethiopia, Mali, Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, Mexico, Canada and India. She lives in Grandville, Michigan. The girl below with the purple goggles is one of her Pebbles and Stones "children."
Pebble and Stones child
REGISTRATION QUESTIONS:
Q. How do I register?
A. Click the registration button above. Print out the registration form. Complete the registration form. Mail form with a check to the address on the form. Check is made payable to "Pebbles and Stones."
Q. When can we arrive and register on the triathlon day?
A. We ask that you arrive and register after 6:30 A.M and before 7:30 A.M on the day of the triathlon.
Q. When does the triathlon begin?
A. Weather permitting, our goal is to begin the triathlon at or before 8:05 A.M. Opening remarks will be made at the swim staging area, the back yard, at 7:50 A.M.
Q. Is your credit card site secure?
A. Yes, because we do not take credit cards or credit card information.
Q. How do I register a relay team?
A. Unless special arrangements are made no relay teams are allowed. We do make exceptions for injuries and special need participants, however.
Q. Is the Lech Lecha Triathlon a USAT sanctioned event?
A. No.
Q. Will I receive a confirmation packet?
A. No. All registration confirmations will be sent via e-mail.
Q. May I give or sell my slot to someone else?
A. All entries are non-transferable.
Q. Are there any benefits to registering early?
A. Definitely, there is a fee increase as the triathlon dates approach. Also, with our registration, this event is filling more quickly each year, so the risk of not getting into this event is increasing each year.
Q. If my injury and cancellation occurred after the deadline to receive an event credit, what are my options?
A. On a case by case basis you may be eligible to receive an event credit if an injury or emergency occurs within less than 72 hours prior to the event, at the discretion of the triathlon director, Thaddeus Lubbers, only. We will contact you with our decision. Select the contact/comment button above or click here: /contact-us--comments.html.
TRIATHLON SPECIFIC:
Q. What is the order of three events in a triathlon?
A. Swim = first; bike = second; run = third.
Q. Are wet suits allowed in this event?
A. Yes, full and sleeveless wetsuits are allowed, but not required.
Q. What is the water temperature at Suncrest Lake in June?
A. Approximately 74 degrees.
Q. Are the events in Lech Lecha Triathlon on a looped course?
A. Yes, the triathlon is very spectator friendly. The staging area is at one spot. All the events begin and end at the staging area.
Q. What do I need for registration/Packet Pick Up?
A. Prior to triathlon weekend, we send this FAQ document to you. On race day, you must bring a photo ID to have your number applied or to receive your pre-ordered T-Shirt. We use a sharpie pen to apply your number to a thigh and an arm or both arms. You then can set up your bike and run gear in the staging area. Volunteers will be present to assist.
Q. Where do all of the triathlon numbers go?
A. We will have a “gender-appropriate” volunteers to apply your number to a thigh and arm region. We need this to record times at the different stages.
Q. Will chips be used to record your times?
A. No, we record times manually as you pass the staging areas.
Q. Do we record staging area times, transition times?
A. No, we only record when you exit the water, when you complete the bike stage, and when you finish the run portion. Three times are recorded. Remember your transitions times will be in included in your race times although we do not break out separately how long your transition takes.
Q. How do I get my time?
A. After the race is complete we will have a brief meeting to recognize those who competed and how they did in their age divisions. We will then email you a .pdf of all the times of all the participants and their three split times. We will also post these times to the www.trifind.com website.
Q. What is the direction and how is the swim segment laid out?
We swim in a loop in a counter-clock wise direction. Every buoy is 100 yards apart. (4 buoys in the water) We start at buoy 2 in front of our house. (Buoys are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 -- from east to west), swim 200 yards to the west past buoys 3 and circle buoy 4, return toward the east swimming 300 yards from west to east past buoys 3, 2, and circle buoy 1, then 100 yards back to the west, and end up at the starting point in front of buoy 2 which is directly in front of our house.
Q. What is the distance for the Lech Lecha Triathlon?
A. Sprint Distance – 600 Yard Swim, 10.4 Mile Bike, and 2.1 mile run.
Q. When should we be ready to start?
A. Participants should have their bikes racked, transition area gear stowed, and be ready at the water start by 7:45am when the transition area will close for the triathlon. We will have volunteers watching the transition area during all phases of the race.
VOLUNTEERS:
Q. I have family or friends coming that would like to volunteer where you need help. How can they get involved?
A. Volunteers may get involved with the triathlon while having fun watching family and friends. If a family member or friend is interested in volunteering, please click the volunteer button on the menu bar above. We appreciate and always work to overstaff the event to make the triathlon the most enjoyable triathlon you will experience.
Q. How do I get on the list to volunteer?
A. Please click on the contact/comments above or click here: /contact-us--comments.html. Type in volunteer and let us know what you would like to do. A week before the race we will send out a list of volunteer duties, volunteer stations, and volunteer heads for each phase of the triathlon to all those who are willing to help.
SPECTATORS:
Q. Will there be food, vendors, or other activities at the Lech Lecha Triathlon?
A. No, drinks and some after triathlon refreshments will be available to participants after the triathlon.
Q. Are there any fees to watch the triathlon?
A. No, the event is free to all family and friends to come enjoy.
Q. Can I bring my pet?
A. No, in an effort to keep the event area safe and clean and our neighbors happy, pets are not allowed at the Lech Lecha Triathlon. We want to avoid dog fights and do not want to put kids, adults, or your pet at risk.
PARKING:
Q. Where do participants and spectators park?
- on Suncrest Court east of Suncrest Drive, between Suncrest Drive and Kenowa Avenue,
- in the Rivertown Honda dealership parking lot which is directly east of Kenowa Avenue,
- or on Suncrest Court west of the staging area.
Please remember not to block any of our neighbor’s driveways or to park in the staging area.
Q. Where do we unload our gear?
A. Volunteers will be on hand to help unload bikes in the staging area which will be marked, and to help shuttle you back to the staging area if you desire. Volunteers will be present at the staging area before and during the triathlon.
WEATHER POLICY:
The safety of our athletes and volunteers is our primary concern. In the event of inclement weather, every attempt will be made to preserve the safety of everyone involved, and complete the race as scheduled. However, in the event of: If there is light rain, however, we will expect to start on time. If there is light rain, however, we will expect to start on time. However in the event of any unsafe conditions or ....
Lightning- the event will be postponed by 20 minutes. If lightning is closer than 6 miles away at 8:00 AM, then the race will be postponed by 30 minutes. If the lightning continues to be within 6 miles at 9:00 AM, the race will be cancelled.
Rain- the event will NOT be cancelled due to rain alone. Be prepared to start on time if we are experiencing drizzle or light rain. If race officials determine that the bike portion of the race will be unsafe due to wet roads, the race will be changed to a swim-run duathlon. Athletes will be informed of such a change via announcements on race day.
Tornado warning- The race will be cancelled in the event of a tornado warning.
ENTRY FEES WILL NOT BE REFUNDED IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION !
OTHER NOTES:
Rivertown Honda has allowed us to use their parking lot for parking in the past and hopefully in the future. A hearty thank you to Rivertown Honda for being a great neighbor and helping with parking. The parking lot should be accessible throughout the triathlon.
Make sure all automobiles are locked and all items are secured. We are not responsible for theft, damage, or other similar incidents.
The testimony of God's word is always true:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Lech Lecha!"
