What you need to know about the 2012 Patriot
This page contains important information and answers to basic questions about the 2012 Patriot Half. Updates will be made to the site periodically so check back often. For details on the swim, bike and run courses visit the Course Info page. The Patriot is a USAT sanctioned events and managed by a USAT certified Race Director. If you have any questions that aren't answered by the information on this website email us at info@SunMultisportEvents.com and stay up to date with the latest news on the Patriot and other Sun Multisport Event productions when you become a fan on Facebook.
Event Date and Location:
The Patriot Half will be on Saturday, June 16, 2012. The first Patriot wave will be sent off at 7:00AM. The site of the race is Cathedral Camp located at 167 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, MA on the shores of Long Pond.
Parking:
There are two areas to park on the grounds of Cathedral Camp: the EAST and WEST parking areas can be seen on the aerial map you can print with a click here. Note that both lots will be open at 5AM and that cars parked in the WEST lot will be unable to leave until all Patriot Half athletes have completed the bike portion of the race (est. time: 1:00PM).
Beneficiaries of the 2012 Patriot: 
A portion of the proceeds from the Patriot Half go to the Cathedral Camp day camp for disadvantaged children and to the various community groups that volunteer to help produce the event including the Freetown Youth Athletic Association, Whitman Food Pantry, Middleborough Demolay, East Bridgewater Kiwanis and Lakeville Eagles. Our official Charity Partner for the 2012 Patriot Half is ReservAid, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to US military reservists. Click here to learn more about ReserveAid and how you can help further.
Event Distance:
Swim: 1.2 miles; Bike 56 miles (2-loop course); Run: 13.1 miles (1 loop)
Entry Fee and the Registration Fee Reimbursement service:
Individual: $195 until 12/31/11, $215 from 1/1/11 to 5/31/11 and then $225 from 6/1/11 until the close of registration; Relay Teams: $360 until 12/31/11 and $400 until the close of registration. New for 2012, Sun Multisport Events (SME) is offering athletes the Registration Fee Reimbursement service in partnership with 365Competitors. This is an insurance service that allows a participant to receive a 100% refund of the registration fee if he/she is unable to participate in the event due to sickness or injury (subject to terms and conditions). SME will cover the cost of the Registration Fee Reimbursement program for all athletes that register by 12/31/11. After 
that date the service will be available as an option to athletes for an incremental fee during the online registration process. Click here for additional details on the Registration Fee Reimbursement service and click here for FAQs. IMPORTANT: You will need to have a physician complete the Registration Fee Reimbursement Claim Form and it must be dated within 72 hours of the event to qualify for reimbursement.
Note that we are offering an Active Military Personnel Registration Discount. To claim this discount email Mark at info@SunMultisportEvents.com for details. You must provide proof of your current active service. All entry fees include a free pass to the post-race catered meal and eligibility for giveaways from our sponsors. The 2012 Patriot is expected to sell out (the 2011 Patriot sold out in April).
Awards and Cash Prizes:
Awards will be given to the top 3 male and female finishers in each age group as well as to the top 3 Athenas, Clydesdales, Paratriathletes and Male and Female Aquabike participants. All 3 members of the 1st place male, female and mixed relay teams will also receive an award.
A cash prize purse of $1,000 will also be distributed to the first ($300) and second ($200) place male and female finishers in the Open/Elite category. You MUST race in the Open/Elite category to be eligible to win prize money. If you race as an age grouper and still finish as one of the two fastest overall males or females you still won't be eligible to win any prize money. If you think you have a shot at prize money, register in the Open category.
We will also offer performance awards to the fastest male and female splits in the swim, bike and run. Athletes racing in the elite/open, aquabike and relay categories are not eligible for performance awards.
USA Triathlon Membership:
The Patriot is a USAT sanctioned event. All athletes must (a) present a valid, current USAT Annual Membership Card at registration OR (b) purchase a 1-day USAT license. If you are an annual member, but forget to bring your card you will be required to purchase a 1-day license.
Age Groups:
Standard USA Triathlon age divisions in five year increments (e.g. 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc.). Your age group is determined by your age on December 31, 2012! MINIMUM AGE: 16 years old as of December 31, 2012.
Special Divisions:
There will be Clydesdale (Men, 200+ lbs), Athena (Women, 150+ lbs), Paratriathlete and Open divisions in the Patriot. The Open and Paratriathlete categories will be in the first wave sent to start the race.
The Patriot will also offer the the Aquabike category. Aquabike consists of the swim and bike legs of the triathlon: a 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike. Participants receive three official split times (swim, T1, and bike). Aquabike athletes will be given the same support as all Patriot athletes on and off the course.
Event Check-in:
Racers can check-in on Friday, June 15th from 4:00PM to 7:00PM and Saturday, June 16th from 5:00AM to 6:30AM. All racers must be checked in by 6:30AM on race day. Check in/packet pick-up is at Cathedral Camp. YOU MUST PRESENT A PHOTO ID... NO ID, NO RACE, NO EXCEPTIONS. All members of a relay team must come to packet pick-up together. Every single participant in the Patriot must have a photo ID and this includes all relay participants. Transition will open on Saturday morning at 5:00AM.
Swim Waves:
2012 swim waves for the Patriot will be announced the week of the race.
Wet Suits:
All participants may wear a wet suit and be eligible for rankings and prizes if the water temperature is less than 78 degrees F. If the temperature is between 79 and 84 degrees F, participants wearing a wet suit will not receive a ranking or be eligible for awards (they will still receive split times). If the temperature exceeds 84 degrees F, no participants will be allowed to wear a wet suit. Water temperatures of Long Pond are typically in the 70s and wet suits have been allowed the last three years. As race day draws near, a water temperature read will be communicated to registrants.
Swim Caps:
All participants will be given a swim cap that must be worn during the swim.
Pre-Race Open Water Swimming Clinic and Seminar:
Details to come.
Race Start Time and Cut-Off Times:
Cut-off times for each leg of the Patriot race are as follows: All swimmers must be out of the water by 9:00AM, all cyclists must be off the road by 1:00PM and all runners must be off the course by 4:00PM. Athletes that do not complete the swim or bike leg by the specified cut-off time will be stopped in transition and not allowed to continue on in the race. Athletes that do not complete the run by 4:00PM will be pulled from the course. Race Management and medical personnel reserve the right to pull any athlete from the course if it appears they are not sufficiently trained to complete the remainder of the course in a safe manner.
Race Nutrition and Post-Race Recovery:
The Patriot bike course will feature 2 water bottle exchange stations for you to re-fuel with either water or an electrolyte drink. See below for details on the water bottle exchange stations.
The Patriot run course will offer aid stations at every mile. All aid stations will offer water, an electrolyte drink and flat cola. Oranges, pretzels and energy gels will be offered at every other aid station.
The Muscle Milk Rejuvenation Startion will be located in an area adjacent to the finish line of the Patriot and will feature free bottles of Muscle Milk for all participating athletes. Muscle Milk is a protein-rich recovery drink.
Water Bottle Exchange Stations on the Bike:
The Patriot will feature 2 water bottle exchange stations on the 28-mile bike loop (to be completed twice; 56 miles total) offering you 4 opportunities on your ride to re-fuel (exact locations of the water bottle exchange stations to be announced). The water bottle exchange stations are designed to be an additional resource for athletes. Athletes are encouraged to have 2 bottle cages on their bike to start the race filled with their preferred hydration drink. If they need to refuel the bottle exchange stations are there as your resource. Bottle exchange stations will feature water bottles with water and an electrolyte drink for you to choose from. If you would like to receive a bottle of water or energy drink you will need to discard a water bottle as you approach the bottle exchange (there will be a soccer net set up for you to toss your water bottle into) and then call out to a volunteer what you want (water or energy drink). The volunteer will jog along side of you and hand you your bottle. If you do not need anything from the bottle exchange we encourage you to stay left as you approach the bottle exchange to avoid cyclists that will be requesting a bottle. Athletes should assume any water bottle discarded is gone forever (while we will bring the discarded ones back to Cathedral Camp for proper diosposal there will be hundreds of sticky, used bottles to go through to find your own).
Post Race Meal, Music and Giveaways
All athletes are invited to enjoy the post-race catered meal brought to you by Riccardi's Italian Restaurant of New Bedford, MA (included in your race fee). Friends and families of Patriot participants may purchase tickets to the dinner for $12 per adult or $8 per child (12 years and younger). The Patriot 2011 menu featured vegetable lasagna, baked glazed ham, Boston baked beans, chicken salad sandwiches, antipasto salad, watermelon, canteloupe, fresh pastries and drinks (the Patriot 2012 menu will be announced about 1 month prior to the race date). There will be plenty of picnic tables to sit at as well as some shady spots to enjoy a well-earned feast! The post-race meal will be accompanied by music from our DJ, live music from the 2012 Patriot "house band" (to be announced), the awards ceremony and valuable giveaways from sponsors.
Timing:
"Winning Time Chip" timing to be provided by Bay State Race Services. Athletes will receive time splits for the swim, transition 1, bike, transition 2 and the run.
Accommodations:
Click here to see this year's recommended hotels. Note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer accommodations at the Cathedral Camp Retreat Center this year.
Parking:
Click here for an aerial map of Cathedral Camp that provides details of set-up including the location of the east and west parking lots. Note that cars parked in the west parking lot will not be allowed to leave until all Patriot Half athletes are off the bike course and onto the run (1:00PM).
Rules:
USA Triathlon rules will apply. Please review the rules at www.USATriathlon.org. There will be USAT Officials present at the event. Three areas of common violations are (1) Drafting, (2) Blocking and (3) Centerline. To avoid drafting violations you must stay at least 3 bike lengths behind the competitor in front of you. When attempting to pass you must do so within 15 seconds. Blocking violations are assessed for failing to ride to the right (except when passing). Centerline violations can be avoided by not crossing the yellow centerline of the road. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED. Chin strap must be buckled at ALL times you are on the bike even in the transition area. Handlebars/aerobars must have bar-end plugs securely inserted into the bar. Taping over bar ends is not permitted. Lack of bar end plugs will result in disqualification.
Refund Policy:
Refunds are not given. Be sure you can and will race prior to registering. The exchange of entries is strictly prohibited. If the race is canceled due to weather conditions, acts of God and other factors beyond the control of race management, no refunds will be issued. Refunds are not possible because the majority of expenses related to the event are spent by race day, however, if the 2012 Patriot is cancelled a partial credit would be offered to the 2013 Patriot.
