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Logistics
- logistics for two-transition
race and driving directions to
lake from different points.
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Photos
- photos of Rattlesnake Bar Park at Folsom
Lake
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Swim
Course Map - Satellite image
with overlay of proposed route
in the lake
Note: there have been an alarming number of deaths during triathlon swims in recent years. There has been much speculation and little certainty about the causes of these (non-drowning) deaths, with some experts suggesting the combination of cold water, open water/pack swim anxiety, restrictive wetsuit, and the sudden extreme exertion of the race start causing extreme cardiovascular and nervous system stress leading to fatality. Here are a couple of articles on the subject.
In the interest of athlete safety and alleviating the anxiety of the swim event, the Auburn Triathlon will institute a mandatory warmup period of 10 minutes before the start of your event. All athletes must spend some time warming up in the water acclimating the body and calming the nervous system to promote a safe, successful swim. Thank you for your consideration.
Dr. Rudy Dressendorfer, PT, Ph.D. - a frequent Auburn Triathlon participant and volunteer who has studied the effects of endurance training/racing stress on athletes extensively, comments further on the issue, which is little understood by medical experts. Dr. Rudy's comments are speculative and should not be considered medical advice. However, with little guidance from our national federation and minimal understanding of this phenomenon, which has resulted in a reported 14 deaths between 2006 and 2008, and nine deaths in the summer of 2011, we at Auburn Triathlon feel that it's critical to educate all participants as much as possible, and to establish a firm policy of athletes warmup up before competition begins.
Dr. Dressendorfer explains the importance of a warmup: "Habituation to the water and race setting will reduce nervous tension and likely attenuate anxiety-related hyperventilation. The mandatory swim warm-up is especially important for people who faint easily, like when a blood sample is taken, or hyperventilate when feeling anxious."
Dr. Dressendorfer offers further comments on the triathlon swim-related deaths: "I suspect the drownings are more likely due to pulmonary edema from
over-filling of the right side of the heart and subsequent respiratory
distress. If so, the panic attack is more a consequence of the
physiological imbalance (between ventilation and perfusion, the
so-called V/Q ratio) of the lungs rather than the primary cause.
The major risk factors are water immersion (especially cold water) and
hyperhydration.
Triathletes should be cautioned to gradually immerse themselves above the waist, and not over-hydrate just before the race starts.
The hydrostatic pressure on immersion pushes blood from the legs into
the abdomen, then into the chest vessels and heart. Blood volume in
the lungs and heart can double, which raises blood pressure in the lungs and makes gas exchange less efficient. Over-hydrating could further engorge the blood vessels at the time of immersion. The prerace 'warm-up' can help reduce this increased
central volume by redistributing blood into the arms and legs. If
breathing difficulty is experienced on initial immersion, I advise
getting out and jogging in place. Athletes might also lay down after donning their wetsuits to test whether their breathing seems restricted, since lying down also increases blood volume in the chest [hey better to look like a dork on dry land instead of in the water - BK].
Every measure will be taken on race day to ensure your safety, including the placement of paddlers and kayakers throughout the course in case you require help.
