General Rules:
Click here to download the rules.
The first and most important rule is to “HAVE FUN.” This is a family event and we would like to continue this event for years to come and if the fun is taken out of it, it will defeat the whole purpose behind the Patriot games.
Each team will consist of two members, those members must do all three of the events and must be with their partner at all times throughout the race. Feel free to laugh at with each other, smile with each other, get upset with each other and best of all when exhausted and not sure if you can finish remember all those whose lives were taken from us that day, would they want you to quite!!
The winning team will be the team who crosses the finish line, in the chute, first in their division
1. Each team will consist of two members, those members must do all three of the events and must be with their partner at all times throughout the race. The winning team will be the team who crosses the finish line, in the chute, first in their division. The team member crossing the finish line must have the race number with the tear-off tag.
2. An overtaking competitor has the right-of-way. Impeding the progress of another individual who is passing is grounds for disqualification. Drafting of another bicycle or boat is not-allowed and will result in a 1 minute “stand down” for the first offense. The second offense will result in immediate disqualification.
3. A competitor can assist another competitor who requests help until he or she reaches safety.
4. Racing numbers must be worn and visible on the outside of clothing, race numbers should also be located on the frame of the bikes.
5. Hard-shell helmets are required for all competitors ONLY during the bicycle. Helmets shall be fastened in a secure manner and worn while biking. The helmet worn by a cyclist shall be of a type specifically designed and intended for use by cyclists, and certified as meeting or exceeding the test standards established by Snell Laboratories, ASTM, and/or ANSI. Failure to wear the required headgear while bicycling in The Patriot Games shall result in disqualification of the cyclist and his or her team. It shall be the responsibility of each cyclist , not the organizers, staff or sponsors to inspect his or her protective headgear to determine if it complies with this rule.
6. No competitor may be assisted by another competitor or spectator with equipment or water removal
7. Competitors may only enter in one division.
8. All competitors who quit the race for any reason before the finish line must report to an Official as soon as possible after they stop competing in the race.
9. Protests: All protests must be in writing and filed within 30 minutes of the
protester's team crossing the finish line. The written protests must be made on a form provided by The Patriot Games management. Protests can be lodged at race headquarters in case of any violation of the Competition Rules. An arbitration committee will meet before the Awards Ceremony in order to provide a final ruling on all protests and disqualifcations made by course officials. A $10 non-refundable fee will be charged to file a protest.
10. Timing: The time will be the total time it takes the team to complete the entire course and cross the finish line.
11. The route will be monitored and any competitor who does not adhere to the rules of the race will be disqualified.
12. A race competitor shall not, during participation in the race, push, tow, or carry any device for the transport of another person, animal and/or equipment. Such devices include but are not limited to: bicycle trailers, strollers, infant carriers and towed boats.
13. Only registered race competitors shall participate in the race. No other persons and/or animals may accompany a competitor.
Canoe Rules:
14. Paddles must be stored in the boat and not kept in possession of the paddler while on the course/transition area.
15. Boat flotation: The type of buoyancy shall be provided by The Patriot Games for the competitor and no other flotation device will be allowed to be used
16. Any competitor, when operating a boat, shall wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.). Failure to comply with this requirement is grounds for disqualification.
17. Canoe paddles: Any number of single-bladed paddles of any material and size or shape may be in the canoe. A team will be given two paddles to be used for the canoes.may use only one paddle per teammate, at a time, in canoes. Double-bladed paddles are not permitted. In the event a paddle is broken, a competitor may finish with another paddle. Patriot Games will provide paddles.
18. Watercrafts are to be stored in the appropriate and designated place at the watercraft launching area. There will be volunteers at the launching area to assist with your team with the canoes along with volunteers to assist with the return of them.
19. All paddlers must wear shoes.
Bicycle Rules:
20. Competitors, while entering and leaving the transition point must do so in an appropriate fashion and should not interfere with any other competitor/team who is trying to find his or equipment.
21. A tandem bicycle or a tricycle shall not be used by a race competitor. Only bicycles ridden by one (1) person will be allowed in the bicycle portion of the race.
22. There will be signs throughout the bike course along with volunteers to help with any rules that are in place at the start of the race. Please use precaution when passing another team along with non-competitors, there are areas on the course that a no passing rule will be in affect. An overtaking competitor has the right-of-way. Impeding the progress of another individual who is passing is grounds for disqualification. Drafting of another bicycle or team is not-allowed.
Running Rules:
23. At the transition area please use precaution and do not interfere with any other teams. Once you are on the running course please stay to your right because there still may be teams that will be on their bicycles. There will also be teams that will be passing you on the run course so make sure that you allow the overtaking team to pass without impeding there progress.
Finish Line Division Definitions:
Competitors may only enter in one division
Man/Man:
No age restrictions and obviously they both have to be of the male gender
Woman/Man:
No age restrictions and the team will consist of a person from the each gender
Woman/ Woman:
No age restrictions and obviously they both have to be of the female gender
Clydesdales:
This category is designed for the larger people. No age restrictions, no gender restrictions but the combined weight must be over 400 lbs. for the team.
Youngsters:
This division is for a combined age group of over 100 years of age. No gender restrictions and combination of age does not matter as long as the total age of the team is greater than 75 as of 9/1/02
Grounds for Disqualification:
Teams can be disqualified for any of the following reasons:
1. Intentionally leaving the course to obtain a shorter distance advantage.
2. Intentionally interfering with another racer to obtain or confer an advantage.
3. Competing without a helmet on the bicycle or river portion of the course.
4. Competing without an approved lifejacket or P.F.D. during the watercraft portion of the race.
5. Drafting of non-competitors during the race.
6. Cyclists leaving the designated area for their divisions at the Run-Bike transition area. Runners entering the Run-Bike transition area from the bicycle side of the transition area rather than designated path on the south side of transition area.
7. Any other failure to obey the course officials and/or Competition Rules.
8. Disorderly conduct.
Requests for Special Accommodation:
Any participant who desires an exception from the Competition Rules must make a written request to The Patriot Games committee. The request must set forth in detail the exception requested and all facts which support the request. Request must be received no later than September 1st of the race year and must include the requester's name, address and day and evening telephone numbers. All requests will be promptly considered. Requests should be mailed: The Patriot Games, 643 Northfield Lane, Harleysville, PA 19438
Contacts (Questions/Comments):
patriotgames9112001@yahoo.com