Frequently Asked Questions

• Alpha OPEN — 100m swim | 3 mi bike | 1 mi run
• Alpha SPRINT — 750m swim | 12.4 mi bike | 3.1 mi run
• Alpha SPRINT Duathlon — 1 mi run | 12.4 mi bike | 3.1 mi run
• Alpha SPRINT Aquabike — 750m swim | 12.4 mi bike
• Alpha OLYMPIC — 1500m swim | 24.8 mi bike | 6.2 mi run
• Alpha OLYMPIC Aquabike — 1500m swim | 24.8 mi bike
• Alpha LONG COURSE — 1.2 mi swim | 56 mi bike | 13.1 mi run
• Alpha LONG COURSE Aquabike — 1.2 mi swim | 56 mi bike

Aquabike athletes start with their corresponding distance wave. Finish time for Aquabike is when the athlete enters T2 after the bike. Event distances can vary by location.

Yes. A certified EMT is on duty during all races.

Yes. Discounted registration is available for youth, military (veterans and active duty), first responders, and students. Club members of Alpha Win's triathlon partners also receive exclusive club discounts. For more information, contact info@alpha.win.

Yes. Each distance has an age requirement:

• Open — 7 years of age and above
• Sprint — 12 years of age and above
• Olympic — 12 years of age and above
• Long Course — 16 years of age and above

Each athlete who finishes a race receives a finisher's medal. Overall awards go to the top three male and female finishers in each distance. Age-group awards go to the top three male and female finishers in each five-year age group or special category within each distance.

Alpha Win Series follows USAT five-year age-group breakouts for annual sanctioned rankings. Your "USAT age" is your age on December 31 of the current year. Example: if you're 23 when racing in June but turn 24 in July, your USAT age for the June race awards is 24.

Alpha Win offers the Aquabike category for all triathlon distances except Open, consisting of the swim and bike portions. The finish line is the entrance to the T2 tower after the bike portion. A Sprint Duathlon is also available, featuring a run–bike–run format: 1 mi run, 12.4 mi bike, 3.1 mi run.

Yes. Relay teams are welcome to register in any distance except Open.

Alpha Win adheres to a strict No Dogs policy at all events.

• Phone: (845) 247-7275
• Email: info@alpha.win

Yes — registration is available online any time before the race starts. Day-of registrants should inform the Admin Desk when picking up their packet. Late registrations during race week are not guaranteed a finisher medal or participant shirt, and T-shirt size availability may be limited.

All distances within the Alpha Win Series are open to athletes wishing to compete in the Clydesdale / Athena category. Two categories exist with the same start and cut-off times as the Individual category:

• Clydesdale — men 220 lbs+
• Athena — women 165 lbs+

Yes. All distances within the Alpha Win Series are open to Physically Challenged Athletes. The category is co-ed, scored identically with the same start and cut-off times, with awards for all.

Complete your race registration, then contact info@alpha.win to receive an invitation for your Guide Runner to register for the same event. There is no entry fee for the Guide Runner, but the registration form must be completed by the specified deadline. For triathlons, Guide Runners must be USAT members or purchase a one-day membership for $15, available online during race registration.

All Alpha Win Triathlons are USAT-sanctioned and all participants must be USAT members or purchase a One-Day Membership, available online during race registration.

All participants must present photo ID when picking up their race packet. Valid IDs include driver's licenses, passports, student IDs, or cards issued by employers, states, or government agencies. Phone photos of IDs are acceptable. Minor athletes without photo ID must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian presenting their photo ID. Without photo ID at packet pick-up, athletes will not be allowed to race. After packet pick-up, the bib number serves as identification.

Yes. All swim, bike and run courses are officially marked, and traffic-control signs are used on the bike and run courses.

Yes. No roads are closed; all roads remain open to traffic. Cyclists must stay to the right on the shoulder at all times, sit up and slow down at intersections while looking for traffic, and obey traffic-control or law-enforcement directions.

Yes. Swim, bike, and run courses are subject to change in the event of unsafe conditions. The swim course may be cancelled and replaced by an additional run portion, converting the event to a duathlon. The race director may change courses, alter distances, or cancel the affected course as late as race start if necessary for athlete safety. No refund will be given.

Yes. Aid stations are available every 10–20 miles on the bike courses and every 1–1.5 miles on the run courses.

Bike aid stations:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Vaseline
• Sports drink
• Gels

Run aid stations:

• Water
• Defizzed cola
• Sunscreen
• Vaseline
• Pretzels
• Chips
• Gummy bears
• Bananas
• Chocolate
• Orange slices
• Sports drink
• Gels

The water temperature for each event is shared with athletes prior to race day in the race-week email.

Triathlon — swim:

• Sprint — total race time 30 minutes
• Olympic — total race time 1 hour
• Long Course — total race time 1 hour, 10 minutes

Triathlon — bike:

• Sprint — total race time 2 hours
• Olympic — total race time 3 hours, 30 minutes
• Long Course — total race time 5 hours, 10 minutes

Triathlon — run:

• Sprint — total race time 3 hours
• Olympic — total race time 5 hours
• Long Course — total race time 8 hours, 30 minutes

Marathon:

• Half Marathon — total race time 3.5 hours
• Marathon — total race time 6.5 hours

Entry fees for all Alpha Win races are non-refundable. Athletes may request to transfer to a different Alpha Win race currently accepting registrations for a $25 fee. Cancellations declared 15 days prior to the original event are eligible for a one-time registration credit. Cancellations after that deadline are ineligible for credit. Transfers to sold-out events are not permitted. Triathlon entries transfer only to other triathlons; only Half and Full Marathon entries are eligible for deferment to another Half or Full Marathon event.

In the unlikely event that a race is cancelled, athletes registered for the event receive full credit for their registration, usable toward another Alpha Win event within a 12-month period. Athletes not racing within 12 months may request a full refund within two weeks of the cancellation notice. After that period, refunds are unavailable. Transfers to sold-out events are not permitted.

A transfer of a registration to another athlete is not permitted. Athletes unable to race can transfer to another race within 12 months for a $25 transfer fee. See the Refund/Withdrawal policy for details.

Yes. Moving down in distance results in no refund for the longer-distance fee. Moving up requires payment of the difference. All distance changes must be made at least one week before the event. Transfers to sold-out events are not permitted.

Yes. Unlimited Biking offers a variety of bikes and sizes for the Napa Fall Triathlon with convenient pick-up and drop-off options. Visit their website.

VIP Spectator Tickets are available for purchase at $25.

Packet pickup

Alpha Win offers packet pick-up the day before a race plus race morning. Picking up your packet prior to race day provides time to familiarize yourself with race materials and set up in transition. All athletes must have photo identification with them to get their packet. All relay team members must be present at pick-up to get their race packet.

Your packet contains your timing chip, bike stickers, run bib, and athlete wristband. Put on your wristband before entering the transition area race morning.

Tips for your timing chip

For triathlons, your timing chip must be worn on the ankle (left or right). Wear it under your wetsuit if using a full-length suit to prevent it from coming off during transitions. The timing chip must be worn throughout the entire race in order to receive an official time. Timing chips must be returned immediately after completing your race; a $25 fee applies if not returned.

For running races, timing chips attach to your racing bib as two adhesive squares — do not remove them.

More tips to make race day smooth

• Arrive at least one hour prior to your race start.
• For triathlons, a pre-race meeting occurs on the beach before the swim — be there 20 minutes early to acclimate and ensure attendance.
• Fill your water bottles with your preferred hydration and bring any snacks or nutrition you may want. Aid stations exist on most run and bike legs, but every athlete differs in fueling needs.
• Dress appropriately for the weather with long- and short-sleeve options.
• Check pre-race emails and social media for important updates, expected weather, and water temperature.
• Most importantly — have fun.