The courses in the YTS program are hosted at YMCA facilities that have a pool.  The swim takes place in the same lane for each athlete not in the snake swim formation unless race day circumstance force us to reverse the order from swim/bike/run to run/bike/swim. Only when the swim is at the end of the race do you snake the pool.  Each athlete begins in the pool with their wave of peers and begins on the blow of the horn.  As they exit the pool they proceed to T1 (first transition) where they secure their mandatory bike helmet, put on shoes and run or walk their bike outside of transition to the mount line.  They mount their bike and complete the bike course assisted by adult cyclists that help guide the children through every YTS race.  Law enforcement is hired to patrol any intersections that might appear on each course.  We try to select courses with the fewest intersections.  After the completion of the bike athletes then dismount their bikes and run it back into transition for T2.  They rack their bike where it was originally stationed, remove their helmet and head out to the run course which ends at a victorious finish line where every athlete is handed a medal and hears the announcementYOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!

Parents are asked to stay outside of the course including transition area.  Our goal is to show your children the independence they will gain in the sport of triathlon.  You will note, however, that we do not use barrier fence around our transition areas rather we pennant flag course zones including transition to encourage you to stand outside of race zones.  The reasoning behind this is because of our thought process in the YTS, The are our athletes, but they are YOUR children.  At any time you see your child in distress and he/she might not have caught the eye of one of our many volunteers, your athlete will never be penalized if you go under the flagging to assist them to safety.  Once they are secure and on their way please quickly make your way back to the parent zone.  We need parents to become cheerleaders for all the athletes in the YTS not just your own. Please bring the whole family to your childs race.its a celebration of his or her ability to LIVESTRONG by racing in light of those who suffer, battle, or have lost a fight on disease.  Each race benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation and upholds the LIVESTRONG mission.  Your registration fee paid to race covers the expenses of the YTS program. Additional donations can be make to LIVESTRONG on behalf of the YTS so please ask for the current link if you are inspired to give on behalf of your athlete.

 Adults who would like to race in the YTS are encouraged to do so and will be put in the final wave of the race completing the same distance as our 11 to 15 year old athletes.  Adults results are not submitted to USA Triathlon.  This is a non competitive division for adults and we do not reward your place in the finish order.  Adult participation in the race is an inspiration to our young athletes that moms and dads and other adults are also here to LIVESTRONG and support a healthy lifestyle with their effort to reach the finish line.