Events
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at http://www.timkerrcharities.org.
Place
Avalon, NJ US 08202
Description
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. WE ARE SOLD OUT. NO IN PERSON SIGN UPS AT THE AYC.
ROWDY GAINES IS COMING TOMORROW AND WILL ANNOUNCE THE SWIM START AND AWARDS CEREMNONY! We are partnering with Step into Swim for our September Point to Point Swim. They providing free learn to swim lessons to underserved communities. This non profit is organized by Rowdy. Due to a prior commitment on that swim day, Rowdy has decided to come to Cedar Island. We can't wait to give a warm TKC welcome Rowdy.
We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and incredible support for our must do open water charity swim in the Avalon back bays! We are celebrating 16 years of swimming around Cedar Island this year. The World Open Water Swimming Association named the Cedar Island 5K Swim as One of America's Top Open Water Swims. This is a list of the most unique, most popular, most historic, most beautiful, most interesting, and most challenging open water swims across the 50 states of the United States of America. Following criteria is used to determine the list of open water swims.
1. History 2. Uniqueness 3. Popularity 4. Difficulty 5. Attention to Safety 6. Global geographic distribution
The course is designed to be going with the tide for the beginning and the end of the event! All proceeds from the race will be going to the CHALLENGED ATHLETE FOUNDATION-OPERATION REBOUND. Athletes receive an athlete bag, choice of a unisex or female styled Tultex tee shirt, custom event Defeet socks, event swim cap, chip timing, and a custom event finisher towel. Thank you so very much for the amazing support.
CEDAR ISLAND 5K SWIM GEAR is available for donation! $25 in the donation tab gets you a CI5KS event long sleeved tee shirt! You asked and we listened....grab our TULTEX PREMIUM HOODIE over in the STORE! Quantities will be listed by size and a first come first serve basis. Grab them while we got them!
RACE DAY: Packet pick up is 11:00am-12:30pm at AYC. THERE IS NO PARKING AT ALL WHAT SO EVER AT THE AVALON YACHT CLUB. Parking in only available at the AYC for ON WATER SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS with their kayaks and SUPs. There is plenty of street parking along 6th, 7th, and 8th Streets, Ocean Drive, and Dune Drive. (There are bathrooms in that building!) It is a short walk to the club but we also have 2 JITNEY SHUTTLES floating all these areas to pick you up and drop you off to packet pick up. 4 Port O Pots will be available (2 blue for guys, 2 pink for gals) at the AYC in the back rear, right side of the parking lot.
Check in is at the Avalon Yacht Club. A bib list will be sent a few days prior to the race. Please know your number. You can SELF MARCK YOUR LEFT HAND WITH YOUR BIB NUMBER PRIOR to your arrival at pick up. This will help us get everyone in and out quickly at pick up. You bib number will be confirmed along with your ICE contact information. You will then get tour athlete bag with everything you need in it. Your custom athlete bag will contain your event swim cap, timing chip and strap to be worn on either ankle, IT IS MANDATORY TO WEAR THE EVENT WHITE SWIM CAP provided in your bag. Also, in your bag is your event tee shirt and custom Defeet socks.
The 5K swim starts and finishes at Avalon Yacht Club. We are going back to our MASS IN WATER START at 1:00PM! Things will move very quickly so be ready to be called into the water over the timing mat. MANDATORY 90 minute cut off time that is strictly enforced and if not met, you will be pulled from the course. All swimmers need to be done by 2:30 PM. Water temperature is typically mid 70s and wetsuit legal.
*DO NOT GATHER AT THE SWIM START DOCK UNTIL 12:45 pM. Volunteers will be there with their SUP and kayaks preparing to get on the water for your safety during the swim. They will have an 12:35 PM volunteer safety meeting on the dock at the start/finish line.
You may enter the bay for warm up. It is unguarded prior to the race start. You must be out of the water by 12:30PM.
12:35 PM Athlete meeting at the Youth Center Deck. 12:40 Athletes line up on the dock ramp
12:45 PM Swimmers will be counted in and cross a timing mat. There is a 90 minute cut off time to complete the swim and finish at the Avalon Yacht Club.
This is a counter clockwise course. The back bay is nice and wide along the entire course. On water safety patrol will be there to guide you, especially to help you round the buoys. SITE and know your surroundings. You will swim out to a WHITE NO WAKE BUOY, then turn left and stay MARSH SIDE for the open inter coastal water way. Once you are on the back bay, you will then swim on the right side of the bay/DOCK SIDE, round the three ORANGE buoys in each corner, keeping them on your left shoulder. You do NOT HAVE TO ROUND THE BUOY at the finish line. Go straight line into the exit ladder on the dock. Swimmers will exit by a swim ladder located on the end of the large floating dock at AYC. YOU MUST REMOVE YOUR OWN TIMING CHIP ONCE YOU HAVE EXITED UP THE RAMP AT AYC. It is recommended to keep your own time if possible to confirm times. This is a charity swim so please be respectful and keep your order upon exit or waiting to climb the ladder.
All four buoys you will round LEFT. You must go around all buoys!
We are committed to you, our charitable and dedicated swimmers. We are looking forward to an impactful and rewarding day swimming for charity.
This is the 2nd race of the TKC Open Water Summer Swim Series: the TRIPLE CROWN! Race #1 is the 1.2 Mile Bay Swim on July 13th and we round our the series on September 21st with the 1.2 mile Point to Point Bay Swim. Race all three events and get a Triple Crown Award. We will combine everyones times from all three races. Top 5 male and female overall with the lowest net times will get a special award and we will crown a grand champion for 2024.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
CEDAR ISLAND 5K SWIM COURSE MAP
Swim starts and finished at the Avalon Yacht Club.
Swim is in a counter clockwise direction.
4 buoys on the course, round all of them to the left.
There is a start/finish buoy to hold the line, you do not have to round it when finishing. It is or sighting purposes only.
SWIM SAFETY TIPS
SWIM SAFEY TIPS
At Tim Kerr Charities and the Borough of Avalon, we are extremely safety conscious and work hard to both educate and plan for safety on course. These tips are valuable for beginners and a good reminder to experienced athletes that learning never stops.
1. Prepare for Race Conditions
Race day should not be your first open water swim. Make sure some of your training replicates real race conditions, including water temperature, proximity to other swimmers, orientation (includes water clarity, depth, and distance perception) and wearing a wetsuit if needed.
2. Race in Shorter Events
Proper training is the best way to reduce anxiety. It's also a good idea to race shorter distance open water swims, as well as join clinics and club activities to prepare yourself for open water conditions.
For extra guidance, talk to a coach or your local swim or triathlon club.
3. Learn About Course Details
It's important to prepare yourself mentally as well as physically prior to race day. Thoroughly review the race website, event athlete guide, and pre-race communication to familiarize yourself with the course.
Keep in mind that every body of water is different—The race director will educate you on water currents and conditions.
Study the event schedule to plan for proper arrival and preparation.
4. Ensure Heart Health
As an athlete in training, you should take the proper steps to assess your health with your physician.
The American Heart Association offer suggestions for cardiac screening of competitive athletes. These include a physical exam as well as an assessment of your family history and personal heart health, and may include a recommendation of additional diagnostic studies. Wherever you live, we recommend you consult with your physician before you race.
5. Pay Attention to Warning Signs
While training, if you experience chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, light-headedness (dizziness) or blacking out, or have any other medical concerns or symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
6. Don’t Use New Gear on Race Day
Focus on controlling as many factors as you can on race day.
You should never race in equipment you haven’t trained in—this is not the time to test new gear.
Make sure your wetsuit fits properly and that your goggles, swim cap and other accessories work properly.
Prepare for the unexpected with backups of all your gear.
7. Warm Up on Race Day
Arrive early enough on race day for a proper warm-up prior to the start.
If you aren’t able to warm up in the water, which is the case for this training swim, spend between 5 and 10 minutes loosening up your muscles with arm swings and other gentle movements. A light jog or brisk walk can also help increase circulation and prepare your body to race.
8. Check Out the Course
Get comfortable with the course by checking out water conditions, the swim entry and exit layouts, as well as turn buoy colors and locations, if applicable.
Take part in the official practice swim if one is offered. This provides you an opportunity to get oriented with the swim course.
Identify navigation landmarks such as buildings or landscape features to use for sighting in every direction you’ll be swimming.
9. Start Easy – Relax and Breathe
Follow the race day instructions regarding the swim start format that have been provided in the event athlete guide.
This event is a rolling swim start, time trial. One by one entering the water. Don’t overestimate your ability. Please line up in the appropriate position based on anticipated finish time. Instructions to follow with self-seeding times.
Don’t race at maximum effort from the start - ease into your swim.
Relax and focus on your breathing as you settle into a sustainable pace.
10. Be Alert and Ask for Help
In a race setting always stop at the first sign of a medical problem.
You are allowed to stop or rest at any time during the swim. You can rest with the help of the volunteer kayaks, SUP, personal water craft, or even a static object like a raft, buoy, or nearby dock.
If you or a fellow athlete needs help, take off your swim cap, raise it above your head and shout for help to alert a volunteer or the Avalon Fire Rescue safety personnel.
Directions
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