Frequently Asked Questions

Note: Consider printing and saving the FAQ’s to read and discuss with your child. It should help ease the nervousness he or she (or you) might be feeling

Is there a registration deadline or field limit?
It Depends. Registrations are coming in at record pace and we may have to for the first time ever close online registration early once we reach our 900 field limit. To not miss out, enter NOW. If we don’t reach the limit, registration will remain open on-line until 9 PM the on Aug. 20 and at the Lake Ann race course on Friday from 3-7 PM and on race morning from 6:30-7:30 AM. But enter today to ensure your spot and help us prepare for the big crowds.

How do we know if our child is ready for a triathlon?
In our first 6 years 4500 kids have started – and finished – the MiracleKids. The only qualifications kids need is a big heart, the ability to ride a 2-wheeler without training wheels, and the ability to follow the other kids. Make preparing for the race a shared experience and time to grow closer as a family.

Can kids younger than 7-years old race?
6-year olds who turn 7 by the end of this year (December 31st) are eligible to race. But regardless of age, all participants should be mature enough to navigate through the entire course and do so on their own.

Are children safe on the course?
Safety is our highest priority. There is nowhere on the MiracleKids Triathlon course where children will be out of sight of our team of volunteers, medical staff and law enforcement professionals. While parents need to understand that participating in a sporting event like a triathlon has, by its nature, elements of risk, so do all sports. You can help make your child’s experience the safest and most enjoyable by practicing before the race to improve their skills and increase their confidence. Plan also to attend our free practice sessions.

What skills are the most important to learn?
Swimming, cycling and running. For swimming, all kids benefit from learning this life saving skill, so consider lessons at a community pool or contact our swim sponsor, www.fossswimschool.com. For cycling, practice your riding skills… mounting the bike, riding straight lines, staying to the right edge of the road, smooth cornering, braking and dismounting. For running, the key is pacing. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your endurance increases and how much more fun you’ll have if you practice starting slower and building into it.

Can kids form a team to race as a relay?
Nope. There’s no feeling like finishing an entire triathlon under one’s own power. Less than one in every 10,000 kids on the planet can call themselves a triathlete and the MiracleKids might be the safest, most fun first time triathlon for kids in the world.

How do we decide between Minneapolis race and Chanhassen race?
You don’t have to – you can do both. Many of the kids who race in Minneapolis have so much fun they sign up for Chan too.  The Lake Nokomis race course is very user friendly. The Minneapolis Park Police shut down the famous city Parkway to give the road all to the kids. The course has fantastic site lines so parents and volunteers have a blast being able to stand in one place and see much of the race unfold before their eyes. Best of all, the course is open enough to grow into the biggest kids’ triathlon in the world and that’s our goal. The Chanhassen race remains our biggest event. This year we expect our biggest field ever. Which means the crowds will be huge. If you want to be part of a giant event, choose Chan. If you want to have a fun and fast race course with less congestion, choose Minneapolis. If you want to have 2 great and very different race course experiences, choose both.

So the Nokomis race is still the Miracles of Mitch Foundation?
Absolutely.  Everything you’ve grown to love about Chanhassen happens in Minneapolis. You just gotta’ be at both races.

Will you keep time and post results?
One of the first things you’ll notice about the MiracleKids Triathlon is how hard kids compete after their leg is marked with the name of a child battling cancer. That’s the focus of this race. We know kids love to get timed and try to improve on their performance so some kids like to wear a watch and compare their times from race to race and year to year.

Is fundraising required?
We don’t require it but that’s what Kids Racing for Kids Who Can’t is all about.  Not only does in NOT help the Miracles of Mitch if kids choose just to race, it actually costs the foundation money as we keep the cost of entry lower than our actual costs for each racer.  We do this to make it affordable, and we find that most kids find it more fun and rewarding when they raise pledges that help other kids. It’s our favorite part of the race to recognize the top fundraisers on stage in our closing ceremonies. Click to view contest/prizes

We can’t race this summer but would like to still fundraise for the Miracles of Mitch. Can we?
Absolutely. Some kids can’t race every year but still raise pledges. You can even create your own on-line fundraising page whether or not you race. Go to www.firstgiving.com/miraclesofmitch to create your own page. You can also download the pledge form and become part of making Miracles Happen. Click for Pledge Form

Will you send out a confirmation and fundraising information?
Yep. This year we have a new and beautiful MiracleKids race kit that will be mailed after you register; it will include things you need to know about the race, training and raising funds.

What do we do with our pledges?
Nothing if you all your pledges are raised on-line using our new system. For all cash donations, convert into a personal check and mail along with all other check pledges when each pledge form is complete. Then start a new pledge form and make sure to bring all pledges not yet turned in to each race.

My child/parent is lost, what do I do?
Lost children at the MiracleKids Triathlon are very rare. You’ll be able to cheer your kids across the finish line and reunite after the race to celebrate. However, if you or your child has wondered off and needs to be found, please report to the information booth to let us know you’d like help. Each child and parent receives a matching racer ID number. We use this number to communicate with parents when a parent or child needs to be matched.
Race Tip: Once you arrive at the park, look around and choose a prearranged meeting location for your whole family to meet after the race.

What time does my child start?
Challenged athletes go first, followed immediately by oldest kids. Race order: Oldest to youngest.

Where do we bring/set up bike, shoes and gear?
All equipment gets placed near the athlete’s assigned transition spot; this includes everything they need for the bike and the run!

What should we bring on race day?
Besides your collected pledges, bring your bike, helmet, running shoes, swim gear/goggles, water bottle, racing shirt and shorts, socks, warm-up clothing, towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, umbrella, friends, neighbors, co-workers, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandma and grandpa and all your enthusiasm!

Do they need to wear a helmet?
YES! No one will be allowed to bike without a helmet. Transition volunteers will make sure no athletes leave the transition zone without a helmet that is fastened!

Are parents allowed in transition?
Before the race, yes. During the race, no (talk to us about special needs cases)! After the race, only when the last athlete is finished with the bike course will parents be allowed back into the zone.

What’s the earliest we can retrieve our child’s stuff out of transition? 
In order to give every kid the chance to have a safe and enjoyable race, we need to keep the transition zone closed to everyone but the kids still on the course. Once every kid has finished the bike and started the run, we we open the transition for you to retrieve your belongings. Figure that will happen at about 10:15 AM in Chanhassen and 1 PM in Minneapolis.

My child wears glasses, what do we do?
We recommend standing near the swim exit and watching for your child. You can hand the glasses to them. Otherwise, you could put the child’s glasses inside of their helmet in transition.

Do kids need to wear the swim cap – and where do we get it?
We give swim caps with the race bags. And yes, we want all kids to wear it during the swim as it helps us to spot every child while in the water and it makes for cool pictures.

Do they need to wear their race number?
Not during the swim, but they should have their number pinned to something they put on (a shirt) after the swim so fans can cheer for them by name and we can connect names with photos

Do boys need to wear shirts?
They should – it’s a great place to pin the number. It’s actually a USA triathlon rule that men have to wear tops!

Where do we go after we’ve setup our transition spot?
If you arrive early enough, you’ll have a little time to catch your breath and relax vs. being all stressed out. So enjoy a few minutes before the excitement begins and you will be called and directed to report for procession staging.

My child is 10 and she has a friend who is 11; can they race together?
Sure! They can either race together in the orange division both as 10 year olds. Or they can both race as 11 year olds in the blue division which is 2 laps or twice the distance!!

What is the race day schedule and directions to race?

Saturday, July 17
MiracleKids Minneapolis
Lake Nokomis Main Beach

• From Crosstown Hwy 62, exit on Cedar Ave going North to Lake Nokomis
• If lot is full, look for best street side parking closest to beach at North side of lake
• 2010LakeNokomisMap

Saturday, August 21
MiracleKids Chanhassen
Lake Ann Park

• From Interstate 494 in Eden Prairie, take Hwy 5 West to Powers Blvd (Cty Rd 17) in Chanhassen
• Go Right on Powers and prepare to take an immediate Left at the first light onto W. 78th Street
• You’ll see the entrance into Lake Ann Park within 1/2 mile on your right.
• Click to view race map and schedule
• 2010LakeAnnMap