I heard back from USAT regarding the one-day license fee that is required for all participants in a sanctioned race that do not have an annual license. They are covering the $150 sanctioning fee, but not the one day license fee, which is $10 per racer. We have decided to sanction the race this year, primarily because of the insurance coverage USAT provides, but we need to decide whether or not to add an additional $10 to the entry fee for the one day license or if we want to include the license fee in the existing registration cost of $45.

I would like to include the license fee in the $45 registration for several reasons. Primarily, the benefit of sanctioning this race is primarily ours in the form of the insurance. As a beginner triathlon, most of the people we are hoping to attract are not trying to qualify for nationals, which can only be done at sanctioned races. Most of our racers will not have an annual license, and I don't want to see the additional cost deter them from signing up. And considering our profit from last year, and an anticipated increase in entries this year, I don't think our profit will suffer too heavily if we do cover the $10 fee. I definitely want to make sure we make some money, but I don't view it as a primary goal for this event.

I also do not want to be the only one involved in this decision, so let me know where you stand on the issue. I would like to have the registration open by the end of next week, and have the advertising out there, so if you could get back to me by Tues. that would be great. Thanks!

Russ Gates