FAQ

Entry to RDJ Dublin City Triathlon is via this Eventmaster link.

Please note that RDJ Dublin City Triathlon is a Triathlon Ireland sanctioned event and as such you must hold a valid race licence in order to participate, a one-day license can be purchased if need be.

Each participant should realistically enter the race most suited to their abilities on raceday.
– Try-a-Tri – Swim 150m, Bike 14km, Run 2.5km
– Sprint – Swim 750m, Bike 20km, Run 5km
– Standard – Swim 1500m, Bike 36km, Run 10km
– Aqua-Bike – Swim 750m, Bike 20km

Entries will close for DCT at the earliest of the following:
– The race you wish to enter fills to capacity; or
– 23:59 on 17th August.

Typically each race will sell out before the official closing date, so we would advise entrants to enter well in advance.

Race places are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Places may become available if athletes decide to cancel their entry in advance of race day. If places become available we will publicise this on our website and social media channels.

Absolutely yes, you can race! You will need to buy a One Day Licence via the Triathlon Ireland website. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase the ODL in advance.

If you do not have a licence at race registration, you will not be able to race. No exceptions.

Try-a-tri – must be 16 on or before the 1st January 2024
Sprint – must be 16 on or before the 1st January 2024
Aqua-Bike – must be 16 on or before the 1st January 2024
Standard distance – must be 18 or over on 31 December 2024.

There is no upper age restriction.

Transferring entries is allowed through Eventmaster using the ‘Manage My Booking’ feature. You will be responsible for locating someone to transfer your entry to and it is the responsibility of the participants taking part in the transfer to manage the payment.

Race entries are non-refundable.

Deferring entry to the following year is not permitted.

We offer deferral up to 2 years or a full refund (whichever suits the participant best) for women who become pregnant before the race.

If you have any additional needs, please include this information when registering or alternatively using the contact form on this website. We will do our utmost to assist you.

Our website is the most up to date source for race information. We also recommend that you check our website regularly and check out our social media feeds.

In the leadup to raceday, we will email all entrants with our athlete guide. This will contain information on the day’s timetable, course maps, parking, etc.

The race HQ is based in the Garda Boat Club on Chapelizod Road.

The swim takes place in the River Liffey, bike in Phoenix Park and run along Chapelizod Road including a lap of Donore Harriers running track.

We are currently planning for a morning race start (approx. 9.00am-11.00am window).

We are busy working to put the race schedule together. Once it’s finalised, we will post on the website and on social media.

Yes, parking is available next door to the Garda Boat Club in St Brendan’s GAA club. We have limited availability so we suggest getting there early.

Alternatively, parking is available in the Phoenix Park.

Please note, cars will not be able to exit the car park until the last runner has completed the race.

Yes, a bag drop area will be available. Bags must be identified with the bag-drop tag received at registration. No boxes, bags or miscellaneous items may be left in transition. The bag-drop area will be supervised, but no responsibility can be taken for lost or stolen items.

Results will be emailed to all participants after the race. We will also be posting on the website and on our social channels.

Yes, you must be able to swim to enter the race. Time limits are in place for each race and you will removed from the water if you exceed the time limit

Cut off times are established to ensure the safety of all participants and to maintain the smooth progression of the event.

The cut off times are as follows:
– Try A Tri 150m = 7 minutes
– Sprint / Aqua Bike 750m = 25 minutes
– Standard 1500m = 50 minutes

Our swim safety team reserves the right to remove participants that do not meet those times or have, in their opinion, no realistic chance of meeting those times.

DCT is an extremely safety conscious event. We have a dedicated water rescue team in the water along with a number of spotters on the river bank keeping an eye on all athletes. 

If you get into trouble, roll into the backstroke position and signal for help using your arm and one of our crew will come to your aid immediately.

Should you require further assistance, our medics will be on standby at the riverside.

You will need to wear a swim cap which will be provided to you at registration.

You will also be required to wear a wetsuit and goggles.

Yes, wetsuits are compulsory in order to race. Any neoprene wetsuits are permitted (e.g. surfing, shortie, sleeveless). However, you should note that non triathlon wetsuits may not be as flexible to facilitate good swimming technique.

We strongly recommend that you practice with your wetsuit in the weeks prior to the race to get accustomed to the fit while swimming.

The swim for the Dublin City Triathlon takes place in the section of the Liffey which is above the weir at Islandbridge. It is thus not subject to the tidal flow experienced by the lower Liffey and has considerably higher water quality than that in the lower Liffey.

As per triathlon rules, we are required to test the water quality and must meet the minimum quality criteria for the race to go ahead. More information can be found on the World Triathlon website.

As with all fresh water swimming, entering the water presents risks, including Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease). The following precautions should be observed by all competitors:
– Avoid swallowing river water
– Cover any cuts, wounds or sutures with a waterproof dressing.
– If possible avoid reeds by swimming in the center of the river.
– Shower thoroughly as soon as possible after the race.

If you get injured in the water, thoroughly clean wounds and make sure that your tetanus immunization status is up to date. If you get a flu-like illness within a three-week period after the race, contact your GP Immediately.

A bike! The bike must be roadworthy with working brakes and adequate tyre pressure. 

A helmet is a mandatory requirement. The helmet must be in good working order and the straps must be fitted.

Rules of triathlon state that you are not allowed to receive any assistance during the race. If you get a puncture, you must fix it yourself or retire from the race. 

If you get into difficulty out on course and need to return to transition, ask one of our race volunteers who will do their best to help you.

We will have road closures in place for the duration of the race so the road is closed to normal traffic. A contra flow will be operated to allow emergency access to St Mary’s Hospital.

It is also possible that other vehicles will be on the course in exceptional circumstances. You are obliged to follow the rules of the road in all cases.

Drafting is not permitted. The “Draft Zone” is a rectangle surrounding every competitor that is 3 metres wide and extends to 10 metres behind the front wheel of the competitor’s bicycle. See Triathlon Ireland’s website for more information about drafting.

No. We do not provide bike rentals but can suggest the following options:

1) Biking.ie offers road bikes for hire

2) Phoenix Park Bikes – are located a kilometre from our race HQ. They provide bike rentals but options are limited.

3) Another option would be to post on our event page on Facebook to see if anybody would be willing to rent their bike. 

Yes, there will be an aid station on the course with water.

The transition area is a common area where participants rack their bike, run and swim gear before and during the race. It is also your assigned spot where you will transition from swim to bike and bike to run.

You are limited to the bare essentials in transition – your bike, helmet, bike shoes and runners.

All your remaining baggage must be placed in the secure Baggage Drop area. Please note that whilst the transition space is fully secure, all belongings are left at owner’s risk.

Each athlete will be allocated a designated spot in the transition area. Your transition rack will be labelled with your race number.

You cannot mark your transition place in any way. Flags / balloons / talc lines will be removed.

After the race, athletes will be allowed enter transition to collect their equipment. Athletes must have their race number to access and to exit transition.