Course Info
Additional Information & Details Can Be Found In The Athlete Guide Under RACE INFO.
Overview
The course will take you through the rural and beautiful countryside of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, due south of Columbus, Ohio. The swim takes place at Deer Creek Lake. With a nice long beach, we’re able to keep racers close to shore even with longer distance races so you can be confident and calm during the race. Racers will swim out and back along the beachfront. The water is shallower near the shore and you can touch in most if not all places there, but on the backside of the course you will not be able to touch bottom. Beginner triathletes should be able to touch bottom the entire swim course however this is an open lake and we can’t control the bottom of the lake but just swim towards shore if you cannot touch bottom and need a break or are feeling uncomfortable. The transition area will be in the parking lots up the hill from the beach. Athletes will be on a paved lot as they transition from segment to segment. The bike course goes around Deer Creek on a loop with all right turns and 298 feet of elevation. The bike is on a paved road open to motorized traffic and the run is on a flat paved path out and back course inside of the park. Please note that although police and park rangers will be on the bike and run courses athletes must still obey all traffic laws and be aware of their surroundings for everyone's, including their own, safety. Athletes will finish in the parking lots next to the transition area and then can celebrate their accomplishments with post-race food and drinks.
Maps
Swim
300m: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5888091100
i. Beginners go down the beach 1 time on this course
750m Loop: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5888088232
i. Sprint athletes swim this course 1 time counter clockwise
ii. Olympic & ⅓ Iron athletes swim this course 2 times counter clockwise
iii. 3k swimmers complete this course 4 times counter clockwise
iv. 6k swimmers complete this course 8 times counter clockwise
Bike
7-mile out and back course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5888075317
i. Beginners ride out and back for a total of 7 miles.
13-mile course: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5888070064
i. Sprinters ride clockwise to complete 1 loop for 13 total miles
ii. Olympic racers ride clockwise to for 2 loops for 26 total miles
iii. The ⅓ Iron race is 3 clockwise loops for 39 total miles
Run
1.5 Miles: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5888050465
i. Beginners and sprint duathlon (first run only) complete this course once for 1.5 miles total of running
5k: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5667029638
i. Sprint racers complete this 1 time for a 5k (3.1 miles)
ii. Olympic racers complete this 2 times for a total of 10k (6.2 miles)
iii. ⅓ Iron athletes complete this 3 times for 9.3 total miles
The Transition Area
You must store all your gear in the transition area and enter the transition area between each leg of the race. The transition area will be split into zones and racers will rack their bikes in the designated zones. You can put your bike anywhere on the designated racks and store your stuff below/next to your bike. Open swimmers and aqua-runners will have a designated zone in the transition area to store their stuff. Run only participants will not be allowed in the transition area. Transition entrance and exits will be marked with signs.
Here are some transition area guidelines:
- The transition area is limited to only athletes (run only not permitted); spectators are not allowed in the transition area.
- You will be asked to use the racks labeled for your specific race type and distance. Please only rack in those areas.
- To learn more about how to transition please visit: https://beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1488
SWIM IN & RUN OUT (ALSO RUN IN FOR THE 1ST DUATHLON RUN) are on the same side of the transition area, closest to the water. You can walk or run to your rack to get your bike. Grab your bike, put on a helmet and head to Bike Out (opposite end of transition towards the registration tent). If you are doing the Aquathlon, you can head out to the run segment of your race. After you finish your bike portion of the race you may run or walk to run out and then complete the run segment of your race. Be sure to cross the finish line at the end of your race.
BIKE IN & BIKE OUT are on the opposite site of the transition area (from swim in and run out). Remember that you must wear a helmet when you are on your bike. Additionally you must put your helmet on before you leave the transition area (after you have exited the swim and picked up your bike in the transition area). You can walk or run your bike to the Mount Line, but may not ride your bike inside the transition area. Mount your bike after you cross the Mount Line and Dismount your bike before you cross the Dismount Line. Again you walk or run your bike back to your rack after you have finished your transition leg. Aquabikers will finish the race in transition and when ready walk over to the finish line for food and a celebration of completion. Everyone else, after your bike is complete, head to the run portion of your race.
All Aid Stations
Aid Stations are an essential part of the race course and can help maintain your energy and effort throughout the race. We will have multiple aid stations on the race course. The aid station inside of the transition area and on the swim course will be self-serve and the aid stations on the run course will be manned, unless the race director says otherwise during the pre-race meetings. We will have hydration and refueling products at each aid station. Racers may also carry all of their own aid and hydration on course or leave their refueling products next to the course. If you place your own aid on course, please be sure your aid is clearly labeled and that you do not interfere with directional signs or other athletes on course as you place or access your aid. Races begin at 7:15am so be sure your aid is in place before that time.
Aid Station Locations
Swim Course: There will be a table in the water along the beach for our long distance swimmers to use as needed. You are also welcome to put your own aid on the table to access during the race.
Bike Course: There will not be an aid station on course.
Run Course: There are 3 aid stations on course that can be accessed multiple times throughout your run. The aid stations will be at:
- Exit of transition area
- 1.5 mile route turn around
- Roundabout at the furthest end of the 5k run course
Swim FAQ
WETSUITS: If the water temperature is below 78 degrees we will be wetsuit legal. This means you can wear a wetsuit if you want, but you do not have to wear one.
SWIM CAPS: Please be sure you wear a swim cap for safety. We will give you a swim cap on race day.
COURSE: See the course maps linked above. The courses will be marked with colorful buoys.
DISTANCES:
The 6000m Swim is 8 laps on a 750m loop.
The 3000m Swim is 4 laps on a 750m loop.
The 1500m Swim is 2 laps on a 750m loop.
The 750m Swim is 1 lap on a 750m loop.
The 300m beginner swim is a point to point swim one way down the beach in shallow water.
EMERGENCIES: If you need to be rescued by a lifeguard throw your arms and hands in the air (call out if you can). If you need a rescue you will not be allowed to continue the race, unless you are cleared by our medical staff. If you are allowed to continue, you will be DQ’d from the race results. Along the shore the water will be shallow enough that you can stop, stand, rest or walk. If you want to walk, the water must be above your belly button. Beginner swimmers will be able to touch the bottom for nearly the whole course. On the 750m swim loop, you cannot touch bottom on the backside of the course. Know your limits, it’s ok to ask for help, at the end of the day this is a fun event and we do not want a fun day to turn into a medical emergency.
TO TRANSITION & OPEN SWIM FINISH: Once you have completed your swim, exit the water and run up the beach to the transition area or the finish line. Follow the flags, chalk and signs.
SWIM CUT OFF: Everyone must have completed the swim course by 10:00am. This should give everyone plenty of time to complete this segment of the race.
Bike FAQ
WHAT BIKE TO USE: You can ride most any upright human powered bike in the race including but not limited to road bikes (10 speed), mountain bikes, & hybrid bikes.
HELMET: Remember that you must wear a helmet when you are on your bike. Additionally you must put your helmet on before you leave the transition area (after you have exited the swim and picked up your bike in the transition area).
DRAFTING IS NOT ALLOWED: Please refer to the USA Triathlon rules for more information.
COURSE MARKINGS: The bike course is marked with 18"x24" yard signs with directional arrows. There will be a sign at each turn, so if you do not see a sign, please proceed straight. All turns are marked with signs. We DO NOT make any marks on the roadway surface, so please ignore all paint on the road surface. These are from other races and may take you off course.
SAFETY: The roads are open to traffic, so please obey traffic laws unless law enforcement tells you otherwise. Law enforcement will be on all corners and in major intersections. You may have the right of way but cars may not know this, so be alert. Please stay within your lane when turning; avoid oncoming traffic when turning. Please ride on the RIGHT side of your lane as close to the WHITE line as possible unless you are passing or it is unsafe. DO NOT pass cars unless you are instructed to do so as you would not want them to turn into you. Should you have an emergency, alert another rider so they can get help. Be sure you obey the traffic laws unless an officer is present and allows you to proceed & has stopped all the cars. Please put safety first, and have a great race!
COURSE MAPS: Please review the course maps before the race. It is your responsibility to know the course.
Beginners ride out and back to complete 7 miles
Sprinters ride clockwise around the lake to complete 1 loop for 13 total miles
Olympic ride clockwise around the lake to complete 2 loops for 26 total miles
The ⅓ Iron race is 3 loops for 39 total miles
When athletes are done they head to the transition area to finish or transition to the next segment.
If you are participating in the olympic or 1/3 iron races please do not enter back into the park when you are starting your 2nd/3rd loop, just continue past the parks beach entrance until you have completed the proper number of loops. You must keep track of your own loops but with a bike computer this is easy to do.
BIKE CUT OFF: Everyone must have completed the bike course by 11:00am. This should give everyone plenty of time to complete this segment of the race.
Run FAQ
COURSE MAPS: Please review the course maps before the race. It is your responsibility to know the course. The run course is marked with signs, cones and chalk. If you do not see a sign, cone or chalk/spray arrow keep going straight. There will also be volunteers on course as well. All runs will be out and back.
There will be one common 5k, out and back, course used by all athletes; except beginner tri/du and sprint du first run which will do the 1.5 mile course.
If you are running 1.5 miles you will turn around at the first water station.
If you are running 3.1-miles you will complete 1 lap of the course.
If you are running 6.2-miles you will complete 2 laps of the course.
If you are running 9.3-miles you will complete 3 laps of the course.
RUN CUT OFF: Everyone must have completed the run course by 1:00pm. This should give everyone plenty of time to complete this segment of the race.
The Finish Line
All athletes, except aquabikers, will have the same finish line where you walk, jog or run through an inflatable arch. Open water swimmers need to run up the beach and through the finish line to record your finish time, it is recommended to keep a pair of sandals/shoes at the beach to put on for your jog to the finish line. Aquabikers will finish the race in transition and when ready walk over to the finish line for food and a celebration of completion. Everyone else will finish their run race segment by running through the finish line arch. Please remove your timing chip and strap after you cross the finish line and hand it to a finish line attendant.
Additional Maps
Below you will find images of the transition area layout and the site map.
