Race Basics
Additional Information & Details Can Be Found In The Athlete Guide Under RACE INFO.
Race Overview
The Columbus Triathlon and Multisport Festival has something for everyone, including all ages and ability levels! Races include beginner, sprint, olympic, and ⅓ iron distances in triathlons, duathlons, aquabikes, and aquathlons, and various open swim distances and run only races which we also welcome casual walkers to attend so that there is something for everyone in the family! Racers call the Columbus Triathlon one of the best events in Ohio because of our positive, friendly community of support! It's a small race with a big race atmosphere. Plus there is free training help, along with awesome race swag including super soft event tees, in-race pictures, finisher medals, custom race bibs and a post-race meal! Race assured that we will ensure the safety of all athletes, have medical support and law enforcement on site, adhere to all federal, state and local ordinances, and implement COVID-19 protocols to limit the spread of the virus, so you can achieve your goals! All are welcome at the Columbus Triathlon and Multisport Festival. Come check us out at: ColumbusTriathlon.com
Race Distances
Beginner Triathlon or Duathlon = 300m Swim / 7 Mile Bike / 1.5 Mile Run (First Duathlon Run is 1.5 Miles)
Sprint Races = 750m Swim / 13 Mile Bike / 5k Run (First Duathlon Run is 1.5 Miles)
Olympic Races = 1500m Swim / 26 Mile Bike / 10k Run (First Duathlon Run is 5k)
⅓ Iron Races = 1500m Swim / 39 Mile Bike / 15k Run (First Duathlon Run is 5k)
3k & 6k Swim Only = 1.86mi & 3.73mi Swim
5k, 10k & 15k Run Only = 3.1mi, 6.2mi & 9.3mi Run
Race Descriptions
Triathlon
This is a swim, bike and run event. You must enter the transition area between events. You will cross the finish line when you have completed your event. Transition times do count toward your total time. Your final time will include your swim split, transition 1, bike split, transition 2 and run split.
Aquabike
This is a swim and bike only event. You must enter the transition area between events. You must enter the transition area to get your bike and when you return to transition after your bike ride your race is complete. This is the only event that ends inside of transition. Transition times do count toward your total time. Your final time will include your swim split, transition 1, bike split and transition 2.
Aquathlon
This is a swim and run only event. You must enter the transition area between events, and you will cross the finish line when you have completed your event. You must enter the transition area after your swim, get your running gear and then proceed to the run course. At the end of your run you must cross the finish line. Transition times do count toward your total time. Your final time will include your swim split, transition 1, and run split.
Duathlon
This is a run, followed by a bike and then another run. You must enter the transition area between events. You will cross the finish line when you have completed your event. Transition times do count toward your total time. Your final time will include your run 1 split, transition 1, bike split, transition 2, and run 2 split. The duathlon will start near the “run out” of the transition area.
Open Water Swim
This is a swim event only and will be held on the same course used by the multisport athletes. The start for the open water swim will be the same as all other swimmers (on the beach). Athletes must leave the water and run up to the finish line at the top of the hill to complete their swim.
Run/Walk/Jog
This is a run event only and will be held on the same course used by the multisport athletes. The start for the runs will be near the “run out” of the transition area. Participants must cross the finish line to end the race and receive their overall time.
Race Venue
The Columbus Triathlon and Multisport Festival will take place at Deer Creek State Park Beach in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, which is about 50 miles south of Columbus.
Packet Pick-up and the Start/Finish Lines will be at/near the beachfront. The address is 14403 Crownover Mill Rd, New Holland, OH 43145. Follow the State Park signs for the beach. There is plenty of parking at the beachfront and all the race festivities will be in the main parking lot right up the hill from the beach.
Parking and Restrooms
There will be parking available at the beachfront. Brick and mortar restrooms will be available onsite in addition to portable toilets by the transition area.
Race Awards
We do not offer race awards because we believe everyone is a winner. So enjoy your swag, post-race food and drink, and celebrate your accomplishment with family and friends.
Our races are sanctioned by USAT, and we submit age group results in the triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and aquabike in 5-year increments to USAT (within 15 days of the race) for the purposes of calculating national rankings and eligibility for USAT Nationals and All American consideration.
Packet Pick-up Procedures
Athletes can pick up their race packets on Friday evening from 6pm-7:30pm or the morning of the race starting at 6am. Packet pickup will be in the furthest parking lot to the right when you pull into the park heading towards the beach; please look for the red and white registration/check-in flag. Packet pickup will work like this:
- Please register online before you come to packet pick-up. There is no in-person registration at the race venue due to USAT sanctioning however you can register onsite from your cell phone via the columbustriathlon.com website. Registration will remain open online through the start of the last race, so register before you come or again plan to register on your phone.
- Each person must pickup their own packet as we need every participant to sign a physical waiver prior to participating. Early packet pickup the evening before the event is strongly encouraged to reduce the wait time on race day.
- When you approach the registration tables please give the staff your name and they will hand you your race swag, which includes:
- Swim cap - Everyone who will be swimming as a part of their race.
- Race bib and pins - Every athlete (with the exception of the open water swimmers) will be required to wear a bib number on the front of their body during the final running/finish portion of the race. You can pin the number to you or use a race belt as long as the bib is visible and on the front of your body.
- Bike sticker - Every athlete in the triathlon, duathlon and aquabike will be required to have a race number sticker on their bike. Bike numbers can be placed on the top tube or seat post.
- Event tee - Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to be guaranteed a shirt however shirt order inventory will be entered into the registration system so you can see what sizes are available. With that said there are almost always leftover shirts in every size available once registration closes as not everyone who registers will show up and race.
- Finisher medal - likely given as you cross the finish line, not at registration.
NOTE: You will get your timing chip race morning. Please come back to the registration area for that race morning but if you are just picking up your timing chip that process will be fast. Be sure to know what race number you were assigned at registration as the chip you receive will match your race number.
NOTE: You will get your body markings on race morning. Please see the information below for more information on how you will be marked.
Start Details
All races will start at the beachfront, with the exception of the duathlons, which start at the run out area of transition.
There will first be a brief pre-race meeting or you can review all the information in the athlete guide and race website for more information. You may also ask questions of our staff as needed on race day or email/call us with questions in advance of the race.
Race distances will start in waves (see Start Times below), if a distance (eg: sprint triathlon) has a lot of participants we may have multiple waves (eg: gender or age specific start waves) inside of that specific distance and each wave will take 15-30 minutes to start all racers. Please arrive to your start area 15 minutes prior to the earliest wave start time or you may miss your race start.
All swim race segments will begin in waist high water to avoid dangerous running and jockeying for position from land to water. If you are a fast/advanced swimmer we recommend you start at the front of the group, if you are a slow/beginner swimmer we recommend you start in the back, average swimmers in the middle. We will not tell you where to line up in the water as you know your body, conditioning, experience and comfort level better than we do.
Any athlete that misses their start time will need to alert the starting race timer prior to starting or jumping into another race distance start wave.
Start Times
Please arrive at your designated start area at least 15 minutes before your race begins. Your race will begin after a brief pre-race meeting. To explain the timeframe below the ⅓ Iron + Olympic Duathlon meeting will begin at 7am and the race is expected to start at 7:15am. The next race meeting will start at 7:15am (likely a few minutes later than 7:15am as the race director and starting timer need to physically travel from the duathlon starting area to the beachfront) and the races are expected to start at 7:30am. This pattern continues every 15 minutes until 8:30am.
7:00am-7:15am: ⅓ Iron + Olympic Duathlons
7:15am-7:30am: ⅓ Iron + Olympic Triathlons, Aquabikes, Aquathlons & 6k + 3k Open Water Swimmers
7:45am-8:00am: Sprint Triathlon, Aquabike & Aquathlon
8:00am-8:15am: Beginner Triathlon
8:15am-8:30am: Sprint & Beginner Duathlons & All Run Only Distances (5k, 10k & 15k)
1:00pm: Timing is closed & event ends, all athletes must have completed 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.
Post Race
After the race we will have food and drinks ready for you to enjoy and celebrate your accomplishments! Please stick around to cheer on other competitors or take some food and refreshments home with you.
Results
Results will be available on this website the day of the race: ColumbusTriathlon.com. Results will be submitted to USA Triathlon within 15 days of the race. Results are submitted in 5-year age group increments for the triathlon, duathlon, aquabike and aquathlon for the purposes of USAT rankings.
