Located just on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. this race takes place at a great venue and is so easy to get to. Named in honor of Maryland's fourth governor and the highest ranking Marylander to serve in the Revolutionary War, General Smallwood State Park is ideally situated for a triathlon. The swim takes place in the pristine Mattawoman Bay, known across the Nation as a top spot for bass fishing. After a short run to the transition area, athletes will race along 56 miles of rolling hills where most of the traffic is just your fellow triathletes! Once you've laced up your running shoes, you'll head back to the road for a fast out and back 2 loop course with aid stations every mile. Run past the restored house called Smallwood's Retreat towards the finish and you will understand why the General made this area his "Headquarters"!

The swim takes place in Mattawoman Creek and is a two loop rectangular course. It features an in water start and finishes up a boat ramp. We expect the water temperature at this time of year to be in the low 70s/upper 60s so it will most definitely be a wetsuit legal swim. 2011 race day temp was 64.8.

The bike course is simply fantastic. It features nicely paved, low traffic roads with lots of good shoulders, mostly rolling throughout. There will be water bottle hand-offs at miles 15, 30, and 45 with roving technical support and sag vehicle.

The run course is a two loop affair which is very similar to the International distance course, it's just two loops of it. All aid stations for the Waterman's Half will feature water, ice, HEED, flat cola, oranges, and Chex mix.