A brand new venue, a 5 year redevelopment project has the new Tawas City Shoreline park on 23 a great spot for this new addition to the Sunrise Side Multi-sport Series.  Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Lake Huron, biking on the lightly travelled roads of Iosco county and running along US 23’s bike path before finishing back at shoreline park. 

Transition

The Transition Area will be adjacent to the beach on Lake Huron.

Opens – 6:00am 
No friends or family members allowed in the transition area for any reason. The race director and race officials will close the transition area 30-45 minutes before race start to ensure all athletes are at the starting area for mandatory course meeting and announcements. Once the transition area is closed, you will NOT be permitted back in before the race starts. Family/Friends will not be permitted in for any reason at any time throughout the event. 

Re-Opens
When the last cyclist is off the course and has headed out for the run. This time is variable and we will make announcements at the event when the transition area is ready to re-open. 

Any athletes removing gear from transition areas before the announcer or race director has officially opened the transition area will be DISQUALIFIED from the race! This pertains to all athletes of all distances. All athletes deserve a clear transition. 

In the event of inclement weather, it is recommended you have warm, dry clothing outside the transition area to put on following your finish due to other athletes still being on the bike course. 

Timing Chip
When you have completed the race, please do NOT enter the transition area wearing your timing chip. PLEASE remove your chip before re-entering the transition area and exiting again. This will cause a timing error. 

Racking
You must rack according to your race number, based on the sequence numbers placed at the end of each row. Please remember racks will hold 7 bikes racked with the seat tip on support bar. Please be courteous to fellow athletes to ensure there is space for 7 bikes on a rack. If there is not enough room for your bike on your designated rack, please see a 3D Team member and we will help. Please do not move another athletes bike or gear. 

Aid Station
Located at the run in/out chute with water and electrolyte replacement. 

Directional
Run In/Out and Bike In/Out chutes are clearly marked on the large structures at either end.  It is your responsibility to go the right direction while racing in the transition area.

Swim: 200m, 500m or 1.5k

A Time Trial swim start.   For safety reasons it is important we ensure we are doing all we can to alleviate stress at the start and turning at buoys.  A time trial start ensures everyone has a clear, stress-free swim.  You will SELF SEED according to your 500m swim time.  (THIS IS YOUR ACTUAL swim time, not what you THINK you will swim, or want to swim) this is important to ensure you are not swam over or create congestion by seeding yourself faster than you can swim.  Don’t be that athlete that creates a traffic jam.  See yourself appropriately and everyone will have a great time in the water.

Each athlete will report their number to the timer before crossing the timing mats and entering the water.  Again your responsibility to report that number to the timer.   You will be lined up on the causeway and enter off the causeway with a jump into the lake.

As with any Great Lake swim we are at the mercy of mother nature.  The pier will allow us to use another side if one side is rough so this will be an ever changing swim course from year to year.  Water temps in the great lakes can do what we call the flip, where the wind can pull all the warm water from bay out and flip it with the cold water so it could literally be 75 on Saturday and 60 Sunday morning.  Typical temps this time of year will be in the upper 60’s.

Bike: 10k, 20k,40k

A fast rolling, smooth loop on very lightly travelled roads.  There may be 25 homes on the entire course.  Some farm land, some tree lined but this is one of those courses where you can put the head down get as aero as possible and put the hammer down.

Run: 1mi, 5k, 10k

This course was part of the old Tawas Half Ironman run which is on the 8 foot wide paved path along US23.  It is a fast out and back course finishing back at Shoreline park. 

It will be YOUR responsibility to print maps and know the courses. They will not be available at the events.

ALL aid stations will be stocked with water, lemon-lime Gatorade Endurance Formula, 

Kayak / Paddle Board / Canoe - 2 mile Kayak/SUP, Canoe, 14mi bike, 5k run

Canoes, Kayaks and Paddle Boards are all welcome and will race in their own division.  This will change as will the swim from year to year based on the wind direction and mother nature.  Heading straight down the lake to your turnaround buoy, returning to the beach in front of the clubhouse where you will park your vessel and head to transition, meshing in with the swimmers exiting the opposite side.  

You will start just before the Sprint Female wave.  

You are required to have a life jacket on board

Aquabike

You will start with your specific swim start in the time trial line. Check the information cube at the event for wave start information.  

You will complete the Swim and Bike disciplines of the event. Following your Bike discipline, you will dismount your bike, cross the Bike In timing mats and place your bike back at your spot on the rack in the Transition Area.  You will then proceed across the Run Out timing mats and you are done! Your finish time will be when you cross the timing mats at that point.

DO NOT re-enter the transition area through Run In/Out or Bike In/Out. This will cause a timing error.  

Finisher Memento 
If the event offers a finisher’s memento, please proceed to the finish area to receive the item. Tell the support crew at the finish line you were in the aquabike race and they will hand you the finishers memento. 

You will keep your timing chip & strap on until all the bikes are off the course. Once we announce the transition is open, you may turn your chip & strap in at the designated collection point and retrieve your gear at that point.

Duathlon - 2.5k run, 14mi bike, 5k run

Run – Bike – Run: here we go for the folks who would rather not swim:

Starting out under the duathlon start flag you will head out to the 2.5k turnaround point, head back down the hill and into the transition area for the bike discipline.  Then following your loop on the bike you will transition back to the final run.  Then following the sprint 5k course to finish it all off.

Parking

This is a state park, all vehicles must have a Recreational Passport to enter the park. Michigan residents can purchase a passport at the Secretary of State when renewing vehicle tags or at the park office, the pass is good for an entire a year.

All non-residents can purchase a one day pass for $8.40 or an annual pass $33.40 at the park office. There is very limited parking that is a reason for the cap, so please plan to arrive early.