Course Overview
The Great American Triathlon follows the historic route of Eppie’s Great Race, starting at William Pond Recreation Area with a 5.8-mile run leg along the American River Parkway to the Guy West Bridge near Sacramento State University. The 12.5-mile bike leg takes competitors back upstream on the paved bike path to the Lower Sunrise Recreation Area where the event transitions to the final leg, a 6.10 mile paddle down river to River Bend Park.
NOTE: Racing on an electric bikes (E-bikes) is forbidden for this event. Bike monitors will be visually looking at all bikes at the Run-to-Bike transition. Any one competitor or team on an E-bike will be noted and disqualified from the race.
Pre-Race
Ironperson Equipment Setup (Click to Read)
Watercraft Staging
Boats should be delivered to the staging area at the Lower Sunrise pedestrian bridge at the Sacramento Bar Parking Area on the north side of the river (see diagram) between 5:00 am – 7:00 am. No boats will be allowed to enter the area after 8:30 am. It is recommended that the Ironperson go with the crew to stage the boat so the Ironperson will be familiar with the location of the boat on the beach.
- Ironperson boats will be placed upstream of the pedestrian bridge (except for Adaptive participants – see diagram) on the north side of the river.
- Boat numbers must be affixed to the left front of the boat prior to placing boat on the beach. Numbers are commonly affixed to the boat using duct tape.
- Leave your Personal Floatation Device (PFD) inside the boat. All participants are required to wear a PFD on the paddle leg of the race.
Bike Staging
Bikes should be delivered to the staging area at the Guy West Bridge (see diagram) across the river from the CSUS campus between 5:00 am – 7:00 am. No bikes may be delivered to the staging area after 8:00 am. It is recommended that the Ironperson go with the crew to stage the bike so the Ironperson will be familiar with the location of the bike in the transition area.
- Street parking near the bridge is available on University Ave., off of Howe Ave.
- Follow signage to the appropriate Ironperson bike rack in the transition area.
- The two-sided bike number must be affixed to the upper tube using the self-adhesive tape. Leave your helmet with matching sticker on the front. All participants are required to wear a helmet on the bike and paddle leg of the race.
- Crew members are required to stay clear of the bike rack area during the race and may not assist Ironperson with their bike.
Relay Teams Equipment Setup (Click to Read)
Watercraft Staging
Have your paddler(s) deliver the boat to the staging area at the Lower Sunrise pedestrian bridge at the Sacramento Bar Parking Area (accessed from Pennsylvania Avenue) on the north side of the river (see diagram) between 5:00 am – 8:30 am. No boats will be allowed to enter the area after 8:30 am.
- Relay Team boats will be placed downstream of the pedestrian bridge on the north side of the river (except for Adaptive teams – see diagram).
- Boat numbers must be affixed to the left front of the boat prior to placing boat on the beach. Numbers are commonly affixed to the boat using duct tape.
- All participants are required to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and a helmet on the paddle leg of the race.
Bike Staging
Have your cyclist wait with the bike in the staging area at the Guy West Bridge (see diagram) across the river from the CSUS campus between 5:00 am – 8:00 am. No bikes may enter the staging area after 8:00 am.
- Street parking near the bridge is available on University Ave., off of Howe Ave.
- Wait with your bike in the appropriate zone for your division in the transition area. Your transition zone is identified by the letter on your bib, as well as the bib color.
- The two-sided bike number must be affixed to the upper tube using the self-adhesive tape. Matching sticker must also be applied to the front of the helmet. All participants are required to wear a helmet on the bike and paddle leg of the race.
- Team cyclist will remain in the designated zone with the bike until they have received the official ankle timing band from the team runner.
Click Image above for Printer-Friendly version
Race FAQs
Participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Great American Triathlon® FAQs before competing.
The Race
Start Line
Runners should arrive at William Pond Recreation Area between 6:15 am – 7:15 am to find parking and use restroom facilities. All runners should be lined up at the start by 7:50 am. Adaptive participants will start at 7:58 am and general participants (both Ironperson and team runners) will start at 8:00 am.
Ironperson Transitions (Click to Read)
Run-Bike Transition
Runners must enter the lanes for their division from the dirt area on the levee side of the bike staging area and exit with their bike onto the paved bike trail. Make sure to put on your helmet prior to leaving the transition area.
Bike-Boat Transition
At the conclusion of the bike leg of the race (at the Lower Sunrise parking lot), event staff will catch your bike and take it to the nearby holding area. You must continue across the timing mat on foot and cross the pedestrian bridge to locate your watercraft on the north side of the river (except for Adaptive participants). Ironperson boats will be staged on the upstream (right) side of the foot bridge.
Continue wearing your helmet and put on your PFD. A bib number should be visible on the front of your body (ie. on the front of your PFD). To prevent injury in the event of a capsize and while running up the beach to the finish line, all participants must wear shoes in the watercraft.
A free shuttle from River Bend to the Sunrise bridge is available for athletes to pick up their bikes at the bike dismount area. The bus will depart at 11:30 from the parking lot at River Bend.
Relay Teams Transitions (Click to Read)
Run-Bike Transition
Runners must enter the lanes for their division from the dirt area on the levee side of the bike staging area and exchange the ankle timing band with the cyclist. Relay zones are marked by colored signs matching the color of your bib number. Turn left into your relay zone to locate your cyclist. The cyclist will exit with their bike onto the paved bike trail. Make sure to put on your helmet and bib number (front of body) prior to leaving the transition area.
A free shuttle from Guy West Bridge to William Pond Recreation area is available for runners to return to the finish line. Busses will depart at 9:00 am & 9:50 am.
Bike-Boat Transition
At the conclusion of the bike leg of the race (at the Lower Sunrise parking lot), event staff will catch your bike and take it to the nearby holding area. You must continue on foot across the timing mat onto the pedestrian bridge (except for Adaptive teams) where you’ll exchange the ankle timing band with your watercraft partner. The watercraft partner will continue across the footbridge and locate their boat on the north side of the river. Relay team boats will be staged on the downstream (left) side of the foot bridge. Paddles must be left in the boat and are not allowed on the bridge.
Boaters must wear a helmet, PFD and shoes at all times. A bib number should be visible on the front of your body (ie. on the front of your PFD). If competing in a tandem boat division, both participants should wear a bib.
After the transition, the cyclist will return to the south side of the bridge to retrieve the bike. Please use caution and stay clear of other participants on the bridge. During peak periods, there may be a delay in picking up bikes.
After retrieval of your bike from the holding area, you may not cross the pedestrian bridge or ride on the bike trail. Many cyclists opt to ride back to River Bend Park using surface streets, which is approximately 6.5 miles via Sunrise Blvd., Trinity River Dr., Coloma Rd., Folsom Blvd., and Rod Beaudry Dr. Note that this route is not monitored by race staff and is at your own risk.
Relay Teams - Directions for Riding Sunrise Blvd. back to River Bend Park (Click to Read)
Sunrise back to River Bend Park
Directions for the 6.55 mile ride back on city streets to River Bend Park for the post-race party:
Head South on Sunrise Blvd – .7 miles
Right on Trinity River Dr. – .52 miles
Right on Coloma Rd – 3.06 miles
Right on Folsom Blvd – 1.21 miles
Right on Rod Beaudry Drive – 1.06 miles to River Bend Park
Click Image above for Printer-Friendly version
Click Image above for Printer-Friendly version
Finish Line
Boaters are required to exit their watercraft and run the remaining 50-100 feet to the finish. If participating in a tandem watercraft division, the participant with the ankle timing band needs to cross the finish line. After crossing the finish, a volunteer will collect the ankle timing band and present you with your finisher medal(s). Medals for the entire team will be given to the paddler who crosses the finish line on behalf of their team.
Leave your paddle with your boat. Volunteers will place it in your boat or secure it to it to your boat and then take it to the boat storage area adjacent to the finish line.
Post-Race
Equipment Retrieval
Boats
Boats may be removed from the boat storage area shortly after finishing. Please collect your boat from the storage area by 11:30 am. It is recommended that you include an identifying mark on your paddle in case it gets separated from your boat. Boats may be taken to the Kayak Corral in River Bend Park, paddled across the river or carried across the footbridge to William Pond Recreation Area. Boats may not be placed in River Bend Park except in the Kayak Corral.
Bikes
All bikes must be picked up at the Lower Sunrise parking lot by 1:00 pm. Make sure to bring your bike retrieval tag or bib number in order to collect your equipment.