Gateway to the Bay - Olympic Course Description

SWIM COURSE - BOAT START - 1,500 Meters - Use Hybrid View & Zoom In

Starting Sunday April 11, 2010 at 7:15am.

Swimmers (as of now and subject to change) will be loaded into boats either at the Star Fleet Docks/Marina OR at the Kemah Boardwalk (updates to come) then taken 1,500 meters offshore and dropped into Galveston Bay. Boats will line up single file according to sequential wave starts. Triathletes will then jump from the boats into the water as their wave is called and position themselves between the two orange start buoys. NO DIVING! Waves will be spaced apart by 7 minutes increments. Swimmers will then swim towards the 7th Street ramp/stairs where they will exit and be met by volunteers ready to help them exit and strip their wetsuits (if needed) before heading into transition.

PLEASE BE AWARE Although Galveston Bay is not deep this may prove to be a difficult swim for beginners. If you have trained for the distance you will be fine. We will have lifeguards, coast guard, kayaks, boats, jetskis, and other flotation / rescue vehicles on the course at all times and ready to aid any swimmer that requires assistance.

BIKE COURSE - 2 FULL LOOPS - 24.85 Miles - Use Hybrid View & Zoom In

Simple 2-Loop Out & Back course south on 146 after a quick northern trek over the Kemah Bridge. ALL RIDERS PLEASE SLOW YOUR SPEED GOING DOWN THE NORTH SIDE OF THE KEMAH BRIDGE AS THERE’S A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT NEAR THE BOTTOM. You’ll then loop under the bridge and go back up and down it which will place you heading south on Highway 146. You’ll go south about 5.2 miles from the end of the bridge and u-turn just before Avenue R.

BE SURE TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER BEFORE U-TURNING. We have plenty of police and traffic control at the u-turn but better safe than sorry. From there cyclists have a straight path heading north to start their 2nd loop. ALL OLYMPIC ATHLETS MUST DO A SECOND LOOP! Should make for a fast bike. Wind is sometimes present so hold on!

PLEASE BE AWARE Although we will have TONS of cones, traffic signs, and electronic directional boards, this is still a partially open course. Cyclists will have the entire right lane and shoulder to themselves but ARE NOT permitted to EVER go into the left lane anywhere but at intersections that they are directed to do so and patrolled by police officers. Please also be aware that although we have police and signage/cones on the course that may not stop drivers from coming into your lane. Please ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and other cyclists and all other potentially harmful vehicles or objects.

RUN COURSE - 6.2 Miles - Use Hybrid View & Zoom In

Runners will head out under the Kemah Bridge and cross over into Clear Lake Shores. Once at the Clear Lake Shores Loop (around the shoreline of the lake) ALL RUNNERS MUST COMPLETE THAT 1.5 MILE LOOP 2 TIMES OR THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DISQUALIFIED! We will have a timing mat that you can only hit twice if you do the second loop so NO COURSE CUTTING! There will be plenty of aid stations, porta-cans and even a first aid station out on the course. After the second Clear Lake Shores Loop runners will head back towards transition for a spectacular finish!

Olympic “ESCAPE Qualifier” Course Description & Maps

ALL COURSES NEWLY UPDATED!