The COURSE
The swim
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Average Water Temp
62 degrees Fahrenheit or 16 degrees Celsius -
Gear Requirements
gloves and booties are not permitted. Wetsuits are strongly recommended but not mandatory.
Description
This is a 3-loop swim. There are 3 buoys you will be swimming around clockwise. You will be exiting the water at the beginning of each loop to run around a buoy and then reenter the water. You will begin swimming before the sun is up. Because of the early morning start we will have lights attached to the buoys for sighting purposes because how can you swim towards something you can’t see? After the third loop you will exit the water at the boat ramp and proceed to T1.The Start
The swim starts at 5:00 am from the Beach Front shore. It will be a mass start. The start is a land start.Rescue Boats/Kayaks
We will have rescue boats and kayaks during the swim. These boats will contain a mix of medic personnel and lifeguards along with rescue equipment to aid swimmers in need.THE BIKE
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Elevation Gain
9,246 feet / 2,873 meters -
Peak Altitude
9,656 feet / 2,943 meters -
Gear Requirements
Sunglasses suggested, a front-facing solid white headlight and rear-facing red blinking light (both mounted to the bike), bright colors or reflective vest highly recommended, flat changing kit, fully charged cell phone.
Description
The bike course will be marked at turns with signs letting the athletes and support crews know where to turn. We will have mile marking signs every 20 miles along the course.
Support
Sheep On The Course
Each year the sheep have shown up on the bike course. Please be careful on the descent from Wolf Creek Pass.
Extra Caution Area
There will be absolutely no support from the base of Guardsman climb to T2. Any and all support given must happen before mile 86. We highly encourage giving final support as early as possible to give you enough time to get to the transition from bike to run. We recommend your last support happens just after mile 78. We are not responsible for and cannot predict traffic conditions that may hinder you from reaching your athlete at T2. It is your responsibility to get to transition before your athlete. As an athlete, plan on over an hour and a half for this stretch of the ride. If you are found giving your athlete support between the base of Guardsman climb to T2, your athlete will be disqualified.
Extra Support for Riders on Guardsman Pass
Since support cars are not allowed after mile 86, we will provide 2 vans on this section of the race. These vans will patrol from mile 86 to mile 93. These vans will be stocked with water, some nutrition and bike supplies.
Hairpin Turns
Please be aware of the 3 hairpin turns on the downhill between miles 96 – 98. Yes you just finished climbing Guardsman Pass and all you want to do is get to T2 because it’s so close. The thing is you have to actually arrive at T2. Be a little more cautious as you travel through these 3 hairpin turns.
T2
Only the registered support crew member is allowed into T2 with a wristband. This crew member can be inside T2 waiting for their athlete to arrive. Once the athlete arrives, it is the crew member’s job to help their athlete get ready for the run. Once the athlete is ready for the run, it becomes the crew member’s job to clean up all of their athlete’s equipment. This includes all clothing, gear and bike. The crew member will need to take all their athlete’s equipment out of T2.
Obey Traffic Laws
This is a completely open bike course without any law enforcement. All athletes are to obey traffic laws and rules of the roadways at all times. This includes arm signals when turning and stopping when required to do so by signs and signals. You must have your front and rear lights on, and a cell phone with you at all times. Additionally, there is no littering.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is provided by Adventure Enablers
Each participant will be given a tracking device on race morning at equipment check in. The crew member will keep the GPS tracking device while their racer is swimming. Once the racer enters T1 the crew member needs to make sure the GPS tracking device remains on their racer for the rest of the race. It is important for the crew member to make sure the GPS tracking device is on their racer as they leave T2. After the racer has crossed the finish line and finished celebrating, we will collect the GPS tracking device.
The red sections on the bike course and run course identify where there is a weak signal for the GPS units. On the bike course the weak signal is from mile 48 – 62. On the run course the weak signal is from mile 5 – 10. Once the athletes enter these areas the signal will become weak and we will not see updates. Once they exit these weak areas the signal will return and updates will continue.
Insider tips
This can be a long day for the support crew, so we would like to try and take a little of the planning and worrying about car fuel and fuel for yourself out of the equation. On the bike course there is only one section where you can find gas stations. This is at the beginning of the bike couse in Duchesne. Along with these gas stations, you will find a grocery store.
Another section of the course that has a gas station and food options nearby is around mile 84, just before the final climb and finish. Just 2 miles off the course, on Main St. in Midway, you will find 2 more gas stations, a grocery store and a Subway. If you feel you need something more than these options you can always head into Heber, just under 4 miles off the course. Heber has a larger selection of gas stations, fast food options and additional grocery stores.
One last place you can find gas and fuel for yourself before getting to Solitude is in Park City. This is when you are off the course and making your way to T2. You will find many gas stations and food options while driving through here. Remember once you get up to the finish, Solitude Resort, there are no more gas stations or grocery stores. Solitude will be offering food from their facility.
THE RUN
black SHIRT DISTANCE
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Elevation Gain
7,543 feet / 1,827 meters -
Peak Altitude
10,528 feet / 3,209 meters -
Gear Requirements
When starting the run each athlete and/or support person will need to have a water bladder or bottle system, headlamp, cell phone, small rechargeable battery pack and enough nutrition to get through the first 16.5 miles. Trail shoes are recommended as the majority of the run will be on trails. Hiking poles may be used, but are not required. If you choose to use them, please practice hiking with them prior to race day.
white SHIRT DISTANCE
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Elevation Gain
3,907 feet / 1,190 meters -
Peak Altitude
9,883 feet / 3,012 meters -
Gear Requirements
When starting the run each athlete and/or support person will need to have a water bladder or bottle system, headlamp, cell phone, small rechargeable battery pack and enough nutrition to get through the first 16.5 miles. Trail shoes are recommended as the majority of the run will be on trails. Hiking poles may be used, but are not required. If you choose to use them, please practice hiking with them prior to race day.
Description
The run course will begin at Solitude Resort. The course will be marked with color flags. For night time racing, we will mark sections of the course with glow sticks.
The course starts in the Solitude parking lot and heads back out to Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. The course will head down, left turn, the road. Athletes will cross the road at mile 3.5, the North Fork trailhead. The course will take athletes to Dog Lake. After the lake the course follows Big Water Trail, Little Water Trail, Great Western Trail and then onto the Wasatch Crest Trail. At mile 16.5 the course crosses over Guardsman Pass Road. At this point the course splits.
- This is the first time the support crew can meet up with their athlete.
- At this point it is highly recommended for each athlete to have someone pace them for the remainder of the run.
Black Shirt Finish:
The course continues on to the top of Great Western Express ski lift and then on to the Clayton Peak Trail. Here athletes will take a right and jump on the trail. The course continues on to the Brighton Lakes Trail and then on to the Granite Lakes Trail. The course will take athletes to Twin Lakes Reservoir and athletes will run around the reservoir. The course will then take athletes up the Solbright Trail and the Summit Access Road. At the top the course will head down to the Queen Bess Trail and then on to the finish line.
White Shirt Finish:
Here athletes will turn right and head down Guardsman Pass Road. At the end of the road, athletes will cross the road, turn right and head down Big Cottonwood Road. The course will then turn left into the Solitude Resort parking lot and on to the finish line.
Athlete Support
Water Filters
Depending on the temperature and time it takes you to get to mile 16 and the finish line you might find yourself short on water. There are a few areas along the course where there are water sources. A filtered water bottle could be helpful but definitely not mandatory.
Bug Spray
Athletes have mentioned after the race they
wish they had bug spray on the second half of the race. You decide.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is provided by Adventure Enablers
Each participant will be given a tracking device on race morning at equipment check in. The crew member will keep the GPS tracking device while their racer is swimming. Once the racer enters T1 the crew member needs to make sure the GPS tracking device remains on their racer for the rest of the race. It is important for the crew member to make sure the GPS tracking device is on their racer as they leave T2. After the racer has crossed the finish line and finished celebrating, we will collect the GPS tracking device.