Pleasant Creek State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa. To reach the park: From I-380 take exit #24 (Blairs Ferry Road) and head west to Palo (approximately six miles), turn north on County road W36 and follow signs. Closest airport to the park is the Eastern Iowa Airport. It is located about 30 minutes from the race site.

Swim

Wave starts begin at 7:30am sharp. The .5K (547 yard) course is a rectangular swim course from Pleasant Creek State Park swimming beach. Buoys will be to the right.  You will swim clockwise around the buoys.  Boats and safety personnel will be on the lake at all times. Water temperature is typically between 60 and 72 degrees. Wet suits will be allowed according to USA Triathlon rules (less than 78 degrees).

Time-Trial swim start format

 All athletes will start in a Time-Trial format beginning at 7:30am. For the Time-Trial start, athletes will line up according to their respective age-group wave (USA Triathlon age is based on your age as of Dec 31st). One person will start every 3 seconds by crossing over the chip timing mat on the beach before entering the water.

Bike

Our 25K (15.5 mile) bike course will take you through Iowa’s scenic countryside. Course marshals will be located throughout the route. Major intersections will have law enforcement personnel.

Sprint Bike course Turn by Turn instructions:
1. From transition go north on Beach Road
2. Turn right (East) on the Dam Road
3. Follow the signs directing you East out of the park on McClintock Rd.
4. Turn right (South) on Palo Marsh Rd. (County Rd W36) towards Palo
5. U-Turn on Palo Marsh Rd. (County Rd W36) @ Power Plant Rd. heading North now
6. Continue north past the park entrance (road changes names from Palo Marsh Rd to Lewis
Access Rd. (County Rd W36)
7. U-Turn on Lewis Access Rd. (County Rd W36) @ Bayou Ln. and head South
8. As you approach the park entrance pay attention to signs directing the sprint course athletes to
turn right (west) towards park on McClintock Rd.
9. Turn right (north) on the Dam Rd.
10. Turn left (south) on the Beach Rd.
11. Slow down for the dismount line

All bikers must wear an ANSI approved or equivalent helmet and USA Triathlon rules will be strictly enforced. Bikers without helmets will not be allowed on the course. No drafting allowed; officials will patrol the entire course.

Run

Transition Area

The transition area will be located in the parking lot of the beach area. It will be enclosed with fencing and or barricades. For the protection of you and your equipment, only participants are allowed into the transition area.

The transition will open at 6:00am on race morning. Bikes will be racked according to age group or division wave start designations. For safety reasons, riding bikes in the transition area is not allowed.

During the event, the transition will remain closed to everyone except athletes who are still in the process of racing.  No one including athletes who have already completed their event will be allowed into the transition area until it is reopened.  The transition will remain closed while bikes are on the course.