Race Site location

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.

Half Iron Distance:

View the Race Course Map

Swim

Wave starts begin at 7:30am sharp. The 1.2 mile course is a triangular shaped swim from Pleasant Creek State Park swimming beach . Buoys will be to the right. Boats and safety personnel will be on the lake at all times. Water temperature is typically around 76 degrees . Wet suits will be allowed according to USA Triathlon rules (less than 78 degrees).

Time-Trial swim start format

Elite athletes and teams will start in waves beginning at 7:30am. All other athletes will start in a Time-Trial format. 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 challenging 56 mile bike course will take you through Iowa's scenic countryside. The course will be marked with arrows, caution signs and mile markers every 5 miles. Course marshals will be located throughout the route. Major intersections will have law enforcement personnel.

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.

Olympic Distance:

Swim

Wave starts begin at 7:30am sharp. The 1.5K course is a triangular shaped swim from Pleasant Creek State Park swimming beach . Buoys will be to the right. Boats and safety personnel will be on the lake at all times. Water temperature is typically around 76 degrees . Wet suits will be allowed according to USA Triathlon rules (less than 78 degrees).

Time-Trial swim start format

Elite athletes and teams will start in waves beginning at 7:30am. All other athletes will start in a Time-Trial format. 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 challenging 40K bike course will take you through Iowa's scenic countryside. The course will be marked with arrows, caution signs and mile markers every 5 miles. Course marshals will be located throughout the route. Major intersections will have law enforcement personnel.

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

Coming from the North on I-380:

Take I-380 to exit #35 (Center Point) and turn right onto Lewis Access Road. Continue on this road for about 7 miles. The road will turn into Lewis Bottoms Road. Turn right at the top of the hill onto McClintock Road. Take McClintock Road for about a mile to the park entrance. Follow signs to beach area.

Coming from the South on I-380:

Take I-380 to exit #24B and turn left onto Blairs Ferry Road heading West. Continue on this road for about 7 miles. Turn right on Palo Marsh Road. Continue on this road for about 3 miles. Turn left at the top of the hill onto McClintock Road. Take McClintock Road for about a mile to the park entrance. Follow signs to beach area.

Coming from the Eastern Iowa Airport:

Use the coming from the South on I-380 directions above. The airport is located about 30 minutes from the race site. It is South East from the race site. Just off of I-380.

Coming from the Cedar Rapids Marriott:

Leave hotel and head West on Collins Road for about 3 miles. Turn right on Edgewood Road. Take Edgewood Road for a half a mile. Turn Left on Blairs Ferry Road. Continue on this road for about 6 miles. Turn right on Palo Marsh Road. Continue on this road for about 3 miles. Turn left at the top of the hill onto McClintock Road. Take McClintock Road for about a mile to the park entrance. Follow signs to beach area.

Packet Pickup location

Race packets can be picked up as early as the day before the race, between 12 noon and 6:00pm , race packets may be picked up at our host hotel. The Cedar Rapids Marriott Map) is located East off of Interstate 380 and Collins Road in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Packets can be picked up on race morning at the race site (Pleasant Creek State Park) from 6:00am to 7:00am .