The Swim Course
The swim takes place at scenic Farmington Lake*, three miles northeast of Farmington on Hwy. 516. The 1,500 meter swim consists of two 750 meter legs, incorporating a short beach run between laps. Water temperatures are expected to be anywhere from the mid 50’s to the low 70’s. Wetsuits are strongly recommended and will berequired if the temperature is 57 degrees or lower. Neoprene skull caps would be a good idea. Wetsuits will not be allowed if the water temperature exceeds 78 degrees, which is unlikely. The Race Director will make a decision on whether or not wet suits will be required on race day. Spectator viewing opportunities are excellent. Course officials will collect all swim gear after the swim, and transport it to the amphitheater to be picked up after the race by race participants. You will be provided with a bag to stow your swim gear in transition. Please remember to pick up your run gear after the race which will be waiting for you at run/bike transition. Lake temperature as of June 2, 2010: 64 degrees.
The Run Course
The six mile trail run winds around the lake until you hit the power line trail, at which point you will head due west to the amphitheater. After crossing Foothills Drive, the power line makes a 90 degree southward turn to Lions Park. Be advised that we will be crossing two well traveled roads, and keep your head up, as traffic does not always heed the pleas of course marshals and police officers. Water/Gatorade stations will be placed at 1.6 miles (where the lake road meets the power line) and 3.9 miles (where the power line makes a 90 degree turn south). You will not be issued a race number for the run. View a Garmin marked map of the 2009 course. The 2010 course varies slightly from this map. Please note, some online maps still list Farmington Lake as Beeline Reservoir. The number in your race packet is for your bike handlebars.
The Bike Course
The 19.5 mile bike leg takes place on sections of the venerable Road Apple course. The course is 86% mature hard-packed sandy single-track. There are numerous whoops, blind corners, and short, steep hills, all negotiated best with the hammer dropped. If you enjoy mountain biking you will love this course! View a Garmin marked map of the 2009 course. The 2010 course varies slightly from this map. Please note, some online maps still list Farmington Lake as Beeline Reservoir.
The mountain bike course has four areas of concern.
1. The City has undertaken a major road paving and realignment just north of Lions Wilderness. Construction will probably be ongoing as race day arrives. After two miles of single track, you will pop out on a series of roads, Lakewood, Hood Mesa Trail, and Foothills Drive, all of which may or may not be paved by then, and if paved, presumably will have bicycle lanes. Participants will be traveling both ways on this Hood Mesa/Foothills route, 1.5 miles each way, and it is very important to stay on the right. You will encounter traffic and although we will have course marshals, the rules of the road apply. Be cognizant of possible oncoming traffic, you may have to yield.
2. At the top of Foothills Drive, as you enter the main single track loop of the race, is a 100 foot bottleneck, where the incoming and outgoing single track merges. It is probable that the fastest 15% of racers finishing their 11 1/2 mile loop will meet the slowest 15% of racers, just beginning their loop. We will institute a “yellow flag” area here, manned by a five member course marshal team that will guide you through this 100 foot section. Passing will not be allowed in this 100 foot area. After leaving the safe zone, which should take you about five seconds, you’ll have 1.5 miles of road to put the hammer down and pass, so chill for a few seconds. We have your safety in mind.
3. You must have your race number firmly affixed to your handlebars, as we will be marking it just prior to your descent down through the Whoops. As you negotiate the Whoops, and climb back up Bong Rock, you will be directed north back to the Whoops, where on your second lap, you will bypass the Whoops to Upper Rigor Mortis and return to the finish. To accomplish this maneuver, you will be merging with, and traveling with, other racers on the same trail for a little over a mile. You will not be lost, our course marshals will show you the way, just keep hammering. At the far northern part of the course, a course marshal will note your number, assuring us that you have indeed made it that far. So, affix your number, because if you are not accounted for by our marshals, we will assume you didn’t complete the course.
4. If you have not pre-ridden the course, please be careful on the last short, but steep downhill on the Whoops, which will be marked by two caution signs. The bottom of the hill is wallowed out and it’s fairly easy to “endo” there if you are caught up in the thrill and unsuspecting. We had a face plant in this spot the first year and a broken bike frame last year.
The Swim Course 
The Bike Course
