Great Lake Escape Triathlon

Time:	7:00 AM	Status:	Open
Date:	Sunday, September 07, 2008	Participant List:	Not Available
Place:	East Harbor State Park	Course Maps:	Click Here
Location:	Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio
Distances:	1.5K swim + 40K bike + 10K run

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Great Lake Escape takes place on Ohio’s north coast – East Harbor State Park. The park is situated on the shores of Lake Erie and is only one of two events in the world that feature a leap from a ferry boat for the swim start – the other - the Escape From Alcatraz. The Jet Express ferry is the start of your Great Lake Escape as athletes swim to the beach at East Harbor State Park. From there, their bike journey begins around beautiful Marblehead Peninsula, returns to the park for a challenging run features the deep sands along Lake Erie, wooded trails, and winding paths before the sprinting to the finish line to the cheers of friends, family members, and park visitors.

Part of your entry fee goes to the East Harbor State Park’s fund to help support and maintain the park’s facilities and conservation programs.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Triathlon begins with a plunge from the Jet Express® ferry into the cold waters off the shores of East Harbor Bay in Lake Erie. The ferry ride will be thrilling as participants excitedly wait to disembark on the journey we call, The Great Lake Escape! Your exact starting point will not be known until the morning of the event as the weather, currents, ebbs, and the season make it difficult to know the starting point in advance. Once the best way to have you swim with the tide has been determined, you will be poised to begin your morning exiting the boats feet first into Lake Erie. The start is a major adrenaline rush as you take that first leap to begin your 1.5K swim journey to the beach of East Harbor State Park. This is a wetsuit-mandatory swim.

Upon exiting the waters at East Harbor beach, you will proceed to the transition area where you will begin your 40K bike journey around the historical Marblehead Peninsula. The 40K loop course is entirely on well-paved public streets and state highways. You will be treated to a fast escape from the transition as the first 10 miles out of East Harbor State Park are flat to slightly downhill and features a short out-and-back section along a fishing causeway. This section provides the only opportunity on the bike course to catch a glimpse of the competition. The course then weaves throughout the countryside, where athletes will ride through beautiful open fields, fruit farms and quarry lakes. The facade of fun begins in the back half of the bike course when you head into Marblehead and Lakeside where you will climb a slight uphill grade for 8-10 miles while enjoying views of Lake Erie and other attractions such as Cedar Point Amusement Park, golf courses and the downtown area of Marblehead. In addition, athletes will be able to see some sites of historical interest such as Johnson’s Island (which was home to Confederate prisoners in the Civil War) and the Marblehead Lighthouse (the oldest working lighthouse in the Great Lakes). Finally, the course descends upon heading back into East Harbor State Park to the transition, where athletes will prepare to take on a daring 10K run.

The 10K (6.2 miles) run exits out from the front of the North Bathhouse. This challenging run begins at the North Swimming Beach House of East Harbor State Park where you enter the infamous Quicksand Crawl. A saving grace is the scenic views of the inner harbors (and all the fantastic wildlife) as well as South Bass Island (with Perry’s Monument). Your journey will then take you into the winding wooded trails of Sidewinder Strand. Sidewinder Strand continues for a little more than a mile before you will turn around and head back towards the beach. At this point, you will be able to get a quick view of the competition. After hitting the beach for a second time, with views of Kelly’s Island, you will head past the transition area through gravel and grass into the dense vegetation and rolling sand trails of Jungle Alley. Exiting Jungle Alley with a quick left turn, it's off to the beach yet again (sans bucket and shovel) ... for a tour of the south end of the East Harbor State Park Beach. Finally, you will head towards the finish on a fast, flat, fire road, across some more grass and gravel to the spectator-lined finish chute. The finish will be next to the sports expo and registration where each finisher can declare… “I have met the Great Lake Escape finish… and it is mine!” (With deep apologies to Admiral Perry.)

EVENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, September 6
Registration/Packet pick-up at Park	12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
	3:00 pm
Sunday, September 7
Triathlon & Duathlon Schedule
Multisport Packet pick-up	5:45 am
Transition Opens	5:45 am
Bus Departure for Jet Express Ferry Begins	6:15 am
Transition Closes	7:00 am
Last Bus Departure for Jet Express Ferry	7:05 am
Ferry Boat Loading	7:15 am
Jet Express Ferry departs to Swim Launch	7:30 am
Event START	8:00 am
Course Closing
Swim Course	9:00 am
Bike Course	10:30 am
Run Course	11:00 am
Award Ceremony	11:00 am

TIMES are subject to change to inclement weather

EVENT RULES

Participants must wear assigned number on the front of your shirt or shorts. Your number must be visible to checkpoint recorders at all times. Attach timing chip to your ankle with the provided strap. You will not be scored at the finish line unless your number is visible and your timing chip is attached when you cross the finish.

Bike Helmets are mandatory. No exceptions. IF Bike Helmet and bike numbers have been assigned, they must be secured to equipment. Once the transition closes you will be required to display assigned race number to enter and exit the transition or remove any equipment.

Swim Caps colors and numbers will be assigned and must be worn. You will not be able to start the swim without your swim cap.

Non-participants are not permitted in the transition area for any reason.

Transition closes promptly at stated time. No entrance into transition will be permitted after stated time.

AWARDS

Triathlon & Duathlon
The top three overall finishers by gender and the top three division finishers by gender will receive an award commemorating their experience. Each member of the top three relay teams will receive a commemorative award.

All athletes must be present to receive awards. No awards will be mailed, delivered, or dropped-off. If you must leave the event before receiving your award please make arrangements with a friend or family member to get your award or discuss with finish line management. Participants contacting us after the event to claim award will be referenced to the award policy.

Award Availability – Awards are ordered 10 days prior to the event and based on registration. For the smaller participated race divisions, it is important to sign up as soon as possible to ensure an award is ordered.

DIVISIONS

Event division are available to participants:

Age divisions – Male & Female: Under 19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, etc.
Clydesdale (Men 200 lbs +) and Athena (Female 150 lbs+)
Relay Teams – 1 category only

Note: Reference age-up rules for all age division participants

ENTRY FEE

Entry Fees below do not reflect $10 one-day license fee for multisport athletes who are NOT members of USA Triathlon. We are required to collect these license fees and pass them directly to the appropriate event sanctioning body. ALL non-members are required to pay the one-day license fee.

Reference Technical Shirt and Amenities for technical shirt guarantee and sizing policy.

	By 4/1	4/1 - 9/6	Race Day
Triathlon	$ 65	$ 80	$ 95
Triathlon – Relay	$ 105	$ 120	$ 135
Duathlon	$ 50	$ 65	$ 80

Part of your entry fee goes to the East Harbor State Park’s general park fund to help support and maintain the park’s facilities and conservation programs. Additionally, all volunteers are members of various fundraising non-profit organizations. For their support of the event, the organizations receive a contribution.

You must present active membership card and valid photo I.D. for all events at packet pickup or pay one day Membership fees. Participants who paid their one-day license fee on-line or via mail-in registration MUST fill out license registration form, which will be available at athlete check-in.

REGISTRATION

There are two ways to register for your event:

Register Online:
Download an entry form and mail-in entry form CLICK HERE

POLICIES AND REFUNDS

Transfers – Event transfers within 10 days of event are subject to a $15 transfer fee + the incremental increase in Fee. There are no entry fee refunds for transferring from a longer distance to a shorter distance.

All transfers must be received in writing at register@fatrabbitracing.com

Click here for Athlete Safety and Fat Rabbit Racing event policies.

TECHNICAL SHIRTS AND AMENITIES

Fat Rabbit Racing and Brooks (www.brooksrunning.com) have partnered in 2008 to provide participants with quality technical shirts. No more cotton! Please review the Brooks’ sizing chart to make certain you select the right size during registration. Also, please read the shirt guarantee and sizing policies.

Athletes must be registered 15 days from the event date to be guaranteed an event shirt. Athletes registering within 15 days of the event date will need to sign an event shirt waiting list at athlete check-in and then check back after the race for shirt availability.

Shirt size selected during registration will be the shirt size given you at athlete check-in. If the shirt size selected by you during registration is the incorrect size, you will need to complete a shirt size transfer list at athlete check-in. You will be required to check back after the race for size availability.

LODGING AND ACCOMODATION

Insert B&B and Visitor Center Logos

The Port Clinton Area Bed and Breakfast Association welcomes you to Ohio’s Vacationland on Lake Erie. Our member inns offer variety, style, and a singular charm which simply cannot be found in any other choice of accommodations. Modern amenities such as private baths, air conditioning, gourmet breakfasts, and comfortable common rooms are the norm. Visit our website at www.portclintonbedandbreakfast.com to find information about our member B&Bs then choose your favorite, call your innkeeper, and make your reservation. We look forward to your visit to the Lake Erie islands region.

DIRECTIONS

From the Cleveland to host venue – Take S.R. 2 West to S.R. 269 North. East Harbor State Park is located on S.R. 269.

From Columbus to host venue – Take S.R 23 North to S.R. 4. Go North on S.R. 4 to S.R. 2. Go West on S.R. 2 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on S.R. 269.

From Cincinnati to host venue – Take Route 75 North to S.R. 12 (Findlay), go North/Northeast on S.R. 12 to S.R. 53 (at Fremont), North on S.R. to East on S.R. 2 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on S.R. 269.

From Toledo to host venue – Take S.R. 2 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on S.R. 269

For Directions from your location: