Updated: February 2022 — Start training now! To help, here is your guide for the Carlyle Lake Triathlon. The annual Carlyle Lake Triathlon is being held at Carlyle Lake on Sunday, September 18, 2022. In partnership with Carlyle Lake, the City of Carlyle, IL, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and MSE Racing, the Carlyle Lake Triathlon will replace the CAPEX Triathlon from prior years.
To start, you’ll run across the beach and begin swimming in beautiful Carlyle Lake. The second phase of the race will transition to a flat, scenic bike route through the Illinois plains. The final leg of the race is set on our rolling country roads ending with a gorgeous view of Lake Carlyle, the largest man-made lake in our state.
The event offers varying distance options providing an opportunity for participants with multiple athletic levels to join the competition.
The Course
Carlyle Lake provides the perfect location for this event!
Swimming:
The Carlyle Lake Triathlon provides a great swimming experience. This year the race begins at the Carlyle Lake shoreline.
Running:
With fierce competition, you may miss a view of the spillway from the dam that needs to be seen to be adequately described. Whether you are running under a quiet tree cover or past the rushing water on the opposite side of the dam, this route will be filled with sights and sounds to keep urging you forward and zero in your focus on the finish line!
Biking:
As you grab your bike and begin pedaling, the flat, country roadways create a single-shot loop to set a strong pace for this final leg. The course over the smooth surface of our quiet rural highways helps fill your need for speed.
Event Distance Options
Here are the events to choose from:
- Sprint Distance Triathlon: Swim 750M, Bike 20k, Run 5k
- Sprint Distance Triathlon Relay: Swim 750M, Bike 20k, Run 5k
- Olympic Distance Triathlon: Swim 1.5k, Bike 40k, Run 10k
- Olympic Distance Relay: Swim 1.5k, Bike 40k, Run 10k
- Aqua Bike Sprint Distance: Swim 750M, Bike 20k
- Aqua Bike Olympic Distance: Swim 1.5k, Bike 40k
The relay teams have members choosing separate swim, bike, or run to total the three elements.
Race Day Schedule
To plan for the race:
Saturday, September 17
- 10 am – 3:30 pm: Pick-up race packet at the Lake — Dam West Beach, Carlyle Lake
- You must personally pick up your own packet. No one else can pick it up for you.,
- 10:30 am or Noon: Mandatory Swim and Course Talk
Sunday, September 18
- 4:30 am: Transition opens — Dam West Beach
- 5:00 am: Wetsuit announcement
- Wetsuits are legal in water that is 78° or below.
- Wetsuits are not legal in water above 78°.
- Wetsuits are optional in water between 78° – 82°. Please note that this group will no longer be eligible for any awards or USAT points.
- NO wetsuits are permitted in water 82° or above.
- 5 – 5:30 am: LIMITED packet pick-up at the Lake
- 6:20 am: Condensed Swim and Course Talk for those who missed it on Saturday.
- 6:30 am: Transition Closes – possible swim warm-up at the beach.
- 6:45 am: Para-athletes start the swim.
- 7:00 am: All other athletes start the swim.
- Groups will be formed according to race distance and self-seeded based on your estimated pace.
- If wetsuits are not legal yet you wish to wear a wetsuit for safety, you must stage yourself in the back.
- Swimmers are started with 2 athletes every 4 seconds beginning with Olympic distance participants.
- Swim caps are color-coded based on your race distance.
- 11 am: (approximately) Awards will be presented for Sprint and Olympic distances.
Volunteering
A race like this requires a large number of volunteers. If you don’t choose to participate in the race, we’d love to have your help as a volunteer.
Volunteer positions include:
- Packet pickup — assisting in distributing race packets
- Set up and clean up crews — assisting in setting up and tearing down tables
- Swim Leg Support
- Shore support — assisting athletes as they exit the water
- Swim course safety kayaks — you must provide your own kayak and PFD. There are a limited number of kayaks available for volunteers; check with the e: mail below.
- Body marking at transitions — marking athletes with their number
- Bike Leg Support
- Bike mount and dismount — provide instructions clearly and loudly
- Bike course Marshall — positioned throughout the course to assist athletes
- Turnaround Marshall — positioned at the specific turnaround locations
- Run course aid stations — provide water to athletes at water stations
- Finish line — medal and timing chip collection
- Food and water stations and suppliers
- Clean up crew
- Volunteer tent and floaters
- Bike Leg Support
- Bike mount and dismount — provide instructions clearly and loudly
- Bike course Marshall — positioned throughout the course to assist athletes
- Turnaround Marshall — positioned at the specific turnaround locations
- Run course aid stations — provide water to athletes at water stations
- Finish line — medal and timing chip collection
- Food and water stations and suppliers
- Clean up crew
- Volunteer tent and floaters
For questions regarding volunteering, please contact Volunteer@mseracing.com.
It sure takes a village to host a successful race! Now that you have read your guide to the Carlyle Lake Triathlon, start thinking about what part you want to play — athlete, volunteer, or spectator!