ASHEVILLE TRIATHLON

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Rec Park Pool | Asheville, North Carolina

The Asheville Triathlon course is a super event for every level of triathlete, from novice to elites. Novice + Beginner tri-athletes love this race! The pool swim is great for new swimmers & the run is a flat, and easy to navigate. Please note: the bike course has been challenging to some beginners in year’s past. Be prepared to ride over several challenging hills with steep grades. You will be required to stay on your bike, you may not get off your bike and push it up hills, this is a safety hazard. Elite athletes – get ready for a PR! This race is fast and is a huge hit among local elites. The time trial swim start in a 50m pool allows swimmers to spread out. The bike leg is flat the first couple miles, so get down in your aero bars and push it. The middle section has some steep hills just get outta the saddle and roll over ’em! There are several downhill sections that are smokin’ fast! Many elites have PR’d during the 5k run, bring your racing flats!

2022 AVL Triathlon CONDITIONAL CITY OF ASHEVILLE PERMIT VERBAL APPROVAL COMPLETE, FINAL APPROVAL PENDING.

NOTE: NO HEADPHONES allowed at the event, as they produce danger to yourself and others around you when needing to communicate at the event. You will receive a time penalty and even get DQ’d if you are found wearing them.

“The Asheville Triathlon is a very special race to me as it is one of the most friendly races for both beginners as well as experienced triathletes. The course is one of the flattest you can find around here in the Asheville region, which also makes it a great course for going after a PR. Because it’s a local race, I always end up racing with friends and colleagues, which makes it that much more fun!”

Dr. Aimee Riley, AVL Triathlon participant and Dr. Mark Hedrick with EmergeOrtho: Blue Ridge Division are supporting this annual triathlon again! Thank you!

Race Details:

Course time limit is 12pm.

Start Times:

Time Trial starts 7:30 am

Pre Event Packet - Pickup information coming soon.

Race Day Packet Pickup will be 6 AM - 7AM

To avoid having to come to packet pickup, you can pay $10 during registration to have your items shipped to you (deadline: July 3rd at midnight).

Please note, you will not be given an exact swim time! We’ll start with a window of time for people who responded with the fastest 100 yard swim time, and participants within that group will self-organize into a line. Then, we’ll have a window of time reserved for the second fastest group of swimmers, and so on and so forth.

What is included with your race entry:

• A first-class triathlon experience in the summer in Western North Carolina!

• Course fully-marked with route signs and course markings on the road.

• Course preview video and course maps to get you prepped for race day.

• Chip-timing for accurate results

• Access to our community of athletes in our Strava Group.

• One-of-a-kind Prizes

Super-cool swag including:

• Unique Commemorative Finisher Medal for the first 200 to register

• Super comfy, custom-designed t-shirt

• Goody Bag

Awesome post event food and treats:

• More info coming soon!

Discounted T-shirt deadline:

Sunday, June 26th

Shirt prices have increased significantly, and we are no longer able to provide a free shirt, race shirts will be $5 at the time of registration, after 7/26, shirts will be available online for $15 during online registration.

COURSE INFO

LEARN MORE

RACE SWAG

See Swag

EVENT GUIDE

LEARN MORE

RACE VOLUNTEER

Email us

PACKET PICK-UP

Get Details

AWARDS & PRIZES

LEARN MORE

STAY CONNECTED

GREAT RACE FOR BEGINNERS
AND ELITE ATHLETES!

2022 RACE SWAG

Asheville Triathlon 2021 Shirt Free shirt

Shirts will be Brooks Podium Dri-fit, available in men’s and women’s sizes. Shirt prices have increased significantly, and we are no longer able to provide a free shirt. Race shirts will be $5 at the time of registration. After 7/26, shirts will be available for $15 during online registration.

The first 200 participants to register will receive a commemorative medal!

TRI LOCAL SHIRTS

TRI LOCAL tank tops are back! Purchase at packet-pickup and after the race at the iDaph tent.

COURSE INFORMATION

SWIM COURSE

The event will begin with a 400 meter outdoor pool swim at the Asheville Rec Park pool. The swim features a time-trial start with the fastest swimmers going first, and the rest following in approximately 5 second intervals. Swimmers will enter the water by running across a mat at the water’s edge near the shallow end of the pool and run into begin the swim.

SWIM WARM UPS ARE 7-7:20 AM

SWIM START TIMES

Your start time will be assigned to you. You can anticipate approximately 5 seconds between each swimmer, if you would like to anticipate your approximate start time. During the registration process you will be asked to submit your 100 yard swim time. This is not the fastest you can swim 100 yards but the time you expect to average during the entire swim. Here is a good guide when deciding what swim time to register:

0:50 – 1:20 : Super Fast (In contention to win the race and you swim competitively)
1:21 – 1:45 : Fast Enough (Still starting in the first 1/3 of the event)
1:46 – 2:10 : Average Swimmer (Swim well enough and don’t need to stop at the end of each lane)
2:11 – 2:44 : Novice (Still getting used to swimming in a triathlon)
2:45 – 4:59 : Complete beginner (I want to start at the back)

BIKE COURSE

The 11.6 mile bike course will feature some rolling and challenging hills making for a true Asheville kind of bike ride before returning to Asheville Recreation Park for a final, very fast run.

Ride with GPS

The roads will be open to the public so all participants are urged to be alert to traffic. All intersections with a traffic light and/or turn will have law enforcement stopping traffic.

Elevation Gain/Loss: 283 feet

Bike Route Cue Sheet:

Right onto Gashes Creek Road
Left on NEW BRIDGE at Azalea Road E.
At roundabout take a RIGHT onto Azalea Road
Left onto Tunnel Road
Quick Right onto Lower Grassy Branch Road
Right onto Old Farm School Road
Left onto Riceville Road
Right onto Tunnel Road
Left onto Swannanoa River Road
Left onto Azalea Road
Right onto Gashes Creek Road
Right into Rec Park pool area/Transition

RUN COURSE

The run is an out and back style course and is one of the flattest 5k’s you will find in the area! Runners will stay on the right side of the road for the run. While the road will be open to traffic, most of the course is lightly traveled. Flat and fast is the name of the game on this 5K.

Check out the Run Course HERE

TRANSITION ZONE

We will have a normal transition zone for this race, rather than a “transition at your car” style. Please allow 15-20 minutes to find a bike rack and organize all your gear there before starting your swim.

Once you complete your swim, you’ll have a short jog down to the transition zone. There, you’ll have your bike, running shoes, and other gear waiting for you at a bike rack. Walk your bike (NO RIDING INSIDE THE TRANSITION ZONE) to the transition exit, mount your bike, and head out for your ride!

The Transition Zone closes when the race starts at 7:30am. Please have all your items put into transition by 7:30am.

Spectators must arrive at the event no later than 6:15 am and park at the Soccer Field Complex. No participants will be allowed in this area past 7:30 am. All spectators are required to wait until the last runner has finished to leave the Soccer parking lots, we expect this to be around 9:30 am. Spectators are NOT permitted to ride their bike around during the event to watch a participant race. This has been a safety hazard and concern at the race, please leave your bikes at home if you are coming to spectate. While you’re there, think about volunteering to help out for a hour or two!

EVENT GUIDE

LOCATION

Held at Asheville Recreation Park— 65 Gashes Creek Road Asheville, NC 28805.

Registration and Packet pick up will be located at Rec Park off Swannanoa River Rd and Azalea Drive. Turn right across the bridge onto Gashes Creek Rd. and go to the round pavilion above the pool.

DIRECTIONS:

FROM ASHEVILLE, NC

1-40W to exit 53 B for interstate 240-W/US-74 Alt. West toward Asheville. Take exit 8 for US 74-A toward Asheville 81. Turn right onto US-74 Alt W/Fairview Rd. Take a right onto Swannanoa River Rd. Take the 1st right onto Azalea Rd. and then the 1st right onto Gashes Creek Rd. The Rec Park will be on your right.

FROM GREENVILLE, SC

Take US-25, continue straight onto N Poinsett Hwy. Continue straight onto SC-414 E into North Carolina. Keep left at the fork and follow signs for US-25 N/Interstate 26 W and merge onto Interstate 26 W. Take exit 44 for US-25 N / US-25 South BUSINESS toward Fletcher/Mountain Home. Turn right onto Asheville Hwy, continue onto Hendersonville Rd, and turn right ontoUS-25A N. Take exit 53 B to merge onto 1-240 W/US-74Alt W toward east Asheville. Take exit 8 for US-74-A toward Asheville 81. Turn right onto US-74Alt W/Fairview Rd and continue to follow US-74 Alt. Turn right onto Swannanoa River Rd, take the first right onto Azalea Rd, and the first right again onto Cashes Creek Rd. The Rec Park will be on your right.

PARKING:

All spectators and participants must park at the JBL Soccer Complex parking lots on Azalea road & must be at the parking lot by 7:15 am. Parking is located a short distance from the start of the race. In past years participants and spectators have been allowed to park close to the pool on Gashes Creek Road, this year no parking will be permitted in these areas. All participants and spectators are required to wait until the last runner has finished to leave the Soccer parking lots, we expect this to be around 9 am. In addition, no parking is allowed at the gravel parking lot by “The River” church on Hwy 81/Swannanoa River road this year. This parking lot produces a hazard for cyclists screaming down the last hill to the transition area.

Volunteer with us!

Volunteers are the backbone of a terrific event experience. There are many opportunities for volunteering at the event, whether you’re a racer, spectator, or just curious and helpful! Sign up to donate 1–2 hours of your time helping to make the event run smoothly by counting laps, helping at registration, and other useful tasks. All volunteers will receive an awesome race tee, yummy food and will get to enjoy in all the event festivities. It’s easy to sign up, just click, enter your email for confirmation, and choose your spot!

If you prefer not to use your email address, or have trouble signing up, please contact us to sign up manually.

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

RACE GUIDELINES

Please be respectful of the community that the event is being held in so we can continue this event for many years!

INDIVIDUAL TIMING

Each participant will use a disposable ankle band with a timing chip inside it. This ankle band can be worn on either ankle. This will be given to you during packet pickup. We suggest that you add a safety pin to tightly secure the band around your ankle. If you lose your band, you will be charged an additional $10 for a replacement. If you lose the band during the race, you will not have a result.

Swim Start Organization

During registration, you will be asked what your estimated 100 yard swim time is. Based on those answers, we will post the wave starts for the swim to the main page during the week of the event.

Please note, you will not be given an exact swim time! We’ll start with a window of time for people who responded with the fastest 100 yard swim time, and participants within that group will self-organize into a line. Then, we’ll have a window of time reserved for the second fastest group of swimmers, and so on and so forth.

Transition Zone

We will have a normal transition zone for this race, rather than a “transition at your car” style. Please allow 15-20 minutes to find a bike rack and organize all your gear there before starting your swim.

Once you complete your swim, you’ll have a short jog down to the transition zone. There, you’ll have your bike, running shoes, and other gear waiting for you at a bike rack. Walk your bike (NO RIDING INSIDE THE TRANSITION ZONE) to the transition exit, mount your bike, and head out for your ride!

SWIM GUIDELINES

Bring your own swim cap!
Swimmers will cross a timing mat, then run into the shallow end of the pool, they will make an almost immediate LEFT down the first lane of the pool. You will flip turn or slide under the pool buoys/lane line to the next lane and go down the lane, flip or go under the lap lane at the other end of the pool and continue this pattern throughout the swim portion of the event. You will only GO ONE DIRECTION in a lane. The lanes are wide enough for passing, so please when swimming stay to the right in your lane unless you are passing. Pass on the LEFT side of the swimmer and then get back into the right side of the lane when you are done passing. Touch the wall at the end, then flip turn or slide under the lane line rope and then proceed to the next lane. Please look at our swim map for a visual on the directional flow in the pool.

I participated in my FIRST triathlon last weekend at your event.

I wanted to follow up and let you know that after conquering the nerves (which dos not happen until I actually entered the pool!) this race experience was fantastic!

The informational meeting the night before was helpful for my organizing brain. The morning activities flowed smoothly and everyone was friendly and encouraging.

Thank you for putting on this incredible event and helping my first tri experience be positive! It was an amazing morning and crossing that finish line was exhilarating!

Kandi Newkirk

Asheville Triathlon Participant

AWARDS & RESULTS

AWARDS

Virtual participants will have their medal + swag mailed to them for free after the race.

Additional awards will be given out to top finishers registered for the in-person event only.

In-person awards categories are as follows:

Top three Overall (male and female)
Top Masters (male and female)
Age group awards (top 3 male and female for each)
- 19 and under
- 20 - 29
- 30 -39
- 40 - 49
- 50 - 59
- 60 - 69
- 70+