Ann Arbor Tri, Du, & Aquabike

Since 1986, the iconic and classic Ann Arbor Tri has been held in the Pinckney Recreation Area at Halfmoon Lake, one of the largest state parks in all of Michigan. You’ll swim the open waters of Halfmoon, bike the rolling paved country roads of the surrounding rural area, and then run the Potowatomi Trail.  It’s a classic course you’ll come back to again and again.

Choose Your Challenge!
Olympic Triathlon — 1500 meter swim (64 lengths in a standard metric pool), 28-mile paved road bike, 5.3-mile trail run (Yes, it's really an Olympic: (USAT Distances Defined)
Sprint Triathlon — 750-meter swim (32 lengths in a standard metric pool),14-mile paved road bike, 3.5 mile trail run 
Olympic Aquabike (swim bike done) — 1500 meter swim, 28-mile paved road bike
Sprint Duathlon — 2-mile paved run, 14-mile paved road bike, 3.5 mile trail run
Olympic Relay — team up with one or two friends to complete our Olympic Triathlon together
Sprint Relay — team up with one or two friends to complete our Sprint Triathlon together

Park Entry
A State Park permit or Recreation Passport is needed to enter Pinckney Recreation Area. Visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources here for pricing and more information.

Host Club

The Ann Arbor Tri Club and the University of Michigan Tri Team will be your host clubs for this event. We are grateful to them for providing volunteers and bringing sharing their passion, dedication, and spirit to the Ann Arbor Tri!

To learn more about Ann Arbor Tri Club, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about The University of Michigan Tri Team CLICK HERE.
To learn more about our club sponsorship program, CLICK HERE.

Course

Please note that in the interest of safety, all courses are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the race director.

750m Swim Course Map (2x for Oly)

Duathlon 1st Leg

Sprint Bike Course Map

Olympic Bike Course Map

Sprint and Mini Run Course

Olympic Run Course

USA Triathlon Distance Defined

Start Times

While start times are noted in the event information, all start times are subject to change. All participants must be at the mandatory race meeting on the beach at 7:15 AM and ready to race by 7:30 AM. An official race schedule will be sent in the pre-race information.

Post-Race Party

Stick around post race for food and festivities! Our Epic staff and volunteers will be cooking up pancakes, breakfast burritos, and more for race participants.

Zero Waste

The event is a Leave No Trace event. Learn more about our race-day recycling and composting efforts here. Want more information about running a great race and leaving no trace? Click here to visit Happy Planet Running!

→ Read the 2023 Ann Arbor Tri sustainability report here!

Each participant will receive a shirt in unisex or fitted sizing and each finisher will receive a custom finisher medal (MEDAL REVEAL COMING SOON!)

You will be given a bib sheet and an ankle strap. 
Put your ankle strap on your left ankle following THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Remove your bib number from the sheet.  You will wear it on your front during the run.  The simplest way to wear your bib number during a tri is with a race belt. If you don't have one, they are available in our store here.

Your helmet sticker will go on your helmet and the seatpost sticker will go on your bike.  The other stickers are just for fun! :-)

Additionally, during registration, you were asked for your phone number to have your results texted to you after crossing the finish line.  If you skipped this step, you can still add it to your registration.

Each participant will also get a colored, silicone Swim Cap designating their event distance. These caps must be worn by all participants.

Aberdeen Bike will be on-site to help you with any last-minute bicycle needs before the start of the race!
We also recommend visiting Aberdeen in Chelsea, MI before race day to make sure your bike is race-ready! 
 

Meet Kevin, owner of Aberdeen bike! He has been working towards the dream of owning a shop since his first year working in a shop back in 2006. He started working in Ann Arbor at Great Lakes on the sales floor and quickly moved to wrenching at REI. Next he was hired at Two Wheel Tango, where he became a senior mechanic until the store closed in 2013. From there he moved to Sic Transit Cycles with an idea of building a machine of a service center. Over those eight years, Kevin learned about the bumps and curves of leadership, and observed how to run a store with compassion and intelligence. When Aberdeen reached out about the possibility of taking over, Kevin jumped (Although somewhat reluctantly) at the opportunity. He has been the head of service at Aberdeen since February 2023 and finally achieved his goal this fall. 

He fell in love with bikes at the age of 5 when he learned how to ride. Fell in love again the first time he hit the trail. Fell in love again when he took a 10,000+ mile tour through four countries over the course of a year. All these experiences mixed with his passion for bikes has led him to settle in Chelsea and call it his forever home. He celebrates this with his Wife Jae and two sons Huemac and Kyrian. He is a dog lover (the dog on the new logo is Maddie, his heart dog that passed away a week before he purchased Aberdeen), a musician, and a crafty fella (He's been known to make knives and jewelry). Come say hi! He will likely be in his office filling out forms and making phone calls, but he will take a break for a good chat.

The Ann Arbor Tri Club and the University of Michigan Tri Team will be your host clubs for this event. We are grateful to them for providing volunteers and bringing sharing their passion, dedication, and spirit to the Ann Arbor Tri!

To learn more about Ann Arbor Tri Club, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about The University of Michigan Tri Team CLICK HERE.
To learn more about our club sponsorship program, CLICK HERE.

Setting up a transition area can be a daunting experience!  The transition area is the “hub” of the race and packed with participants.

Use the following as a guideline on how to set-up your transition area for all Epic Races’ triathlons, duathlons, and aquabikes.  It is helpful to practice setting up and using your transition area.

Know exactly what items you will use for T1 and T2. Also, know the precise order in which you will use everything. Shoes, sunglasses, helmet, bike, hat, and anything else you may need or want.  Remember to keep it as simple as possible!

Rack your bike: Find your number in the transition area. Standing behind your bike, lift the back part of your bike off the ground and place the front part of your bike seat over the bike rack.

Be sure to check your front and back brake pads to prevent rubbing on your wheel during the race.
Check tire pressure. (If you are unsure about this or the brake pads or anything else technical for your bike, head over to our bike support crew and ask for help!

Make sure your bike is in a comfortable gear. Small chain ring, as opposed to big chain ring, is a lot easier to pedal after getting out of transition area.

Use a bath towel or folded beach towel (preferably lightweight and small) and claim your territory beside your front wheel. This is your area to be used during the race. Remember, you have your spot but others need space as well. Your towel should hold only the belongings you plan on using during the race. Keep all other pre and post-race items outside of the transition area. Here is a general list:
Swim goggles
Swim cap
Bike helmet
Bike shoes
Run shoes/socks
Race number (and a way to wear that number, such as a race belt)
Nutrition and hydration (longer distance races)

Place your ankle strap (w/ timing tag attached) on your ankle.

Place your filled water bottles on your bike.

Set up your running shoes and bike shoes if you have them in a comfortable place to grab them quickly.  Be sure to loosen laces and straps.

Place your helmet on the towel either next to or in front of your cycling shoes. Be sure the straps are unbuckled and the helmet will easily fit on your head. Your helmet should be upside down, with the front of the helmet (helmet number from race bag) closest to your feet.

Open your sunglasses and place the lenses inside the helmet with the sides of the glasses pointing up. Be sure your glasses are open so that you can grab the outside of the sunglasses and quickly put them on your face.

If you plan on wearing a hat/visor, place your visor on the very top of the towel, in front of your running shoes. Be sure the hat/visor is already adjusted to fit your head.

If you plan on using a race belt, unfasten your race belt (w/ race bib attached) and place the belt next to your running shoes. If you do not plan on using a race belt, safety pin your race bib to your running singlet. 

If you have any additional nutrition items (gels, water) or miscellaneous items (inhaler, Vaseline, sunblock) keep those items on the back of the towel (away from your feet).

Here is a great photo from our friends at Feisty Triathlon:

Packet Pickup Information

Participants have three opportunities to pick up their race packets before the race. Your packet includes your bib number, bike stickers, swim cap, and T-shirt. Please bring a photo ID. You may pick up for others—just bring a copy of their ID and QR code.

Packet Pickup: At the Race Site

Date: Friday, July 10, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Halfmoon Lake Day Use Facility
Address: 8725 Hankerd Rd., Gregory, MI 48137

This is a great chance to check out the staging area, walk through the course, and meet the Race Director for a brief “Triathlon 101” session!

Race Day Packet Pickup

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 AM – 7:15 AM
Location: Halfmoon Lake Day Use Facility
Address: 8725 Hankerd Rd., Gregory, MI 48137

There is plenty of parking in the park. Follow Event Parking signs as you enter the park at 8725 Hankerd Rd, Gregory, MI.

Please be sure you have a current Recreation Passport.  Vehicles without Recreation Passports will be issued notices to pay the fee.  For details and pricing for both in-state and out-of-state Recreation Passports CLICK HERE.

Stick around post race for food and festivities! Our Epic staff and volunteers will be cooking up pancakes, breakfast burritos, and more for race participants.

Please join us the Tuesday before race day at noon for our Pre-Race Athlete Briefing via Zoom.  All you need to know for a successful race will be presented, followed by Q&A.  We strongly suggest you attend.  The Zoom link will be sent to all participants via email.

In case you missed it, you can view the recording here. 

Part 1: Registration
If you are a Team Captain:
Click “Register”
Select “Relay”
Continue with Registration, including filling out the following questions:“CREATE TEAM”
Pay for the registration in full, your team members will pay you back!
If you are Team Member:
Team members are invited to join a team or already have plans of joining an existing relay team. Since your team captain paid for your event in full, you are not charged during registration. Please be sure to pay them back!

CLICK HERE to register for our event.
Select: “Relay – “JOIN A TEAM”
Continue with Registration
Finish and complete the registration. You are now registered on the team and your Team Captain will be receiving an email that you joined.
For further explanation about how to register and/or join a team CLICK HERE.

As a Team Captain:
You’ll get an email every time somebody registers for your team.
You will be responsible for getting individuals registered on time for your team.

As a Team Member:
You must know your team name before signing up.
You are responsible for registering yourself, on time, for your correct team.

Part 2: Race Day
THE BASICS
The relay team usually consists of one swimmer, one biker, and one runner. At our events, we will allow one of the relay members to do two of the “legs,” meaning one person can choose to do two of the three sports and the other team member does one.  Teams can be all male, all female, or mixed gender.  (Unless, of course, it is an all-female race.)

CAN AN INDIVIDUAL RACER BE PART OF A RELAY TEAM?
Yes, they can! If you have trouble finding a person to complete your relay team, we will allow someone competing as an individual to do your first segment or first two segments of the event, then pass off the relay timing device to you. It is important for the individual racer to know that they have to go to the designated relay-team exchange point (as described below) to give their team member the relay timing chip before they proceed with their own individual competition. The most popular example of this is an individual racer “doing the swim leg” for a team.HOW THE RELAY PROCESS IS CONDUCTED ON RACE DAY 

Relay teams will be assigned a race number.
Your team will use your assigned number for all race logistics.
All relay team members need to be body marked with the assigned team number.
The relay team runner must have the race bib number and is required to present this number to pick up the team timing chip and give it to the relay team swimmer on race morning before the start.
There is a sign in the transition area designating the relay “timing chip” hand-off area. All relay chip exchanges will take place by this sign. Please locate the sign before the start of the race.
The swimmer wears the timing chip during the swim. The swimmer will proceed to the relay exchange point and pass the chip to the biker in the exchange area ONLY.
The biker can be fully dressed with helmet and shoes on if they so choose.
The biker proceeds to your assigned bike rack (bike racks are assigned by your race number range),  gets the bike, and exits transition to start the bike portion of the race.
The biker returns to transition and racks the bike in same assigned bike rack location. The biker then proceeds to the relay exchange point and passes the timing chip to the runner. All exchanges of chips take place in this area ONLY to minimize congestion in the transition area.
The runner proceeds out of transition from the relay exchange point with the paper race bib number on the front of their body.
The runner crosses the finish line with the paper race bib number on the front of their body. If desired, the other members of the relay team can join their teammate as she approaches the finish chute and run the last stretch across the finish line with her. Just make sure that only the team member designated to do the running leg is wearing the team bib and timing chip. Please be aware of individual participants and do not block them as they are running towards the finish line!
The timing chip will be collected at that time.
All relay team members receive their own finisher’s medal.

Have an epic race!

Triathlon 101

Time: 5 p.m. (during packet pickup)

Place: Transition Area at the race site 

What:  Meet the race director to learn what you need to have the best race ever! She will address course details, equipment, rules, and race hints.  You will have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered!

While this talk is primarily for first-timers, the information could be helpful to all.

Please note that in the interest of safety, all courses are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the race director.

750m Swim Course Map (2x for Oly & OWS)

Sprint 3.6 Mile Run Map

Sprint 14.2 Mile Bike Course Map 

Olympic 5-Mile Run Course Map

Olympic 28 Mile Bike Course Map

Duathlon 1.5 Run Leg 1

All finishers receive a beautiful finisher's medal!

Age Groups (Male/Female/Nonbinary Divisions)
14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

Olympic/Sprint
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary
1st Place Masters Male/Female/Nonbinary
Top 5 in each age group Male/ Female/Nonbinary

Aquabike & Duathlon
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary
1st Place Masters Male/Female/Nonbinary
1st in each age group Male/Female/Nonbinary

Athena & Clydesdale Division Olympic/Sprint
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary 39 & under
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary 40+
Athena & Clydesdale Explained

Relay Awards
1st place team in each division

A minimum of 20 participants is required in a division of each event for an overall prize to be awarded. There is no minimum participation requirement for age-group awards.

We know your time is precious, so we offer “Grab-n-Go” Awards. Check the results by the finish line or at the award table.  If you finish overall in your division or top 5 in your age group, you win an award! Pick up your prize at the award table and get a photo on the podium before heading home. 

If you miss this opportunity and would like your award shipped, fill out THIS FORM.

Time-Trial Swim Start
The race will be a time trial swim start.  What does that mean? This means that swimmers line up on the beach and, at the race starter’s signal, enter the water individually 3 seconds apart. 

Epic Lifeguards
Members of the Epic Lifeguard Team have American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguarding Certification in addition to basic American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification. This means that they have all taken and passed an additional course in which they received training in the knowledge and skills needed to prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf, open-water areas. Our superbly trained lifeguards are yet another reason our races are so Epic! 

If you or somebody you know is interested in joining our lifeguard team, CLICK HERE for an application.

USAT Rule 4.4 Wetsuits
Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, age group participants may wear a wet suit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wet suit within this temperature range shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Age group participants shall not wear wet suits in water temperatures equal to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The wetsuit policy for elite athletes shall be determined by the USAT Athletes Advisory Council. The AAC has set the wetsuit maximum temperature for elite athletes at 68 degrees for swim distances less than 3000 meters and 71.6 degrees for distances of 3000 meters or greater. Any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than 5 millimeters shall be disqualified.

Click here for the list of USAT-approved skinsuits.

Book your group rate for the 2026 Ann Arbor Tri!

Holiday Inn Express - Ann Arbor for $189.00 USD per night

Book Online Here!

Complimentary full hot breakfast buffet, parking & internet is included in room rate.

*Last Day to Book : June 10, 2026!

This race is sanctioned by USA Triathlon (USAT) therefore all participants must have an annual membership or purchase a one-day membership.  These options will be available during the registration process.  The annual membership fee is $50 and the one-day fee is $15.  To learn more about USAT visit https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/.  

Click here to see USAT’s competition rules. 

Because our triathlons are sanctioned by USA Triathlon (USAT), we follow their wetsuit rules.  Competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower.  USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.1 and 83.9 degrees, competitors may wear wetsuits but will not be eligible for awards.  

Click here to see the USAT-approved skinsuits.

The event is a Leave No Trace event. Learn more about our race-day recycling and composting efforts here. Want more information about running a great race and leaving no trace? Click here to visit Happy Planet Running!

→ Read the 2023 Ann Arbor Tri sustainability report here!