Welcome to this Pacific Northwest Favorite Triathlon. Lake Meridian includes Olympic, Sprint, and Super Sprint individual events and a Sprint & Olympic Relay for teams of 2 or 3.  All athletes will receive a free T-shirt (if you register on or before August 1st) & finisher medal.  Stick around after your race and enjoy a meal,  the finish line celebration and awards ceremony,  Pint glasses are given to the top 5 finishers of each age group in the Sprint & Olympic - top 3 in the Super Sprint. 

Lake Meridian Park is a beautiful, spectator friendly venue. Lots of room for the kids to run around. 

See you in August!

Olympic Bike Course (scroll down for Sprint & Super Sprint)

View the map, the cue sheet, and download the course to your smart device HERE

 

OLYMPIC BIKE COURSE SKIP-AHEAD

 
As the traffic on State Highway 516 (Kent-Kangley Rd) increases on Saturday Morning, the management of the backup of vehicles becomes more dangerous and difficult in the areas west, south, and east of the park.  For that reason, we have put in place a bike skip-ahead for Olympic Distance athletes.  You must complete the first 13.5 miles of the bike course within 1 hour and 52 minutes.  This is at the intersection of Auburn Black-Diamond Road and Lake Holm road -  the "Kelly Latte's" intersection.  You will arrive at that intersection at mile 5 for the first time and take a right to do the Lake Holm/Lake Moneysmith loop.    On your 2nd visit to that intersection at mile 13.5, all cyclists must be through by 8:55.  If you arrive after 8:55, you'll be required to turn left and will become a Sprint athlete for the remaining bike and run the 5K instead of the 10K.

If you're concerned that you won't make a cut-off, you might consider switching to the sprint distance race and tackling the Olympic distance next year!

 

REOPENING OF KENT-KANGLEY TO TRAFFIC
If you find yourself on the bike course sometime after 9:30, you may be faced with an open intersection at Kent-Kangley Rd and Kent-Black Diamond Rd.  A volunteer will meet you at the intersection and help you navigate the crosswalks to get back to transition where you can continue with the run and then cross the finish line.

 

Sprint & Super Sprint Bike Course

View the map, the cue sheet, and download the course to your smart device HERE

There are no skip-aheads for the Sprint & Super Sprint Course. The turnaround will happen before you reach the first roundabout at the Ten Trails Development.

 

Olympic: 1.5 K swim, 40 K bike, 10K run

Sprint: 1/2 mile swim, 16 mile bike, 3.1 mile run

Super Sprint: 1/4 mile swim, 16 mile bike, 3.1 mile run

There are colors that will help you navigate all three courses on race day.  Memorize your color!!!

 

Transferring to a different race distance is allowed at any time prior to the event starting. Please contact us to make this happen. 

 

Swim

The swim start is a deep-water start about 50 yards from shore. c Our race announcers will help you get to the right place at the right time.  Be sure you’re in your wetsuit (if you’re wearing one) and ready to leave shore 5-10 minutes before your wave starts.

Both full or sleeveless wetsuits are allowed but not required. Water temperature is  typically in the 60's in June and 70's in August. Warming up is strongly encouraged to the right of the start area. The course is clockwise around large brightly colored tetrahedron buoys. 

To keep everyone safe on their bikes at the park entrance, It's imperative that we get all of you out of transition prior to the first cyclist returning to the park, and because you guys are getting faster, we've had an overlap of exiting and entering cyclists the last few years. If, for any reason, our swim course director determines you won't make it out of the water in time, you'll be given the opportunity to get a ride to the swim finish in a boat, where you can continue your race. You can also opt to continue swimming to the end, but may lose the opportunity to continue onto the bike if the cyclists are already returning to the park for T2. 

Historically the Sprinter and Super Sprinters have no problem with this - but it's happened quite often with our Olympic swimmers. Please - if you are signed up for the Olympic and think this might affect your race, you are more then welcome to transfer to the Sprint or Super Sprint. Email us at admin@weraisethebar.com with questions or race changes.

We love for everyone to cross the finish line at RTB Events. If you're signed up and nervous about your swim and how it might keep you from a happy finish, we want to talk to you!
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Water temperature information can be found here.

Bike

 

Bike Mechanics will be onsite before the race starts to make minor repairs or adjustments for bikes in ride-able condition.  Please bring a bike to the race that is ready to go.  But just in case something comes up, they’ll be bike mechanics close to transition.  There will also be race support on the bike course to help you out if you run into trouble out there. But make sure you are prepared to fix a flat or put a chain back on.  If we can’t get you up and going again, we’ll give you a lift back to transition.

The bike course is OPEN to traffic.  Police Officers & volunteers will be stationed at intersections where bikes will be crossing traffic.  The shoulders on the roads are wide. Obey all rules of the road when riding your bike - including staying as far to the right as possible. Crossing the center line at any time is an automatic disqualification. As a USAT sanctioned race, all USAT rules apply. 

There are some rolling hills on the course - primarily on  Lake Holm road on the Olympic Course.  We recommend you pre-ride the course before race day, but at the very least take a look and/or ride the hill on mile 7 of the Olympic Course is highly recommended. 

There will not be an aid station on the bike course for the Super Sprint or Sprint but the Olympic will have one on the bike course at mile 9 with water and sports drink only - no food. Super Sprint and Sprint athletes:  make sure you bring what you need to fuel and hydrate your ride.

Run

The course is 95% paved. The first and last .25 mile outside the park is on the shoulder of an open road.  There's also a stretch on the shoulder of SE 256th on the Sprint & Super Sprint run course.   City of Police Officers and volunteers  are spread throughout the course to make sure you are safe and  going the right direction!  

There is one very good hill on the Soos Creek Trail that you’ll arrive at .5 miles into the run.  It’s a very nice steep downhill.  Since the course is out and back, it will also occupy your attention when you’re .5 mile from the finish.

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ARE YOU ANXIOUS ABOUT THE SWIM?  READ ON
 
1. Educate yourself about the course.   Study the map.  Know where you'll start and which color buoys to look for to turn at.  Swim in Open Water at least a few times prior to the race.  Putting an open water swim off until race day isn't the best strategy if you're nervous (though we see it every year!)  Go swim with friends at a calm, quiet lake or go to some organized training swims before your race offered by a local swim or triathlon club, such as Raise the Bar (RTB)!
 
Also, you can practice at Open Water Wednesday Training Swims right here at Lake Meridian!

2. Wear a Wetsuit!    Wetsuits are  warm, buoyant, form-fitted life preservers.  They will keep you on the surface of the water, keep you warmer,  and give you confidence.  They also make you faster!  If you don't have a wetsuit, you can rent one or buy one at  Northwest Tri & Bike.
​3. Warm -up prior to the start.   Since the start is  out past the shore, everyone will do a little swimming prior to the  start, which is a great thing in helping settle nerves.  Please get in the water and do some real warming up.  Include a few 15-20 second harder efforts so your heart  rate is up before the gun goes off.
4. Start from the back or off to the side     The start area of our race is very wide and you can start as far back as you like.  There's no need to be in a tight pack of other swimmers when you start.  And it's just fine to let everyone else go when the gun goes off, and you wait 10-15 seconds for everyone to get out of YOUR way.
5. Stay Calm!    The lake is beautiful and devoid of carnivores.  The seaweed never comes near the surface.   Tell yourself you're having fun and focus on your stroke.   It will inevitably end with you smiling and puffed up with accomplishment.
6. Use the Water Support Personnel .  You are welcome to hold onto a kayak for support (as long as you don't make forward progress while holding on). If you need to rest, rest!  If you need to gather your courage, that's fine too.  Our kayakers are looking for you and want to help.  Don't hesitate at all to call one over to you or make your way over to them.  
 

We Want you to Cross the Finish Line.  No matter what.

It's important to us that you have a great finish line experience to celebrate all the hard work you've done getting to the start line.  Occasionally we have athletes that aren't able to complete the swim or decide they aren't up to starting it.  If that's the case for you on race day, we want to keep you racing.
If you're in the water swimming and for whatever reason are unable or unwilling to  make it to the swim finish, alert a kayaker or other water support person.  Either a kayaker will help escort you back,  they will have a boat to you in a matter of minutes who will bring you aboard.   When you get back to shore, you'll be welcome to continue  onto the bike course as long as the first cyclists haven't returned to the park.  
If for any reason you choose not to swim on race morning, please get the attention of one of our volunteers who will put you capably in the hands of a staff member. He or she will help you start the race from your bike where you will carry on gallantly through the bike and run courses and across an exuberant finish line toward your finishers medal and the welcoming spatulas of the pancake servers.  You won't have an official finish time, but  you'll finish!
 

 

Race Location

Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE 272nd St, Kent, WA

 

Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup Info Coming Soon!

Every single participant must have a photo ID. Youth athletes without an ID must be accompanied by a parent/guardian with a photo ID. Don't leave your ID in your car! You don't need to bring your USAT card. '

Per current USAT guidelines, we are now allowing athletes to pick up each others' packets. If you send someone to pick up your packet, they will need to provide a paper or electronic copy of your photo ID and your Run Signup confirmation email. 

Race Day - Saturday

5:40 Transition and Packet Pick up Opens

6:30 Athlete Briefing

6:40 Athlete Briefing Ends

7:00  Wave 1 - Olympic Men & Women 30-44yo & Relays

7:03  Wave 2 - Olympic Men & Women 29 and under, 45 and over

7:06  Wave 3 - Sprint Men & Relays

7:09  Wave 4 - Sprint Women 

7:12  Wave 5 - Super Sprint Men & Women

8:20  First Finishers expected back to the park.  

10:30 AM Awards

 

Awards

Overall Awards will be given to the top-3 men and women of each race. The top 5 in 5 year age groups in the Sprint and Olympic and top 3 in 5 year age groups in the Super Sprint.  (Overall finishers were not be eligible for age-group awards) We'll also award the top 3 Sprint & Olympic Relays. The award ceremony begins when the majority of the field has finished for each race at approx. 10:30 AM. All finishers will receive a Lake Meridian medal.

 

Sprint and Olympic Relays 

Relay teams must consist of at least two members (one person cannot compete in all three legs of a relay). A relay team will be assigned one bib number. The swimmer will pick up the swim cap and timing chip, the biker will pick up the bike number and helmet stickers and the runner will pick up the bib number. Relay teams will transfer the timing chip and ankle strap at their transition spot in the transition area.  Relay members don’t have to stay in that area during the entire race, but you must transfer your chips there! All three relay members will receive a finisher medal and a t-shirt. (Please have a team members come to the finish for their medals).

 

Volunteers

The Lake Meridian Triathlon has an incredible group of volunteers who support the athletes leading up to on race day and are easy to identify by their bright green shirts. If you or someone in your support crew would like to join them, please click Here or watch for Volunteer signups from the homepage. We'll work to make sure they are placed into something they enjoy and works with their schedule. And we will feed them breakfast!

Lost Timing Chips

​If you end up with your chip after the race, it must be returned to the timer ASAP. There is a $25 fee for all chips not collected within 7 days.

Please mail the Timing Chip in a padded envelope to this address:

Bell Lap Productions

5911 18th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108

 

 

Parking

​Parking  is extremely limited at Lake Meridian Park. There are businesses that allow parking on Kent-Kangley. Please adhere to the no parking signs where posted.  Parking at the lake opens at 5:30 but is extremely limited. Please respect the no parking signs at businesses around Lake Meridian at risk of being towed.

There's quite a bit of street parking in the neighborhood north of the park

Spectators and Traffic Impact

The park is a very spectator friendly venue & your fans will find may places to cheer you on. During the race, spectators can enjoy a meal for $5 per person, $10 per family. That will start about 8:30 AM.  The park has a kids play area with a pirate ship to climb on, and a nice beach and dock available to enjoy.  Please remind your friends and family that only athletes are allowed in the transition area.

​The bike course travels through the VERY congested intersection of Kent-Kangley road and 152nd (Kent-Black Diamond Rd).  There will be police officers and volunteers at that intersection keeping the athletes safe. PLEASE remind any family members or fans of yours to avoid that intersection if they’re coming to the venue during the bike portion of the race (7:00AM - 10:00AM)  They will have better access to the lake coming from the North. Also 256th will be closed between 132nd and 156th from 8-11 AM. 

The bike course is on roads open to traffic. You must obey the rules of the road when racing. 

 

You'll exit transition, pass by an aid station, and run south through the park to a bridge near the boat launch. Follow the signs, arrows, and volunteers and safely cross to the south side of the road.  Stay inside the traffic candles and run to the Soos Creek Trail. 

All roads are open to traffic - use extreme caution when running on the shoulders of the roads or when crossing intersections.  Police will be present at road crossings

 

Olympic: 10K (6.2 miles)

The Olympic run stays on the Soos Creek Trail  -  You'll cross the intersections of SE 256th & SE 240th St. (There is an aid station just before the 256th crossing)  There is a turnaround after 240th.  You'll pass through an aid station 3 times on the trail with water and Gatorade.  

View the online map, the cue sheet, and download the course to your smart device HERE

 

Sprint & Super Sprint: 5k (3.1 miles)

The Sprint & Super Sprint Run courses follow the trail to 256th where you'll turn right. You'll take another right at 152 Way SE where you'll find the turn-around point and head back to the park.  You'll pass through an aid station twice on the course at about mile 1 and mile 2.  

View the online map, the cue sheet, and download the course to your smart device Here

 

 

Super Sprint:  1/4 mile

Sprint: .5 mile

Olympic: 1.5K

LMT has a Deep Water Start marked by the red tetrahedron buoy.  ALL athletes in every wave will swim clockwise around the course and to the next red buoy. Super Sprinters will turn at the green buoys and finish on the shore. Sprint athletes will turn at the yellow buoys, Olympic athletes at the orange buoys. All swimmers must be leaving transition by 8 AM.  

Swimmers begin in waves approximately every 3 minutes.  We understand these are pretty tightly spaced. This is because we have to make sure all swimmers have exited Transition #1 by 8:00AM before our first cyclist is due back in the park  through that same entrance.    It's for your safety that we keep the waves so close together.  This does increase the density of athletes on the course - which is why we restrict registration numbers.

7:00 - Olympic men (Orange Caps)

7:03 - Olympic women & relays (Orange Caps)

7:06 - Sprint men (Yellow Caps)

7:09 - Sprint women (Yellow Caps)

7:12 - All Super Sprinters 0 (Green Caps)

 

What Happens if your Olympic Swim will take close to an hour to complete??

To keep everyone safe on their bikes at the beginning and end of the bike course, It's imperative that we get all of you out of transition and through the intersection of Kent-Kangley & 152nd prior to the first cyclist returning.  When the lead cyclist has 1.5 miles to go, we won't be allowing any other cyclists to exit the park. This will likely be at 7:55-7:57AM.  If Mike Murphy, our swim course director, determines you're at the risk of not getting out of T1 on time, he'll give you the opportunity to get into a boat and be dropped at the swim finish where you can continue (quickly through transition please) onto the bike course.   You may also choose to continue swimming, but when we hear the lead cyclist is 1.5 miles from the finish , you'll be enjoying the rest of the race from inside the park.  If you are a woman or relay swimmer and would like to start in the first wave for an extra 3 minutes, contact us. 

If you are signed up for the Olympic distance and are concerned you won't complete the swim on time, you are more then welcome to transfer to the Sprint or Super Sprint at any time prior to the race statrt 

ARE YOU ANXIOUS ABOUT THE SWIM?  READ ON

 

1. Educate yourself about the course.   Study the map.  Know where you'll start and which color buoys to look for to turn at.  Swim in Open Water at least a few times prior to the race.  Putting an open water swim off until race day isn't the best strategy if you're nervous (though we see it every year!)  Go swim with friends at a calm, quiet lake or go to some organized training swims before your race offered by a local swim or triathlon club, such as Raise the Bar (RTB)!

 

Also, you can practice at Open Water Wednesday Training Swims right here at Lake Meridian!

2. Wear a Wetsuit!    Wetsuits are  warm, buoyant, form-fitted life preservers.  They will keep you on the surface of the water, keep you warmer,  and give you confidence.  They also make you faster!  If you don't have a wetsuit, you can rent one or buy one at  Northwest Tri & Bike.

​3. Warm -up prior to the start.   Since the start is  out past the shore, everyone will do a little swimming prior to the  start, which is a great thing in helping settle nerves.  Please get in the water and do some real warming up.  Include a few 15-20 second harder efforts so your heart  rate is up before the gun goes off.

4. Start from the back or off to the side     The start area of our race is very wide and you can start as far back as you like.  There's no need to be in a tight pack of other swimmers when you start.  And it's just fine to let everyone else go when the gun goes off, and you wait 10-15 seconds for everyone to get out of YOUR way.

5. Stay Calm!    The lake is beautiful and devoid of carnivores.  The seaweed never comes near the surface.   Tell yourself you're having fun and focus on your stroke.   It will inevitably end with you smiling and puffed up with accomplishment.

6. Use the Water Support Personnel .  You are welcome to hold onto a kayak for support (as long as you don't make forward progress while holding on). If you need to rest, rest!  If you need to gather your courage, that's fine too.  Our kayakers are looking for you and want to help.  Don't hesitate at all to call one over to you or make your way over to them.  

 

We Want you to Cross the Finish Line.  No matter what

It's important to us that you have a great finish line experience to celebrate all the hard work you've done getting to the start line.  Occasionally we have athletes that aren't able to complete the swim or decide they aren't up to starting it.  If that's the case for you on race day, we want to keep you racing.

If you're in the water swimming and for whatever reason are unable or unwilling to  make it to the swim finish, alert a kayaker or other water support person.  Either a kayaker will help escort you back,  they will have a boat to you in a matter of minutes who will bring you aboard.   When you get back to shore, you'll be welcome to continue  onto the bike course as long as the first cyclists haven't returned to the park.  

If for any reason you choose not to swim on race morning, please get the attention of one of our volunteers who will put you capably in the hands of a staff member. He or she will help you start the race from your bike where you will carry on gallantly through the bike and run courses and across an exuberant finish line toward your finishers medal and the welcoming spatulas of the pancake servers.  You won't have an official finish time, but  you'll finish!

 

Volunteer at Lake Meridian!
 

We are always on the lookout for the next greatest volunteer.  If you'd like to join our energetic army, Click Here to volunteer.

And Thanks! 
 

Super Sprint: T-Shirt

Sprint: T-Shirt

Olympic: T-Shirt

Olympic Relay: T-Shirt

Sprint Relay: T-Shirt