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Chicago Off-Road Triathlon, Aquabike and Relays

Off-Road Triathlon

The Forge Off-Road Triathlon

Sat, July 22nd, 2023, 7:00am

The Forge Off-Road Triathlon, part of the USAT Gravel Series, is a unique short course, multi-sport event that offers an exhilarating, adventurous experience for triathletes of all abilities, from beginner to professional.

USAT Triathlon Gravel Series FC2023 Sanctioned Event color 1

Location:
Lemont Quarries, 1001 Main Street Lemont, IL, 60439

Details

Date:
Sat, July 22nd, 2023, 7:00am
Price:
Tier 1: $75 ($225/team) Tier 2: $85 ($255/team) Tier 3: $95 ($285/team)

Registration Includes:

Entry to the race, electronically timed results, earned overall and age group awards, a cool Forge t-shirt and post-race party with food, beer, and other beverages.

Race Information

The Forge Off-Road Triathlon takes place in The Forge: Lemont Quarries for the swim, bike and run portions. The run will wind through the trails within the adventure park, the adjoining trails of the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area, and I&M Trails, all located adjacent to historic downtown Lemont. Athletes and spectators will enjoy exclusive views of The Forge’s exhilarating attractions and natural ecosystem, which includes the historic I&M Canal and multiple quarry lakes.

 

New This Year in 2023:

Aquabike = Swim + Bike Format

Relay Option = 2 or 3 Person Relay, any combination of gender.

Course Information

Our off-road triathlon offers unique distances: an approximated 540-yard swim, 10.7 mile gravel bike, and a 3+ mile trail run. Triathletes can prepare for a challenge that includes:

  • Open water swimming in the natural, spring-fed Forge Quarry with a time trial start from the dock
  • Two-lap bike course on crushed limestone trails and some gravel roads
  • Mixed terrain run including crushed limestone and a section of MTB and single-track trails
  • Transition located at The Mount, The Forge’s entertainment stage and large lawn area

Final Course maps will be released well before race day. Below is a preliminary course description and map based on the 2022 event. There may be adjustments to the course for the 2023 race.

Swim Course Map

The swim portion will be ~ 540 yards of open water in the natural, spring-fed Forge Quarry with a time trial start from the dock. The course will be a rectangle, starting from the dock, swimming clockwise, with three right hand turns at large buoys.  The swim portion will finish and exit on the dock on ladders. The dock will have two way traffic on it with swimmers lining up to start and athletes exiting the swim headed to T1. Please stay to your left at all times on the dock.  

 

Bike Course Map

The bike course is a 10.7 mile route of two loops on a lollipop style course. There is a short, approximately .3 mile section that is the stick on the lollipop, then a ~5 mile loop that will be ridden twice. The bike course is on crushed limestone trails and some gravel roads. It is flat and not technical but will have a few ruts, bumps, small hills, several sharp turns, wooden bridge crossings, and loose gravel sections.  

 

Run Course Map

The run course is ~3+ miles on mixed terrain, including crushed limestone and a section of MTB single-track trails. It is mostly flat, but will have a few technical and small hill sections, including dirt, rocks and mulch covered trails.

 

Transition: Transition will be located in the lawn area by The Mount within the park. It will be a  short ~500 foot run from the Swim exit to T1 on a carpeted surface. Bike racks will be organized by wave / bib number, but bikes will not be assigned a specific space.

 

Aquabike: Aquabikers will rack their bikes before taking a short sprint to the finish line. Completing their race after both swimming and biking the courses described above. 

 

Relay Teams: Relay racers must stay in the transition area until they have completed their leg of the race. Timing device must be transferred to respective competitor within transition area. The timing device must be on each relay member at the start and finish of their portion of the race.

Course Map

Below are links to the 2022 course maps.  There may be some adjustments to the course for the 2023 race.

Swim Course Map

Bike Course Map

Run Course Map

Registration

Entry Fees:

Tier 1 (Tri 1st 75 | Aqua or Relay 1st 10) 

Tri & Aquabike $75 | Relay $225 per team

Tier 2 (Tri > 75 - 150 | Aqua or Relay > 10 - 20) 

Tri & Aquabike $85 | Relay $255 per team

Tier 3 (Tri > 150 | Aqua or Relay > 20) 

Tri and Aquabike $95 | Relay $285 per team

Race Cap is 350

 

Relay Registration: Any combination of 2 -3 team members with any combination by gender are allowed. In other words, teams will not be limited to be all female or all male. First Team Member / Captain creates the team, pays the full relay team fee, then the other team members can register by joining that team.

 

USAT Membership: As a USAT sanctioned event and part of the Gravel Series, all registrants must hold an annual USAT license or purchase a one day pass. This process is integrated with your registration. 

 

Includes: 

  • entry to the race
  • meticulously maintained trails unique to The Forge
  • electronically timed results with swim, bike, run and T1/2 splits
  • earned overall and age group awards
  • a cool Forge shirt
  • swag
  • post-race party with food, beer from Pollyanna Brewing, and other beverages

 

Online registration closes Monday, July 10, 2023.

 

No race day registration will be available. TBD if registration will be available at packet pick-up if the event is not sold out.

 

Register here

Training

Watch this website and join The Forge Race Series group on Facebook for opportunities for open water swims, training runs and training programs conducted by Coach Liz Waterstraat of Multisport Mastery.

Athletes' Guide

2022 Athlete Guide (will be updated for 2023)

Directions

Use these directions to the Forge for PPU and Race Day

Parking

Use Lots 1 or 2 after the 2nd stop sign on the gravel road. They are the closest to the bridges to enter The Forge, packet pick-up, and the start and finish line area.

 

Parking Map

 

Important Parking Info:

On Race Day, we encourage carpooling.  The Forge has adequate parking, but the race field, volunteers and spectators will maximize the use of our parking lots. Please follow signs and volunteers directing you to parking. Athletes will park in the lots on the north side of the I&M Canal, which is a short walk across the bridges to The Forge.

 

Please note that after the race begins, vehicles will not be permitted to enter or exit the park until after the race is complete at approximately 9:30 am. The park access road is part of the bike course and will be closed once the race starts.

 

Athletes or spectators who may need to leave early should park in the public lots or street parking in downtown Lemont and ride or walk to The Forge, approximately 1 -1 ½ miles.

 

The shuttle system at the Metra Station will not be available on race day.

Packet Pick-Up

Thursday July 20

TBD

 

Friday July 21

Noon -  6:30 PM

The Forge: Lemont Quarries

1001 Main St.

Lemont, IL 60439

at The Foundry

Use These Directions

 

Race Day

Saturday July 22

5:15 AM – 6:30 AM

The Forge: Lemont Quarries

1001 Main St.

Lemont, IL 60439

at The Foundry

Use These Directions

Race Day Schedule

5:00 AM –            Parking Opens

5:15 AM –            Transition and Race Day Packet Pick-Up Open

6:30 AM –            PPU and Transition Set-Up Closes

6:35 AM –            Course Talk / Briefing – Near the Swim Start

6:40 AM –            Wave Line-Up Begins. Swim staging by Wave on the lower quarry shelf near the dock and The Foundry

6:50 AM –            Wave Line-Up Ends

6:50 AM –            National Anthem

6:55 AM –            Wave 1 / Elite Start

7:20 AM –            Last Wave Starts

7:45 AM –            Anticipated 1st Finisher

8:00 AM –           Post Race Food / Beverage Available

9:15 AM –            Anticipated Last Finisher

~9:15 AM –         Transition Opens for Exit / Departure

9:30 AM –           Awards at The Mount & Post-Race Party

 

All athletes and spectators are encouraged to stay at The Forge after the race for a post-race celebration. Food and beverage will be available for purchase at The Foundry and the activities at The Forge will be open. 

Results

2023 Results (will be found here after the race)

2022 Race Results *impacted by weather

2021 Race Results

Awards

Due to the time trial start format, all awards will be based on chip / electronic time, including overall awards.

 

Awards will be the following:

Triathlon:

  • 1st – 3rd Overall Male and Female
  • 1st Overall Male and Female Masters (Age 40+)
  • 1st Overall Male and Female Lemont Resident
  • 1st Overall Male and Female First Time Triathlete
  • Mr. and Ms. Mid Pack (athletes that finish in the exact middle of the pack in their gender by placement)
  • 1st – 3rd 5-Year Age Groups (Example: Female 15-19, Male 50-54, etc)

Cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st - 3rd Overall Males and Females: 

  • 1st = $250, 2nd = $150, 3rd = $100. 

 

Aquabike:

  • 1st – 3rd Overall Male and Female

 

Relay:

  • 1st – 3rd Finishing Teams

 

Additional awards, prizes and raffles will be offered and announced before the race.

Race Photos & Video

Volunteering

Volunteer sign-up coming soon

Sponsors And Partners

For sponsorship and partnership information, please contact Dave Fako

 

Questions? | Contact

Dave Fako

Race Director

The Forge: Lemont Quarries

708-705-6791

[email protected]

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