All you need to know about the Big Lake Graniteman Triathlon in 2026!
Note: Event details are subject to change. Please check back before the event. 

Register for a single Graniteman Triathlon - or consider making it your year and taking on both of Active Central Minnesota's premier triathlons!

Buffalo Triathlon - June 7, 2026
Big Lake Triathlon - August 1, 2026

In order to qualify for awards and recognition for completing the Graniteman Endurance Series, participants must register for the series (not individual triathlons). Participants must register for the series prior to the closing of registration for the first race of the season.

Introducing the Active Central MN Pro Shop -- your one-stop for all the race swag and apparel that your heart desires! 

Sign up for Active Central MN events, and motivate friends and family with new, comfortable, and customizable active gear. 

6:00 pm
NEED UPDATED DATE

Lakeside Park,
101 Lakeshore Drive
Big Lake, MN 55309

Participants and anyone who want to learn more about triathlons should join us at the lower pavilion near the beach of Lakeside Park on the Tuesday night before the race for a free triathlon clinic! This year, DuTri club will help to facilitate the clinic, where they will be speaking about the basics of triathlon and sharing valuable insights and strategies for a successful and enjoyable race.

Advanced triathletes, bring your questions and experience as there will be plenty of answers and opportunities to share knowledge, advice, and insights with others. This is also a great way to check out the transition area and race course.

5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
August 1, 2026 

Lakeside Park
101 Lakeshore Drive
Big Lake, MN 55309

Packets include bib numbers, timing chips, and event t-shirts.

Participants will receive a colored wristband to designate their race distance. Only participants with a wristband will be allowed in the Transition Area and participant food tent.

5:30 a.m. – Packet pick-up opens

7:15 a.m. – Packet pick-up closes

7:15 a.m. – Mandatory pre-race meeting

8:00 a.m. – Race starts

11:30 a.m. – Awards ceremony with door prizes

12:00 p.m. – Time Cap.  Race Course Closed

Mandatory Pre-Race Briefing
All participants are required to attend the triathlon pre-race briefing at 7:15 a.m. on race day at the event location. We encourage racers to read through all the following rules and FAQs.

Race Course Time Cap
Out of respect to the community, our volunteers, and law enforcement it is necessary to limit the length of time participants are out of the course.  Time caps will be enforced so that road closures can be opened and volunteers released as agreed upon through the permitting process.  The race course will close at 12:00pm.  Participants estimated to finish after that time will be asked to exit the course or finish without support.

Body Marking
Participants are responsible for body marking. Using a permanent black marker, the participant’s bib number needs to be written on the participant’s upper arms and calves. If the participant is given a heat/wave number, it should be written on the participant’s left hand.

Relay Chip Exchange
For relay teams, timing chips should be exchanged between swimmers, bikers, and runners at the bike rack in the Transition Area. The bike must be on the rack during the chip exchange. Once an ankle strap has been removed and placed onto the next teammate’s ankle, the teammate may start their leg of the race. There will not be a designated area for relay teams in the Transition Area — teams are free to select any area that is available. Please be mindful of other athletes in transition.  

Transition Area
The Transition Area opens at 5:30 a.m. Participants should arrive in the park no later than 6:30 a.m. to have adequate time to pick up a packet, set up in the Transition Area, and be in attendance for the race briefing at 7:15 a.m. Only participants wearing a wristband acquired at registration/packet pickup may enter the Transition Area (sorry, no exceptions).

Generally, we have enough bike racks for four bikes per rack.

We ask that participants step outside of the Transition Area after setting up their bike.

Please be aware of the timing chutes and chip mats! Do not cross over these mats or go near them with race chips while in the middle of a race.

Equipment Requirements
All racers must bring their own swim cap.

The wristband provided at check in must be worn.

All participants taking part in the bike portion of the triathlon must wear a helmet. Under no circumstances will anyone be allowed to race without a helmet. Helmets sold by a bike shop will comply with certification requirements. The helmet must be properly placed and fastened before participants first mount their bicycles; and the helmet must remain fastened until the participant has dismounted.

Heats and Start Times
Waves are assigned based on age group and created to balance numbers in each wave. Participants must start with their wave, which should be written on their left hand. There will be three minutes between each heat, which will be a mix of males and females. There will be 15-20 minutes between the last Olympic and first sprint heat which will allow lifeguards to readjust.

2025 Heat Order:

Heat 1: Olympic-distance. Ages TBD 8:00 a.m.
Heat 2: Olympic-distance Ages TBD 8:03 a.m.
Heat 3: Sprint-distance Ages TBD 8:20 a.m.
Heat 4: Sprint-distance Ages TBD 8:23 a.m.
Heat 5: Sprint-distance Ages TBD 8:26 a.m.
Heat 6: Sprint-distance Ages TBD 8:29 a.m.

Swim Course Information
It is recommended that participants get in the water to acclimate themselves to the water temperature.

Wetsuits are allowed. Swimmers must bring their own swim cap. Under no circumstances will anyone be allowed to race without a swim cap.

Staging for the swim will be at the swim chute. Racers will be lined up by their waves, which should be written on the participant’s left hand. Enter the swim start corral when your wave is announced. With only 3 minutes between each heat, all participants need to be closely attuned to their wave. Waves will be announced ahead of time.

Participants must start with their wave. Failure to do so will give participants an improper start time and may disqualify them from the race. If a participant knows they went out in the wrong wave, they must complete a “change form” at the swim start or at the timer’s table. This will need to be turned in to the head timer located at packet pickup.

Green buoys will mark the turn corners for the Sprint swim and orange for the Olympic swim. Smaller round yellow buoys mark the site-line between each large corner buoy.

Keep the large buoys on your left side when swimming.

The swim exit will be on the north end of the public swim beach under the Graniteman inflatable.

There will be many certified lifeguards on boards and kayaks. Swimmers are encouraged to approach any of these lifeguards if they become anxious or tired, and they will be allowed to hang on to rest. However, swimmers cannot move forward while resting on a flotation device, or they will be disqualified. If a lifeguard thinks a swimmer is struggling and has concern for his or her safety, they have the authority to pull the participant from the race. If a swimmer is in distress, they are to remove their swim cap and wave it in the air and a lifeguard or boat support will assist.

Swimmers may also swim to the shoreline and stand up to rest, but they cannot walk forward, or they will be disqualified.

If a swimmer pulls out of the swim, they will be taken to shore where they must surrender their chip but may continue racing without their timing chip.

If a registered participant decides not to swim, they are to report to a volunteer. The volunteer will have the participant pull their chip, wait at the swim exit, and continue with the participants in their wave as they begin to exit the lake.

When coming out of the water, participants will run the chute to the bike transition area.

Bike Course Information
Participants are to mount/dismount their bike in the designated areas outside of the transition area.

The bike course is an open course, meaning that participants must share the roadway with vehicle traffic and observe all traffic laws.

It is critical for bikers to stay to the far right and NOT ride two or more abreast at any time, except when passing.

Drafting is prohibited.

Sprint-distance bikers will ride one lap and Olympic-distance bikers will ride two laps.

The entire course will be marked on the pavement with yellow paint. Every turn will have: 1) a volunteer in a bright safety vest pointing a red flag in the direction of the turn. 2) a large upright arrow indicating the direction of the turn. 3) arrows painted on the road surface to indicate the turn. 4) orange safety cones to follow around the turn. Bikers are to remain inside of the cones. Some of the corners are coned rather tight for the safety of bikers so they remain close to the right side of the roadway. The reason for this is because traffic does not stop at this intersection.

Some volunteers will be holding up stop signs to stop vehicle traffic for the safety of our racers on both the bike and run courses. These are not intended for racers to stop.

A large colored map of the course will be posted near the registration area

Participants are responsible for their own safety and bike at their own risk.

Run Course Information
The run course is an out-and-back course marked with white paint on the pavement and large upright arrows indicating the direction of turns.

The run course is 3.1 miles for sprint-distance participants and 6.2 miles for the Olympic race.

The 5K turnaround is marked on the pavement. A volunteer and cone will mark this turnaround area. 10K runners will continue to run past this area, which is also marked on the pavement. A volunteer and a cone will also mark the 10K turnaround.

Passing
There will be ample room along the course for safely passing bikers and runners. Be sure to safely move away from other participants to provide space during passing.

Before passing anyone, racers should make sure to loudly yell to the person they are passing, “passing on your left!”

Bike support
There will not be a bike mechanic or bike support available. However, a few basic bike tools will be located in the transition area by the water table.

Sag Wagon
There will be support on the course to transport stragglers back to the Transition Area. Participants should recognize that the sag wagon may not be able to reach everyone promptly, depending on the number of bicyclists needing assistance. Please be patient, as our sag support crew gets to participants as soon as they can.

The sag wagon cannot provide bike repairs support. The wagon will transport those racers needing repairs back to the transition area.

Headphones
Headphones/earbuds are allowed for the run. However, for safety, headphones are not allowed on the bike. We ask that participants be safe, courteous, and aware of other runners if they choose to use headphones on the course.

Post-Race
Participants are encouraged to grab a water bottle and quickly leave the finish line area. The transition area opens at 10:30am for participants to gather their gear.

Please be respectful of others racing when inside of the transition area. Participants should do their best to get out of the transition area as quickly as possible to limit the number of individuals inside of the transition area at one time.

Stick around for our award ceremony!

Incomplete Race Finish
If for some reason a participant does not finish the race, they are to turn in their chip at the finish line.

Restrooms
Park restrooms are located in the park shelter building and several porta-potties will be located nearby. One porta-potty will be located at mile 1 of the run.

Water
All athletes are encouraged to start out with a full water bottle. There will be a water fill station in the bike transition area. There will not be a water station on the bike course.

Water stops for the run are located at Miles 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The water stops at Miles 1 & 5 will include water and Powerade.

We will have trash and recycling bins along the route. Please try to discard water cups and other trash into the recycling bin. Our volunteers will assist in clean up.

Food
To ensure all participants can enjoy food and refreshments, only registered participants with a wristband will be served at the food tent. Spectators are encouraged to bring off-site food with them to the event.

Awards Ceremony
All racers are encouraged to stay for the awards ceremony, which will be held in the grass between the Transition Area and finish chute, likely to start at 11:30 a.m. We look forward to presenting awards and door prizes (all finishers are automatically entered into the door price drawing but must be present to win).

Weather
Triathlon is a rain or shine sport, and the race will not be rescheduled due to inclement weather. In the event of severe weather, all attempts will be made to delay the race rather than cancel any portion of it.

Although we cannot predict the weather, we can provide some historical weather averages for the area on the date of the race. In August, the temperature in Big Lake typically ranges from 62°F to 79°F and is rarely below 52°F or above 87°F.

Note that weather conditions can change rapidly. We recommend participants prepare for both best- and worst-case scenarios when selecting clothing for the race.

Any weather-related delays will be reported on the Active Central MN Facebook page in the event they occur.

Safety
The health and safety of event participants is most important.

Participants should show up for triathlons healthy, fit, and prepared. They should consult with a doctor about any warning signs during training such as chest pain, shortness of breath, light-headedness, or blacking out.

Participants should practice and prepare for the open water swim; race day should not be a participant’s first exposure to open water swimming. All participants should make certain their equipment is safe and operable, their wetsuits fit properly, and their bikes are checked and in good shape before the event.

During the event, stop at the first sign of a medical problem such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, light-headedness, or unusually high heart rate and seek medical attention. During the race, participants should tend to a fellow athlete if they notice signs of trouble or medical emergencies.

Medical Emergencies
If you need medical assistance, from band-aids and ice packs to medical emergencies, staff will be on hand to help. A medical staff person will be in a red tent near the finish line that is clearly marked with a teardrop banner. In addition, volunteers along the course will be available to call for aid, in the case of emergencies.

Need Assistance?
For those who have additional questions or need assistance prior to race day, please contact us at heather.corcoran@activecentralmn.org.

Triathlon Checklist
Below is a generic checklist of things to bring to a triathlon:

• Permanent black marker (body marking)
• Swim cap (no caps will be provided)
• Goggles (back up pair)
• Antifog spray
• Nose plugs
• Ear plugs
• Wetsuit
• Ultra-glide
• Bike
• Spare tube
• Bike shoes
• Helmet
• Bib number belt
• Running shoes
• Hat/visor
• Sunscreen
• Nutrition
• Sunglasses
• Essential clothes
• Water/fluids
• Water bottle
• Towel
• Socks
• Chair or bucket to sit on
• Earbuds/music