The 2026 event takes place on Saturday, August 8, 2026

The event takes place at Deer Creek State Park Beach near New Holland, Ohio

The venue is approximately 50 miles south of Columbus.

Yes, the event has distances for beginner, intermediate, and advanced triathletes.

Yes, the festival includes race options for athletes of many ages and experience levels. The 2025 event had participants from ages 10 to 78, and there are no age restrictions on entry.

Yes, the event encourages families, spectators, walkers, and casual participants to attend

Athletes praise the event for its welcoming atmosphere, supportive community, scenic venue, and race variety.  It is also an official race for Team Heart and Sole.

The festival includes triathlon, duathlon, aquabike, aquathlon, open water swim, and run-only races

Participants can choose beginner, sprint, Olympic, and ⅓ Iron triathlon distances.

The beginner triathlon includes a 300m swim, 7-mile bike, and 1.5-mile run

The sprint triathlon includes a 750m swim, 13-mile bike ride, and 5K run

The Olympic triathlon includes a 1500m swim, 26-mile bike ride, and 10K run.

The ⅓ Iron includes a 1500m swim, 39-mile bike ride, and 15K run

Yes, beginner, sprint, Olympic, and ⅓ Iron duathlon races are offered

Aquabike events combine swimming and biking without the running segment.

Aquathlon events combine swimming and running without biking

Yes, 3K and 6K open water swim races are offered

Yes, participants may compete in 5K, 10K, and 15K run-only events

Yes, walkers are welcome in the run-only races

The swim takes place in Deer Creek Lake at the Deer Creek State Park Beach

Athletes begin in waist-deep water to reduce dangerous running into the lake

Wetsuit rules follow USA Triathlon guidelines and water temperature regulations.

Faster swimmers are encouraged to line up near the front, and beginner swimmers are encouraged to line up near the back. This is sorted by you, the athlete, since you know your swimming ability much better than the race organizers.

Yes, swimmers receive swim caps as part of race swag

The bike course travels on roads around Deer Creek State Park and surrounding areas. Bike course maps can be found on the Course Information page

Yes, many first-time triathletes successfully complete the course each year

Yes, approved helmets are mandatory for all bike participants

Yes, triathlon, duathlon, and aquabike athletes must place race stickers on their bikes.

Bike stickers may be placed on the seat post or top tube.

Yes, medical support and law enforcement are present throughout the event

The run course uses park roads and parking lots within Deer Creek State Park.

Yes, the run course uses 100% paved surfaces.

Yes, all athletes, except those in the aquabike, finish under the same inflatable finish arch.

Aquabike athletes finish inside the transition after completing the bike segment.

Yes, swimmers exit the lake and run uphill through the finish line

The transition area is where athletes switch between swim, bike, and run portions of the race

Yes, all transition times are included in final race results.

Duathlon races start at a start line located near the “run out” area of the transition area.

Once the events begin, transition access is restricted to registered athletes and race staff.

Races begin between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM depending on the event distance.

Each race distance begins with a pre-race briefing at the scheduled time that will last 5-15 minutes, with the beginning of the race expected to begin 15 minutes after the start of the race briefing.

The pre-race briefing begins at 7:00 AM with an expected race start of ~7:15 AM

The pre-race briefing begins at 7:20 AM with an expected race start of ~7:35 AM

The pre-race briefing begins at 7:20 AM with an expected race start of ~7:35 AM

The pre-race briefing begins at 7:20 AM with an expected race start of ~7:35 AM

The pre-race briefing for the sprint distance races begins at 7:40 AM with the race beginning at ~7:55am. 

The pre-race briefing for the beginner triathlon starts at 8:00 AM the race will begin at ~8:15 AM

The pre-race briefing for the 5K, 10K, and 15K runs will begin at 8:20 AM with an expected start at ~8:30 AM

The pre-race briefing for the sprint and beginner distance duathlons begins at 8:20AM with an expected start time of ~8:30AM

Timing closes and the event officially ends at 1:00 PM.

The course closes, and timing the event officially ends at 1:00 PM.

Registration is completed online through the official race website and RunSignup page.

Yes, and no. Participants must register online because of USA Triathlon sanctioning requirements, but that may be done onsite the night before or the morning of the event using a mobile device.

Packet pickup is available Friday evening and race morning on Saturday.

Friday packet pickup runs from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

Race morning packet pickup begins at 6:00 AM

For this event the answer is no. Athletes must pick up their own packets to sign required waivers

We love our canine friends, but for the safety of our athletes, dogs are not permitted to participate at the Columbus Triathlon and Multisport Festival.

No. Headphones and earbuds are strictly prohibited in all USAT-sanctioned events. This ban applies to all three legs of the race—swim, bike, and run—as well as inside the transition area.

Packet Pickup is located in the parking lot of Deer Creek State Park Beach Area and is situated near the finish line.

Yes. Participants may register online via a mobile device on race day.

Parking is located in the western end of the parking lot at the Deer Creek State Park Beach Area. There is overflow parking available about a half mile away once this lot is full, and there will be signs and volunteers to direct you to this location if necessary.

Absolutely!

The start line for all events that involve a swim is located on the Deer Creek State Park Beach.

The start lines for all events that do not involve a swim is located just outside the "Run Out" side of the Transition Area.

The official finish line for all events except the aquabike is located in the east end of the Deer Creek State Park Beach parking lot. The aquabike finish line is the "Bike In" of the transition zone. Aquabikers can feel free to dismount their bikes and cross the common finish line with all the other athletes.

There is no gear check, but athletes may leave their gear/personal items in their respective zones within the Transition Area.

Yes. On the run leg, there will be two aid stations available per 5k loop. There are no feed stations for the bike portion of the race.

Water, HEED, and Hammer Gel will be available at the runner aid stations, as well as some to be announced, athlete-friendly solid food.

Yes. There will be portable restrooms available in the parking lot, as well as permanent facilities located near the beach.

Yes. All athletes will receive a race T-shirt at packet pickup, and a finisher's medal upon completing their race.

Yes, results are submitted to USA Triathlon within 15 days.

Yes, participants receive a full post-race meal and refreshments

Yes, results use 5-year age group increments for USAT rankings