Date/location: Sunday, August 22, 8:00am Ludington, Mi. this event is held right downtown literally where Ludington avenue deadends at Lake Michigan. Click here for directions
Venue/Area Information: Those not familiar with Ludington this is Michigan's number 2 tourist destination year after year. The white sandy beaches, beautiful sand dunes and great area amenties are good reason to visit and race. The Badger departs right next to the transition area that takes you accross Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. For that reason we have athletes from the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Chicago area year after year. There is 6 hotels within 800m of the transition area as well as two campgrounds actually on the bike course and one serves as your run course. Ludington state park is one of the top 3 visited state parks in the state and is nestled between the sand dunes. Click here for area amenities.
Course: If you want to go fast at the end of the year before the longer events like the Tawas half or the championships this is the place to do that for sure. Athletes have reported PR's every year here for some reason. Another course that lends itself for all the toys, slight breeze off the lake on the bike can hit a deep dish wheel or disc just right and you are spinning away at 35mph. with not a bleep in your heart rate. The swim is in the protected waters of the marina, crystal clear water you can see to the bottom along the break wall. On the beach start and a rectangle course is a fast swim. The bike is great with very little traffic and the police close Lakeshore drive down for about two miles heading out and back from the transition area. It is a mostly flat course with a few rollers along Lake Michigan and Hamlin lake. The run course heads straight down Lakeshore as well before jumping into and around the campground. Flat as a pancake, and mostly tree lined right downtown.
Race Tips: The swim is typically very calm inside the marina and is honestly like swimming in a pool because of the clarity if you position yourself just right you can look out the right side of your eye and not have to look up as often as you paralell the breakwall. So you can swim out very fast. Hammer and I mean hammer the Lakeshore drive sections, windy or not these sections I have found to be like Belle Isle with the Motor City race, it is just fast. When you are back along Hamlin lake that can get windy back there so be prepared for that, just get tucked and spin through it. The run focus should be back in the park, this is a winding heavily treed section and you can really lose your competition back there. Put some distance between yourself and others. Once you turn back on Lakeshore out of the campground it is 1.5miles. A long way for some to sprint, so lengthen the stride and use your arms like you never have before, push it all the way to the finish line. Get in the zone and focus on the hotel at the end of Lakeshore the entire time, don't look at the competition, don't look at the sites, focus in on the end of the street.
Packet Pickup/Registration: Day Before Saturday from 2-5pm at the back of the transition area under the white tents. Day of Packet Pickup and Registration Sunday 6-7:30am ONLY. Do not arrive late. Registration will close.
USAT: A $10 one day license fee will be collected AT Registration for all NON USAT members. This was not included in your entry fee and must be paid to USAT, not event management. If pre registered please have a check or cash ready.
(remember the USAT age up rule, meaning you will race at the age you will be at the end of the year)
Accomodations:
MultiSport 101: 4:00pm day before event. We have been told by many athletes from across the country that our 101 is the best anywhere. As far as we know we started it back in 2003. 2 years later a few others started popping up, and now most bigger, or shall we say more experienced race directors host them. What makes a great 101 is the experience a race director has not only with the race but most importantly in multi-sport. Kenny has been racing since 1987 along with an exercise science and coaching background he is one of the most qualified out there. Our goal with the 101 from day one has been to go through the entire event start to finish for the newbies, the beginners, the less experienced athletes. To try and calm down those butterflies as much as possible. Along with the information on the race the Race Director will give you dozens of racing and training tips along the way and answer any question you may have as well. Classes range from an hour to 2 hours depending on size and how many questions there are. If you are new to Multi-Sport it is Highly Recommended you attned this class. 4:00pm in the transition area the day before the race. H20 Overdrive is our official Multi-Sport 101 partner. You want something that works without all the hype this is it folks. You are going to spend money on hydration drinks you should spend it on something that not only works but is great for the body!!
Transition Area: Open at 6:00am closes at 7:15am. No Friends or Family members allowed in the transition area for any reason.The race director and race officials will close the transition area 30-45 minutes before race start to ensure all athletes are at starting lines for mandatory course meetings and announcements. Once the transition area is closed you will not be permitted back in before the race starts. Family members will not be premitted in for any reason. In the event of inclement weather it is recommended you have warm, dry clothing outside the transition area to put on following your finish due to other athletes still being on the bike course. Thank you for your cooperation in following these rules.
***You must rack according to your race number based on sequence placed at end of row. Please remember racks will hold 7 bikes racking with seat tip on support bar. Please be courteous to fellow athletes to ensure there is space for 7. Any athletes removing gear from transition areas before the announcer or race director has officially opened the transition area will be DISQUALIFIED from the race! No questions asked, your race number will be taken down and you will be disqualified. The transitionarea is closed until all athletes are off the bike course. Sprint athletes this goes for you as well, you must wait until all the athletes are off the course and race officials open the transition area. All athletes deserve a clear transition. There will be an aid station at the run in/out chute with water and electrolyte replacement. Athletes wearing their own chips, PLEASE remove your chips before re-entering the transition area and exiting again. This can cause a timing error. Run in/out and Bike in/out chutes are clearly marked on the large structures at either end, it is your responsibility to go the right direction.
Swim: 1000m or 500m - You will be swimming in Lake Michigan, however it is the protected marina of Ludington. Between both breakwalls. We will make a rectangle swim course that will take you along the north wall, but keeping you inside the protected waters. Although the walls make for relatively calm water it is still succeptable to the lake temperatures. Wetsuits will be allowed, temps can range from 62 to 75, watch the website for updates. Swim course will be patrolled with lifeguards, search and rescue as well as coast guard personel. It will be a beach start. Wave starts will be posted at Packet Pickup/registration.
Bike: 20k, 40k - A great course! Exiting the beach downtown Left. You will head out North along Lake Michigan on Lakeshore dr. to a RIGHT ON JAGGER - This will be slightly rolling for the rest of the way. Decker to a Left on Lincoln to a Left on Duneview back to a Left on Lakeshore flying past Lake Hamlin. Then you will be heading back towards lake Michigan for a hairpin Right turn back on along Lake Michigan on M116 to a Right on Piney Ridge for about a mile and half before turning around and heading back to a Right on M116. This will take you out to the Sand dunes. This section of the road could be busy, use caution as you will have sand dunes on both sides of you. Turning around just before the state park then it is a super fast, smooth, flat return to the city beach downtown Ludington.
20k Sprint - You will head STRAIGHT OUT TO THE SAND DUNES Turnaround before the state park and back. NO TURNING ANYWHERE.
Use caution at all times as this is an OPEN course, you will be sharing the road with vehicular traffic. You must obey officials and emergency vehicles at all times. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification. It will be your responsibility to print maps, and know the courses. It is the athletes responsibility to know and understand the courses. Helmets are a must, no helmet, no race. MP3 players on the bike course are automatic disqualification.***Remember this is an open course! You will be sharing the road with vehicular traffic. Use caution at all times. It will be your responsibility to print maps, and know the courses. It is the athlete's responsibility to know and understand the courses. Helmets are a must. No helmet - no race. MP3 players on the bike course are an automatic disqualification. Due to a few athletes actions in the past during an event we are making you aware not only in this event but ALL events whether hosted by us or any other event management company YOU MUST OBEY ALL OFFICIALS and EMERGENCY VEHICLES on the course AT ALL TIMES!! The bottom line here is your race is not more important than an EMERGENCY or OFFICIAL on the course. In the event of an emergency you MUST obey officials requests, and you MUST STOP and pull off the road for any and all EMERGENCY VEHICLES to get by. This is not only to ensure the emergency vehicles can proceed, it is for your safety as well. Any athlete that does not adhere to this rule will be disqualified and will not race in a 3 d event for the rest of the year. This to us is common sense and should not have ever came to this point.
Run: 5k, 10k - Flat and fast exiting the transition area you will follow the run chute along the bike chute to the inside north bound lane on Lake Shore dr. and coned lane on the EAST side of Lakeshore Dr. Following that past Stearns Park along Lake Shore Dr. You will follow this to the Cartier Park path and follow that into the subdivision before turning around. Most the course is shaded. Water and electrolyte replacement at 3 spots on the course.
Duathlete Run 1: 2mi. - You will start inside the finish chute and follow the cones out to mile 1 and return.
COURSE MAPS: Swim Run Bike Transition Area
Relays: At registration you will receive ONE bib number and ONE chip/strap. The bib number goes on the runner as that is who will be crossing the finish line. All relay members must be body marked with that number. The Chip/Strap will be securely fastened around the person competing in the first discipline. There will be a designated spot for All Relays at one of the entry/exit points in the transition area marked RELAYS. All staging and chip/strap exchanging is to be done at this point. Not on the course. The Chip/Strap must be securely fastened to each athletes ankle, do not grab it and go, do not put it on the wrist. Upon finishing it is the last athletes responsibility to return that chip/strap at the finish line. (one athlete may do more than one discipline)
Finish/Awards: Upon finishing you wil receive a finishers momento, after you have returned your chip and strap you will proceed to the post race snack tent for refreshments. Raffle and Awards will begin AFTER the last person finishes. If you chose to leave event management will not be responsible in any way for mailing your award or raffle prize.**You may click here to print awards form and mail in a check for $10 within 2 weeks after the event to get your award mailed to you. If your envelope is postmarked after 2 weeks or does not contain a check for $10 we will not send the award
Amenities:
Special Thanks: City of Ludington, Ludington Police, US Coast Guard, Mason county sheriff,
