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Open Water Swims FAQ

Open Water Swimming in Amazing Ohio Lakes!

We offer 3k & 5k Open Water Swims, with a 1500m option at the Ohio Games. People call our races positive, friendly, and fun because with your registration you get a FREE performance tee, photo booth and in-race pictures, and post race party with pizza, beer, cold “happy finish” towels, finisher medals, swag, music and much more!

Our races are USA Triathlon Sanctioned, which means you will need to purchase a USAT membership or one day pass to participate. Our swim races are hosting in conjunction with triathlon events, and open water swimmers share these same course as the triathletes.

Join us for all our races!

Open Water Swim

Races canceled due to COVID-19; see you in 2021!

Race Details

  • Our Open Swims are 3k and 5k in length (plus a 1500m race at the Ohio Games)

  • Our races are USA Triathlon Sanctioned, which means you will need to purchase a USAT membership or one day pass to participate. Our swim races are hosting in conjunction with triathlon events, and open water swimmers share these same course as the triathletes.

  • Swim caps are provided and we ask you wear your designated swim cap for safety. Wetsuits are allowed in these races, if the water temperature is below 78 degrees we will be wetsuit legal. This means you can wear a wetsuit if you want, but you do not have to wear one.

  • We will have an in-water start. Racers will line up according to ability. There are places where you can touch the bottom at the start. Everyone (all men and women) will start in the same wave unless otherwise directed. Should we need to start in waves, we will start the men first and the women afterward.

  • The swims will use a 750m course: 1500 is 2-laps; 3000m is 4-laps, and 5000m is 1 x 500m loop (1/2 lap) plus 6-laps on the 750m loop. The courses will be marked with large buoys. We will have lifeguards on the beach and in kayaks in the water to ensure a safe race for everyone. 

  • There is 1 Aid Station for the 5k swim. To access the aid station you must swim to the table, access your aid and then return to the swim course. You can leave your own aid at the station. We will provide water and gels.

  • Once you have completed your swim, exit the water and run up the beach to the finish line. Follow the cones, chalk and signs.

  • Everyone must have completed the swim course by 10:00am. This should give everyone plenty of time to complete this segment of the race. 

Finisher Medals & Swag

  • We believe everyone is a winner, and so we give swag and finisher medals. See each race for details.

Saturday Early Packet PickupAthletes Swimming the Open Water Swim

We will have packet pickup and registration at the park beachfront on Saturday from 4-6pm.

Sunday Race Day Schedule

  • 5:30am-8:15am: Registration and Packet Pick-up
  • 6:45am: 1/3 Iron Races & 5k Swim Start; Athletes should meet at the Start flags on the Beachfront at 6:45am. We will start the races following a brief pre-race meeting. All athletes are expected to attend the pre-race meeting and be at the start line at 6:45am as the race will start immediately after the pre-race meeting.
  • 7:15am: All Olympic Races & 3k Swim Start. Athletes should meet at the Start flags on the Beachfront at 7:15am. We will start the races following a brief pre-race meeting. All athletes are expected to attend the pre-race meeting and be at the start line at 7:15am as the race will start immediately after the pre-race meeting. 
  • 10:00am: All swimmers must have exited the water

  • Awards can be picked up at the registration booth once results have been posted!

​NOTE: Race distances and swag may vary slightly for each event. Please check the event pages for more details. The Ohio Games races are sponsored by Z+ Health & Fitness with the support of Zoom Multisport Racing. The Columbus Triathlon is co-sponsored by All Sports Timing and Race Management and Zoom Multisport Racing.