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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, in-race pictures, and post-race party with great food, 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 courses as the triathletes.

NOTE: All 2021 Races will comply with all Federal, State, and Local COVID-19 Protocols. We will be required to follow these guidelines to host our races and ensure the safety of all athletes, volunteers and staff. Please refer to the athlete guides for each of these races to learn more.

2021 Calendar Update

We continue to consult with local, state, and national agencies on how best to return to safe and fun in-person racing in 2021. We believe that in-person racing will be a reality in 2021 for most of our events, though some may still need to be virtual. We are working with these agencies to get races cleared and permitted as quickly as we can, though some venues still are not able to give us the final go-ahead until the COVID-19 cases decrease in that area. Stay tuned to social media, this website, and your email for updates. If you would like to be added to the email list please complete our contact form and we will get you in the database. Please mark your calendars for all our 2021 race dates, and when we get our permits approved for each race, we will open registration. Races will be considered tentative until we open registration. We want to be sure we can race before we take any registrations. Thank you for your continued support, and we look seeing you on course and in-person soon!

December 10th Update

The Ohio State Parks, where our races are hosted, have indicated that they will not issue any permits until later in the Spring. We consequently not open our registration until later in the Spring, when we receive confirmation from the parks that we can race. 

Join us for all our races!

Open Water Swim

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 a time trial start for all races. Athletes times will start on the beachfront, and end once the athlete exits the water and crosses the finish line. 

  • 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, and it is self serve. 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. 
  • Please review the athlete guide for each race to get more information and details.

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
  • Time Trial Starts are TBD; All Open Water Swimmers will start in the same wave. 
  • 10:00am: All swimmers must have exited the water

​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.