SUMMARY: the 1500-meter swim, as well as the finish of the run and awards ceremony will be staged at Lake Mission Viejo.
The 40K bike segment utilizes 1.5 miles of Marguerite Pkwy from the Lake to El Toro/ Santiago Canyon Rd. From El Toro Road on, the bike course is similar to the one used for the Mission Hospital Orange County Duathlon held in 2006, 2007 and March of 2008. The end of the bike course is on the county’s bike path, in the City of Lake Forest near the Saddleback Valley Community Church.
The 10K run starts on the Bike Trail and proceeds south paralleling Aliso Creek passing under El Toro Rd, returning the athletes to Lake Mission Viejo via predominately off road hiking and walking trails and finishes just outside the lake property at the location of the finish line for the 1984 Olympic Bicycle Road Race.
SWIM: The swim segment is 1500 meters in Lake Mission Viejo. The swim start will be adjacent to the volleyball courts at the northeast corner of the main beach. A starting gantry and swimmer’s corral will be assembled in this area. (This area will also serve as the site of post race activities). The athletes will be sent out in waves 3 to 5 minutes apart; pros and elites first, followed by the age groups. The 1500 meter rectangular course exits the water at the boat ramps. The athletes will run a short distance to the Bike Transition (T1) and get on their bikes at the “mount line” and immediately exit the Lake property turning left onto Olympiad Rd.
The last participant will have 80 minutes from the start of the race to exit the transition area and be on the bike course, or he/she will be not be able to continue due to road closure stipulations of our permit. Note: the slower age groups will be placed in the early waves. click for map; then double click the box
BIKE: The 40K bike segment (approx. 24 miles) starts at the Lake, proceeds northbound on Marguerite and turns right onto El Toro Rd. All intersections, crossings and T’s will be closed to all traffic on Marguerite, north from Olympiad to El Toro Rd. Athletes must pass this intersection by 0830 hrs when the roads are to be reopened. Once on El Toro Rd. and until the finish of the bike course, the course is an open course, shared with cars. As with the O.C. Duathlon there will be no road closures. The CHP and Lake Forest Sheriffs will be controlling traffic at principle intersections only.
Near the Santiago & Glenn Ranch intersection El Toro Rd. becomes Santiago Canyon Road. Athletes will proceed along Santiago Canyon Rd. (approximately 9 miles) passing under the Hicks Road Bridge. The athletes will turn right onto Blue Diamond Haul Road taking them to the turn- around.
Please Note: There will be no aid/water stations along Santiago Canyon Rd / El Toro Rd. The only aid/water station will be located at the turn-around point on the Blue Diamond Haul Rd. Volunteers will direct the athletes to the bridge road crossing over Santiago Canyon Rd. The athletes proceed another 1/4 mile to a left turn that takes them back to Santiago Canyon Road. From here the athletes will proceed south to the second Transition Area (T2). They will follow Santiago Canyon Rd. until approximately .4 mile past the famous Cooks Corner Restaurant & Bar (corner of Live Oak and Santiago Canyon) where they will leave the road and enter the dedicated Bike Path using the sidewalk driveway. NOTE: Be very careful in leaving El Toro Rd. and entering the Bike Path; there’s a bump-slowdown or you’ll catch some air. CAUTION: shortly after entering the bike path, you will enter a .4 mile NARROW section of the bike path. This section is a NO PASSING section on the downhill. The bike path then widens to a normal road width where passing at will is allowed. Shortly after this point you will be nearing the Transition, (T2). Please be alert and follow directions from volunteers. Prepare to dismount your bike in the designated area, and proceed into the Transition Area to rack your bike and prepare for the 10K Run.
AGAIN…..ALWAYS REMEMBER, THE HIGHWAY IS OPEN TO LOCAL TRAFFIC. THERE ARE UNMARKED INTERSECTIONS, ALTHOUGH THE MAIN ONES ARE MARKED, athletes and cars will share the road; heads up!!, you are responsible for avoiding the expected light traffic.
RUN: The 10K run segment is mostly off road using predominately biking and hiking trails in the cities of Lake Forest and Mission Viejo. From the Transition the run proceeds 2.5 miles, southerly, down the Aliso Creek Bike Trail. At this point the athletes will cross underneath El Toro Rd. continuing south on the Bike Trail. Near the Creekside and Sunlight Creek intersection the athletes will turn left crossing Sunlight Creek. This will lead them to Pebble Creek Park. Crossing the grass area the runners go through a gate opening onto a fire/hiking path in the hillside divide between Dineral and Via Noveno Roads in Mission Viejo. This path exits another gate at the intersection of Mojave and Noveno and the runners follow Noveno for 50 yards before making a left turn onto the Glen Park Wilderness Trail. Following the trail the athletes will be taken to the corner of Los Alisos Blvd and Vista del Lago. The athletes cross at this intersection and proceed up the sidewalk (so. side) on Vista del Lago They cross to the other side of the street just after passing Agrazo Ct. and enter onto a walking path heading north. This takes them back to Marguerite Pkwy / Olympiad intersection. At Marguerite, make a left, proceed ~1/4 mile north in the Southbound lane, make a 180 and head south ; at Vista del Lago, make another 180 U-turn and proceed in a northerly direction in the #2 northbound lane back to Olympiad. You'll be able to see your competition ahead of you in these closing loops.Turn right on Olympiad for 200 yards to the historic 1984 Olympic finish line where our finish line gantry will be set up. Congratulations!! You have just finished what we believe will become a classic course for the Sport of Triathlon.
POSTRACE: Athletes will walk back into the Lake Property, pick up your swim gear immediately and clear T1, and proceed to the post race activities and awards ceremony near the swim start. Keep your transition areas tidy and make sure every bit of gear is labeled with your name and number. After leaving the race drive back to the Mammoth Office Building’s parking lot, walk across the street and retrieve your bike. You must have your race number and body markings to show for security.
The winner of the race will finish the course and cross the finish line before 0900, and the last competitor should complete his/her race at 1030.
NOTE: Traffic controls will be removed and roads will be reopened at ~1030hrs. Any athletes still on the course past that time will make their way back to the finish line but must obey all traffic rules; i.e., traffic crossing signals which have now been reset from flashing to active with no police management. The course will now be “open” and you are on your own.