Course Description

Participants will enter the water from a shoal on the west side of Randall's Island Park, across from a greenway on Manhattan Island at approximately 109th Street, and swim a loop course. The full field of swimmers will start from the water in five waves, fastest to slowest (with swimmers and Aquathletes mixed together), just a few minutes apart. After the race horn sounds, participants swim straight (north-northeast) parallel to shore and towards the Triborough Bridge. You will swim through the first gate of small race marks (a mark to your left and right) all the way to the first hard turn at 600 meters. After 75 meters, swimmers will turn again and head south-south west for 700 meters. Another hard left turn is made and after 25 meters, participants make their final major turn for the final 100 meters into the finish. Please note there are the remains of an old pier along the shoreline near the final hard turn, so again it will be very important to stay near the race marks to avoid the hazard. The swim finish is at an earthen shoal where you started on Randall's Island Park across from approximately 109th Street on Manhattan Island.

The currents will be moving very slowly with or against the swimmer the entire event, as this is one of the few areas off Manhattan that the currents rarely exceed 1 knot at their max either way. The maximum speeds for the current are predicted at 6:15 am (.9 knots north–northeast) and 2:20 pm (.67 knots south-southwest). Slack is predicted to begin 11:15 am.

Swimmers should keep the race marks to their left the entire event (except when going through the gates) and should not swim any farther than 5 yards away from the race marks as they pass. Swimming close to the Manhattan Island shoreline will give no advantage, as the race is timed to occur during the transition at the end of the ebb. Accordingly, staying in line with the race marks will be the most efficient line to the finish.

Run participants will transition into running gear in their designated space within the transition zone after exiting the beach area at the swim finish. Runners will head (1.22 miles) south on a gravel path along the shoreline of Randall's Island Park, continuing all the way around to the island’s east side, to the Hell’s Gate Bridge, across from Astoria, Queens. After a turnaround at the bridge, runners will return (1.57 miles) along the same path, taking in incredible views of the Manhattan skyline and East River islands as they head back to the west side of the island. The run course continues north past the swim finish, just past the entrance to the small wooden footbridge over Little Hell Gate Inlet, to the last turnaround. From here, run back (0.31 miles) along the shore back to the run finish (swim start/finish). The finish line is just north of the swim start, across from approximately 109th Street on Manhattan Island.

Click here to view the Aquathlon Course Map.