Sprint Distance
Just under half a mile in Lady Bird Lake with Austin skyline as backdrop. Over twelve miles through closed streets, flat and fast. Three miles on the lakefront finishing near Auditorium Shores. Sprint is the sweet spot: long enough to test fitness, fast enough to race hard.
Monday at Lady Bird Lake. This is competitive triathlon at its best.
Through the Heart of Austin
Open Water Confidence in Lady Bird Lake
Just under half a mile in one-and-a-half loops on Lady Bird Lake starting from Vic Mathias Shores. Fresh water. Calm conditions. Visibility you can trust.
You're swimming longer now. The open water rewards confidence and technique. Typical May conditions: 72-78°F, clear visibility, protected from currents.
Sprint swimmers at Austin average 18-28 minutes. By the moment you exit the water, you'll have proven you can handle real open water. That confidence sticks with you.
Sprint Distance
If you've been thinking about racing triathlon seriously, Sprint is your answer. The swim is long enough that you can't coast. The bike is fast enough that fitness matters. The run is far enough that your legs have an opinion.
You'll train 6-10 hours per week for 8-12 weeks. You'll learn proper pacing. You'll understand what real racing feels like: the pressure, the pace, the recovery that teaches you more than any easy workout.
Sprint athletes finish between 90 and 150 minutes. Where you land depends on fitness, experience, and race-day execution. Our training plans account for all three.
This is the distance where your training pays off and racing clicks.
Fast, Flat, Fully Supported Monday Racing
Everything about Sprint is designed for execution. Pre-race briefing walks you through transitions, timing, wave assignments. The Quick Guide covers parking, what to bring, where to find aid stations, gear rules, and weather prep.
Volunteers are stationed throughout the run. Medical support is on course. Timing is live. The finish festival has food, fluids, recovery area, and post-race celebration.
Monday morning, you'll arrive as a trained athlete ready to execute the race you prepared for. You'll have trained in heat. You'll have practiced your nutrition. You'll have visualized the course. By the time you hit the run, you'll be operating on training and instinct.
FAQs
You'll have 30 minutes to complete the 0.47mi swim after the final swimmer enters the water. For the bike, you must start the second loop by 11:00 AM.
Austin water temperature is typically borderline 78°F in May. Per USAT rules, if water is below 78°F, wetsuits are legal and count for awards; at 78.1°F or warmer, wetsuits are optional but disqualify you from awards.
Our water safety team of fully qualified lifeguards and bank-based safety personnel monitor the entire swim. If you get into difficulty, lie on your back, raise your arm, and a kayak will come to you.
No, there is no swim warm-up available at the event. Arrive early Monday to acclimate to the water entry point and conditions.
Swimmers are organized by estimated swim ability (not age group). Faster swimmers start first. You'll get a colored swim cap and wave assignment at packet pickup.
