Giant Acorn Triathlon
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Giant Acorn Triathlon Festival : Lake Anna State Park
The Giant Acorn Triathlon Festival stages Olympic and Sprint triathlons from Lake Anna State Park. Races use a sandy beach time trial start and a freshwater swim that typically measures in the low 70s Fahrenheit. The venue includes banked, stadium-style seating that overlooks the swim, run course and finish.
- Olympic: 1.5K swim, 24.6 mile bike, 10K run
- Sprint: 750 meter swim, 15.5 mile bike, 5K run
Swim courses are rectangular with two right turns and sighting buoys placed about every 75 meters. A water temperature reading is posted the Thursday before the event. Bike courses use lollipop-style routes on rural country roads with varied terrain and established elevation profiles. The run is entirely on asphalt, heavily shaded, and begins with a climb out of transition followed by forested loops and a downhill into the finishing chute; the Olympic run is two laps of the same loop.
Events are USA Triathlon sanctioned. Typical race inclusions are a tri-blend race shirt, custom race socks and a finisher medal. Packet pickup occurs at the race site on the days before and the morning of each race; participants must collect their own packets and present photo identification. Transition area rules restrict bicycle release until established bike cutoff times for safety. Water quality is monitored for harmful algal blooms and the swim will be canceled if water is unsafe.
The state park offers trails, a playground, a swimming beach and a visitors center; nearby businesses include a winery and a cider works. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
