Course change announcement:
On the bike portion of the course, you will come back to transition the same way that you leave transition.
The Sprint course will be exiting and entering transition via a bike path. (If you have done the course the last few years, this is a change. The Course used to return to transition on the main UAS road).
The Olympic course will be exiting and entering transition using the main entrance to the University of Alaska Southeast Campus.
Aukeman Sprint Distance Course
The swim will take place in Auke Lake. This is an out and back open water swim. Swimmers are to follow a counterclockwise route keeping to the right of buoys. Wetsuit is mandatory for all swimmers. Swimmers will start and finish at the Auke Lake boat ramp. Swimmers proceed approximately 500 meters to the transition area in front of the Mourant Building.
The Bike course start between the Mourant Building and UAS Library, and travels to Back Loop Road via the paved UAS path. The bike course is an out and back route proceeding to Back Loop Road, Glacier Spur Road, and the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center and back. Cyclists will exit the paved path turn right onto Back Loop Road. They will ride approximately 7km to the Glacier Spur Road, and turn left toward the Mendenhall Glacier. This intersection will be manned by race volunteers, but cyclists must yield to traffic before proceeding toward the glacier. Cyclists will proceed to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center parking lot, ride around the roundabout, and then return to UAS and the transition area using the UAS road entrance (note: the return route does not use the paved path, rather it enters UAS using the motor vehicle route). Upon returning to UAS, cyclists will enter transition area again for T2.
The run course will be a single out-and-back. Runners will exit UAS and turn left onto Glacier Highway. Runners will run on the left-hand (Auke Lake side) of the highway on the way out onto the run course. They will turn left onto the Auke Lake Trail, and follow the trail to the end and turn right onto Goat Hill Road. The course continues to the north end of Goat Hill road where runners will turn left onto Back Loop Road and return to the Auke Lake Trail which they will follow to Glacier Highway and the finish line at UAS following the same route they used on the way out. Make sure to stay on the right side of Glacier Highway on your return to UAS. The course will be marked and manned by race volunteers.
Aukeman Olympic Distance Course
The swim for our olympic distance course is the same, except longer. We will designate a separate turn-around buoy for the olympic distance. This is an out and back open water swim. Swimmers are to follow a counterclockwise route keeping to the right of buoys. Wetsuit is mandatory for all swimmers. Swimmers will start and finish at the Auke Lake boat ramp. Swimmers proceed approximately 500 meters to the transition area in front of the Mourant Building.
The Bike course starts between the Mourant Building and UAS Library, and travels to Back Loop Road via the paved UAS path. The bike course is an out and back route ‘out the road’ for about 12.5 miles. The turn-around point will be clearly marked. This is not a closed course, so participants must be mindful of vehicles and are responsible for their own safety. There will be one emergency aid station at the turnaround point. This is back up if you lose a bottle on course or need nutrition, but please do not rely on it. Upon returning to UAS, cyclists will enter transition area again for T2.
The run course will be a single out-and-back. Runners will exit UAS and turn left onto Glacier Highway. Runners will run on the left-hand (Auke Lake side) of the highway on the way out onto the run course. They will continue to and then out the brotherhood bridge trail before turning around and following the same route back. Make sure to stay on the right side of Glacier Highway on your return to UAS. The course will be marked and manned by race volunteers. There will be two aid stations at approximately 1.5, 3, and 4.5 miles.
The Olympic distance transition area will be the same layout as the photo above. The swim and run to transition post swim will be the same (except the turnaround will be further out).
