(click on course for details)
The swim course is a 1.2-mile open water swim in the Gulf of Mexico. |
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Athletes will start on the beach and swim one loop the rectangular course in a clockwise direction. At the finish, athletes will exit the water and run up to T1. Wetsuits are allowed and optional as long as the water temperature is below 78 degrees F. |
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Swim Course. The Triathlon swim course is a 1.2-mile open water swim in the Gulf of Mexico . The swim will start and finish at the Boardwalk Beach Resort at Panama City Beach , Florida . Refer to the map of the swim course, Figure 1. The swim will be an out and back course starting near the center of the Boardwalk Beach Resort. The race will start in waves as shown in the below table, the swimmers will swim straight out approximately 950 yards from shore, turn right for approximately 200 yards, and then swim back toward shore to the finish line. The first wave of the swim will begin the professional triathletes at 06:20 AM followed by 13 waves spaced 5 minutes apart.
| Wave Number | Start Time | Category | Cap Color |
| 1 | 6:15 | Physically Challenged | Green |
| 2 | 6:20 | Pro Men & Women | White |
| 3 | 6:25 | Women 35-44 | Yellow |
| 4 | 6:30 | Women 25-34 | Pink |
| 5 | 6:35 | All Other Women | Purple |
| 6 | 6:40 | Men 25-29/55+ | Green |
| 7 | 6:45 | Men 50-54 | Red |
| 8 | 6:50 | Men 30-34 | Light Blue |
| 9 | 6:55 | Men 35-39 | Yellow |
| 10 | 7:00 | Men 40-44 | Pink |
| 11 | 7:05 | Men 45-49 | Purple |
| 12 | 7:10 | All Relays/Men 15-24 | green |
The swim will be marked with large buoys approximately every 125 yards to keep the swimmers on course. Large boats will be positioned at the outer corners for a visual reference. Several small safety boats, jet skis, kayaks, and surfboards will be positioned along the swim course to aid in navigation or to help any swimmer in distress.
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The 2011 bike portion of the race is a significant departure from previous years because of the new airport. It is an out-and-back course traveling through residential, commercial, and rural areas of Bay County and Panama City Beach. The course is flat and fast with head winds averaging 15 mph. You will be sharing the road with automobiles and at times traffic may be heavy so please obey all traffic regulations. Police will be at all congested intersections and you will have the right-of-way unless the police stop you for an emergency vehicle or other such related matters. Numerous signs are posted to inform the local traffic of the race in progress and GCT volunteers will direct athletes to keep you on course. When entering/or exiting the bike transition you will be instructed to walk. Always keep your chinstrap fastened. This is cause for immediate disqualification. Sag wagons will be on the course to transport triathletes experiencing mechanical or other problems back to the transition area. Drafting will not be tolerated. There will be 7 USA Triathlon officials. Head official is Ben Hughes. Motorcycles with trained draft marshal deputies will be controlling the bike course. |
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AID STATIONS
The bike course has aid stations approximately every 10 miles staffed with friendly volunteers offering
encouragement and replenishments. Stations will have water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, Clif Bars,
Clif Bloks and fruit.
Bike Overall
The run is a flat circular course traveling through some of the most beautiful beachfront areas that distinguishes Panama City Beach as having the World's Most Beautiful Beaches.
Temperatures average 85 degrees with high humidity. It is recommended that you apply a sunscreen while running. Sunscreen will be available as you exit the bike to run transition. We will have volunteers with sunscreen ready to assist you.
Aid Stations are numerous with the friendliest volunteers offering you encouragement and assistance. Stations will have water, Gatorade, fruit, Clif Gel, and cola.
Communication between aid stations and the base station located at the finish line medical station is available to all triathletes experiencing medical or other problems.
The run course will have mile markers and aid stations approximately every mile. Traffic cones separate the runners from the traffic where necessary. The traffic cones will not block the flow of traffic. Numerous signs are posted to inform the local traffic of the race in progress and GCT volunteers will be used to keep runners on course.
Run Course. The run course will be a 13.1-mile out and back course that starts and stops at the Boardwalk Beach Resort. The run will begin at the transition area immediately after the bicycle segment of the race. The run course is described below.
- Exit Boardwalk Beach Resort, go east on South Thomas Dr. to Thomas Dr.
- Go east on Thomas Dr. to Joan Ave and turn right and go to Surf Dr.
- Go east on Surf Dr. to Utes and turn left.
- Go north on Utes, cross Thomas Dr.
- Go one block and veer right onto Sunset.
- Proceed onto S. Lagoon Dr.
- Go east on S. Lagoon Dr. to Mystic Dr. and turn right and go to Hilltop Ave.
- Turn left on Hilltop and go to Treasure Circle.
- Turn left on Treasure Circle and follow it to Beach Dr.
- Go west on Beach Dr to Irwin and turn left.
- Go south on Irwin to Thomas Dr. and turn left on Thomas Dr. and go to Spyglass Dr.
- Turn right on Spyglass Dr and follow Spyglass Dr. to Lookout Dr.
- Turn left on Lookout Dr and go to Thomas Dr.
- Turn right on Thomas Dr and go to State Park.
- Make complete loop through State Park in a counter-clockwise direction.
Exit State Park and follow same route back to the finish line at the Boardwalk.
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 click map to enlarge |
The run course will have mile markers and aid stations approximately every mile staffed with friendly volunteers offering you encouragement and assistance. Stations will have water, Gatorade, fruit, Clif Bars, and cola. Aid Stations at miles 3 & 8 are stocked with Clif Gel. Communication between aid stations and the base station located at the finish line medical station is available to all triathletes experiencing medical or other problems.