Event Date & Time:

Sunday, 21 September 2025

Short Course: 7:50 AM first swim heat start with subsequent heats starting every 10 min. Last short course heat will be at 8:50 AM.

Main Course Super Sprint: 9:15 AM first swim heat start with subsequent heats starting every 15 min. Last main course heat will be 11:30 AM.

Venue:

Albany Memorial Park located at 1325 Portland Avenue.

AlbanyTri course map. Click image for larger version (opens in a new tab).

Google street map (also opens in a new tab):

Historical Course Changes: Note that there have been changes to the course in 2018 and 2019 as indicated in the descriptions below, so please review the current course map shown above — even if you’re an AlbanyTri regular!

Super Sprint Main Course Information

The Super Sprint main course is open to participants aged 9 and up, either as individuals or relay teams consisting of 2-3 athletes per team. This is a super sprint distance triathlon consisting of:

• 400 meter (0.24 mile) swim followed by
• 10 km (6.2 mile) bike ride and then
• 2.5 km (1.6 mile) run

• The swim
  • 17 lengths (25 yards/length) or 8.5 laps (50 yards/lap) in the outdoor pool of the Albany Aquatic Center. This is 425y, which is a little shorter than 400m.
  • Two swimmers splitting each lane of a 10-lane pool.
  • Heats of 20 swimmers (max) start every 15 minutes.
    • This time includes 2 min to clear pool and prep for the next heat.
    • If you don’t complete the 17 laps within 13 minutes, that’s OK. Simply exit the East end of the pool and proceed to the transition area to start the bike portion.
  • Seeding into swim heats will be based on the following:
    • The first heat is reserved for the faster and more competitive/experienced triathletes, to improve safety by reducing the mixing of fast & slow cyclists on the bike course.
    • The registration form provides a way to indicate your desire to be in the first heat.
    • Also on the registration form, there is a “family & friends” section where you can specify whether you want to start in the same or different swim heat as another participant(s).
    • Seeding into heats after heat #1 will generally be determined by registration date, with earlier registrants being placed into the earliest available heat, and also satisfying family & friend requests to the extent possible.
    • Swim heat seeding will also guided by club affiliation as specified on the registration form, so that members of the same swim/bike/run/triathlon club or team will be grouped into the same starting swim heat to the extent possible.
  • Lap counter volunteers will be available for most lanes, holding a sign underwater by your lane at the east end of the pool that indicates your current length count (odd numbers 1-13) or a solid red sign indicating that you have one more lap to go (down and back).
    • Lap counters may not be available for all lanes, so be prepared to keep track of your swim lap count, 17 total lengths of the 25y pool (425 yards total).
  • Kickboard use is okay, but no other flotation devices are permitted.
  • One shallow lane is available for water walking for participants over 4.5 ft tall. You can indicate your desire to walk instead of swim on the registration form.
• The bike course
  • consists of 12 laps around a 0.52 mile loop on the streets encircling the pool + park + high school clockwise.
  • Bike route (map):
    • Start on Portland Ave in front of Aquatic Center, heading West
    • right turn onto Key Route.
    • right turn onto Thousands Oaks
    • right turn onto Carmel
    • continue looping along the same route, counting loops as you pass the Aquatic center.
  • You are responsible for counting your bike laps. This can be challenging. See the bike section of our FAQ for tips on keeping track of your bike lap count.
  • Bike helmet is required and no drafting is allowed, per USAT rules.
  • Historical bike course changes: Starting in 2019, the bike course consists of 12 laps around the block, not 11 as in previous years. This brings the course to be at or slightly over the advertised 10 km (6.2 miles) distance. Bike times on the current course are therefore not directly comparable to pre-2019 times.
• The run course
  • is 3 laps on the same loop as the bike course, running in a counter-clockwise direction (opposite to the bike course direction)
  • Run on the sidewalk or on the road near the curb in places where the sidewalk is not available or in bad condition.
  • As you head up Portland Ave just past the Aquatic center at Pomona Ave, you’ll make a sharp left turn around a storage container and run on the grass. This takes you around the back of the transition area, running next to the tennis courts.
  • Continuing racers (laps 1 & 2) turn right just before the finish line and head to the sidewalk along Portland Ave to complete your next lap. A the end of your 3rd lap, you’ll stay straight and head into the finish line (arch).
  • You are responsible for counting your laps on the run course. As on the bike course, calling out your current lap number on each corner can help you keep track.
  • Pay attention to flag rope, traffic cones, barricades, and sidewalk chalk markings to stay on the marked running route.
  • Historical run course changes: Starting in 2018, the run course was routed around the back side of the transition area (near the tennis court fence on the grass) to avoid crossing the path of cyclists exiting & entering the transition area to get to the street for the bike course.
    • Also starting in 2018, the run became 3 complete laps, rather than 3.5 laps as in earlier years, finishing in Memorial Park just past the transition area near the concrete stage. This shortened the run from 3K to 2.5K, so run times are not directly comparable to pre-2018 times.

The transition area (T1 and T2) will be on the grassy field between the tennis courts and the sidewalk (less than 50 yards from the pool exit).

Here’s a video tour of the course to get a good sense of the venue. The video is from 2012, so be sure to see the comment below the video for a number of  significant updates for the current course. Also see the current course map above and check out our extensive FAQ for additional event details.

This race is not USAT sanctioned, primarily since the focus is on new triathletes. However, seasoned triathletes are definitely welcome! The early swim heats will be reserved for experienced triathletes and fast cyclists to minimize interactions with slower racers. On the registration form, indicate your preference for an early heat if you are an experienced triathlete or fast cyclist.

Think you’re fast? Indicate your preference for the first swim heat on the registration form, and also consider signing up for the “Beat-A-Triathlete” challenge!

Short Course Mini Triathlon

The short course is a mini version of the super sprint main course, about 30% as long overall. Prior to 2023, the short course was called the “Super Youth” course and was restricted to kids aged 7-10 only. The short course is now open to all participants aged 6 and up. This permits parents to accompany & supervise their kids on the course, and it allows any athlete to get a taste of a triathlon without committing to a longer event. Or, register for the short and main courses and do both (see the “DOUBLE” registration links on our signup page). Parents of very young kids (6-7yo) or kids requiring extra assistance are encouraged to enter the event and chaperone them along as you do the course together!

The short course consists of the following legs:

• 70 meter (75 yard) swim followed by
• 2.5 km (1.6 mile) bike ride and then
• 1 km (0.6 mile) run

• Short course swim
  • Three lengths of the outdoor 25y pool of the Albany Aquatic Center.
  • Two swimmers splitting each lane.
  • Heats of 20 swimmers (max) start every 10 minutes.
    • This time includes 1-2 min at the end to clear pool and prep for the next heat.
    • If you don’t complete the 3 laps within ~9 minutes, that’s OK. Simply exit the East end of the pool and proceed to the transition area to start the bike portion.
  • Kickboard okay, but not other flotation devices.
  • Shallow lane is available for water walking for participants over 4.5 ft tall. Indicate your desire to walk instead of swim on the registration form.
  • Deep Water Competence: Parents please ensure that your children are competent to swim unassisted in deep water. Prior to race day, you are encouraged to have your child’s swimming ability evaluated by a lifeguard at the Albany Aquatic Center (or other deep 25y pool). Ask at the pool’s front desk to set up an evaluation. Thanks!
• Short course bike
  • Three laps around a 0.52 mile loop on the streets encircling the pool + park + high school clockwise as described for the Super Sprint main course above.
  • Bike helmet is required and no drafting is allowed, per USAT rules.
  • The transition area will have shorter bike racks for kid-sized bikes.
• Short course run
  • One lap running on the sidewalk or on street near the curb in a counter-clockwise direction, finishing in the same location as for the Super Sprint main course described above.

AlbanyTri FAQ

See our extensive FAQ about the AlbanyTri, covering various aspects about the race and answering a range of common questions.

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