Urban/Epic Olympic Distance Triathlon

On Saturday, August 18, three hundred fifty (350) triathletes will be transported via ferry from Portland's East End to Macworth Island, and the premier edition of the Zone Urban/Epic Triathlon and Festival will be underway.

The Urban/Epic Triathlon is the fifth featured event in the Tri-Maine Series races, and according to race organizer Will Thomas of Tri-Maine Productions, the Urban/Epic has become all that more epic over the past several weeks.

The unexpected death of a 38-year old man during the swim leg of the inaugural edition of the Cohasset Triathlon at Sandy Beach on July 8 prompted the Coast Guard to revisit Tri-Maine's plan to have swimmer's jump from a barge located a mile off shore on Casco Bay. Early in the month of June, Tri-Maine's Thomas had visited the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco Bay to observe logistics for the Urban Epic swim. With the unfortunate turn of events in Cohasset, Thomas had to adapt the race to satisfy the safety concerns of the Coast Guard.

According to Thomas, the revised swim from Macworth Island is spectucular. "Macworth is a desolate island that looks back directly at the Portland skyline. It's absolutely beautiful." Tri-Maine race participants will swim straight toward the B&M Baked Bean Factory and go through a gate marked with boueys. As triathletes near the shore, they will encounter the current generated by the Presumpscott River emptying at low tide. The tide will cause swimmers to sweep toward East End Beach. The total distance of the swim is slightly longer than planned at 1.2 to 1.3 miles, but according to Thomas, "It will swim like 1 mile because of the current that will move athletes swiftly towards the first transition area."

Only triathletes and Tri-Maine staff will be transported to Macworth for the mass start race. Fans, friends, family and media will be able to observe the swim from a Casco Bay Ferry anchored safely along the course. Tri-Maine Productions has charted the ferry, and interested spectators can go on the boat for free. The boat launches at 6:40am.

As swimmers meet the East End shoreline, they will enter a mini-transition area. Athletes will strip their wet suits and put on their shoes which Tri-Maine Productions will transport in a numbered gear bag designated for each race participant. Triathletes will then run approximately 1/2 mile along a path before entering T1 and heading out on a 40K (24.84 miles) bike ride throughout Greater Portland. Athletes are advised to pack a second set of shoes (not your race shoes) for the mini-transition run to T1, which is located within a boat-building warehouse.

Race participants will want to make sure to pace themselves as the bike race begins by climbing a steep hill on Fore Street. It will be quite easy to redline in the first mile of the race! "That would be a mistake," relates Thomas, "because athletes are going to need everything they have to complete the bike course which includes two steep climbs back up to the Peninsula, one on Fox Street and the other on Walnut Street."

Then, athletes can settle into a beautiful 10K (6.21 miles) race along the Eastern Prom and the Back Cove Path. This course is literally on the ocean from start to finish!

One thing is for sure, the premier edition of the Zone Urban/Epic will be just that - EPIC!