Thank you for registering for the Mack Cycle Key West Triathlon at Higgs Beach.  You will find this to be an absolutely beautiful venue for our event!  There are a few things I’d like to share with you in advance of the event:

1. The Race Expo & Packet Pickup is Saturday from 10am to 4pm at the race site.  It will be busiest at 10am when it first opens, so we recommend you come after 11am.  Come ready to SHOP! Mack Cycle will be having a HUGE SALE on site! 
    
2. Transition Area - We apologize in advance as we have a small transition area for the number of athletes at this race, so it will a tight fit.  To find your spot look for the rack label with your number range and rack your bike on the pole to either side of it.  There are 6 spots per pole.  Please keep all of your things between the 2 black lines on the rack pole so we can fit 6 people on each rack.  We normally have 6 people on each rack, but 3 on each side.  Here all 6 will be on the same side.  Be nice to your neighbors on the rack as everyone is fitting into a tight space!  You can find the transition layout here: https://tridirector.com/img/translayout2025-12-14.pdf
    
3. U-TURN AT THE CORRECT LOCATION - The run course is on the promenade next to the road that the bike course is on.  Every year there are a few people who don't look at the website or read the emails (probably won't read this warning either) and u-turn on the bike course at the run course u-turn signs.  Don't be that person and get DQ'd.  It is very simple.  Bike course signs are on the road and run course signs are on the promenade.  Here are the bike course u-turns:
   
   
   
   The run course u-turns are at the waterstations.  The Mini (Short Sprint) Triathlon u-turns at the first waterstation.  The Long Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon, and Aquabike u-turn at the 2nd waterstation.  The International Triathlon u-turns at the 3rd and last waterstation.  The bike course u-turn is FURTHER THAN ALL 3 waterstations.
    
4. DO NOT LITTER! - The water stations have garbage cans in both directions.  Please put your cups and other garbage in them so they do not blow into the ocean.
    
5. Important Bike Course Information - The bike course is 1 mile out, a 5 mile loop, then 1 mile back.  The Mini (Short Sprint) distance is just out and back for 7 miles total.  The Long Sprint, Aquabike, and Duathlon are out, 2 loops, then back for 12 miles total.  The International Distance is out, 4 loops, then back for 22 miles total.  There will be a timing mat that you will run over on the way out for each lap, so be sure to ride over it so your laps are counted.
   
   There is a very short portion of the out and back part of the bike that is only 1 street lane wide (on Bertha).  If you are one of the very first or very last riders, please look ahead before passing anyone to ensure there are no riders coming the other way.
    
6. RUN Race Number on FRONT! - On the RUN, please wear your race number on the front of your body and have it visible at all times.  The numbers are color coded so staff & volunteers know which race you are in.  It is also important that your number is easily visible for the race photographers and the staff at the end of transition and finish line doing manual backup in case you have any problems with your timing chip (i.e. lose it).  
    
7. Swim Cap Colors - All Triathlon distances share the same 5 groups and cap colors.  So, when your swim cap color lines up to start, look at the time.  If you are in the International Distance, you'll be lining up at 8:00 am.  If you are in the Sprint Distance, you'll be lining up at 8:15 am.  If you are in the Mini Distance, you'll be lining up at 8:30 am.  Don't start with the wrong distance even though they have the same swim cap color.
    
8. Swim Has a Time Trial Start - We employ a time trial start to increase safety in the swim and spread racers out thus greatly reducing drafting on the bike course.  Groups will be called to get in line one cap color at a time then you will start one person at a time.  Tell the starter doing manual backup your race number then start when he/she says 'GO'.  We may also have a metronome, in which case you'll start when the sound is different (i.e. beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeep).  
    
9. What You Get, What to Bring - It is VITAL to know what you need to bring and what we'll be providing at the race.  We've had quite a few racers this year show up to events without critical necessities needed to race.  Click here to review this vital information ASAP.
    
10. Pre-Race Clinic - The pre-race clinic will be held on Saturday at 1pm at the race site.  This clinic will be very informative.  It is mandatory if this is your first triathlon and highly, highly recommended if you have not done the Key West Triathlon before.
    
    There will also be a virtual clinic on Wednesday, December 10 at 5pm on Zoom for those that cannot attend in person.  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n2UjRm-hSdurEmObzybvbg#/registration
     
11. Photo ID & QR Code - We have some scanning features to expedite packet pickup.  Your photo ID is ALWAYS required to pick up your packet.  We also now have QR codes to look up your registration.  you can find your QR code by clicking the QR code button next to your name on the participant list at https://triregistration.com/List.php?eventid=3553.  Please have that code pulled up on your phone ready to scan when you get to the front of the line.
     
12. Bike Check-In & Timing Chip - Bike check-in is on race morning, not the day before.  We are not securing bikes overnight, so bring it race morning.
    
    Also, timing chips will be given out at the entrance to transition on race morning, so arrive early.  Once you get your chip, please scan it on the verification computer to confirm your race distance and category information.
     
13. USAT Rules - Please click here to review the most commonly violated triathlon rules.  These rules are mostly to keep the event as safe as possible (i.e. wear a helmet, stay to the right except when passing, pass only on the left, etc.), but also to ensure fairness.
     
14. Wetsuits - If you want to wear one, bring it.  It is generally wetsuit legal (barely), so unless you here otherwise on race morning, you can wear a wetsuit.  Note that the water is plenty warm enough, so a wetsuit is definitely not necessary and many people find it too warm to wear one.  There are no wetsuit strippers at the swim exit.  You are on your own if you wear one.
     
15. Aquabike - Aquabike racers finish at the bike entrance to transition, not the finish line.  Once you finish, feel free to come over to the finish line to get your medal and post race water & snacks.

16. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, HAVE FUN OUT THERE!!! - Triathlon is supposed to be fun!  Don't take things too seriously and forget why you are here.

We are proud to welcome Trilogy Real Estate Group as a presenting sponsor to the Key West Triathlon. Trilogy is headquartered in Chicago and Miami and has built a reputation for excellence. For more than two decades, Trilogy has combined investment expertise with community vision—acquiring, developing, and managing exceptional real estate projects that prioritize quality, opportunity, and longevity. We’re excited to partner with a company that believes in creating lasting impact—one property, one neighborhood, and one community at a time.