We are pleased to have the addition of two Aquabike distances to Liberty Triathlon's festivities! The aquabike follows the same course as their triathlon counterpart, but finishes at the bike-in transition.
Located just 30 miles west of downtown Minneapolis, Lake Rebecca Park Reserve (part of the Three Rivers Park District) provides a beautiful backdrop for a great day of racing and spectating. Whether you are a newbie looking to step it up to a longer distance event or a seasoned triathlete looking for an early season event to get you ready for the season - the Liberty Triathlon is for you!
Both of our courses are USAT-sanctioned and are sure to provide athletes with a safe, fun and challenging race. Spectators are encouraged and will find Lake Rebecca Park Reserve a great backdrop for outdoor entertainment. There will be course officials on the swim, bike and run. Please understand the USAT rules to ensure you have a safe, fun and penalty free race.
The transition is on an open grassy knoll next to the parking lots of Lake Rebecca Regional Park. The area is open and great location for a transition.
The swim is down the hill from the transition area. The swim is a rectangular course going counterclockwise. The great part of this lake is that it is down in a valley and doesn't allow motorizeed boats, which makes for very calm water. For open water swims, you do not get any better locations.
The journey from swim to transition is about 150 yards that require you to navigate a set of stairs and run past our wonderful announcer Jerry McNeil. If you don't know him, you will by the end of this race. He leaves quite an impression and if we had to describe him in a word, we would lovingly say "colorful".
The bike course is the best part of this race. You start going through Delano and south on 17. The olympic triathletes go down 17 and take a left turn on CR6 (CR20), then a right on CR 92, a right on CR26, a right CR20 and then finally a turn on CR 17 to go back towards Delano. This loop is about 6 miles with a majority of the rider on CR17. These roads are all recently paved so they are great for riding and SMOOTH! All of this area is rolling hills but none of the hills are to big.
The long course take CR 17 south through Delano and then a left on CR 6 (CR 20), then a right on CR 92. They leave the olympic bikers when they go straight on CR 92 at the intersection of CR 26. The long bikers go south to St. Bonifacius and they take a right on Wildwood Rd, then go a half mile and take a right on Hwy 7. They go on Hwy 7 for about 3 miles to CR 10 and go north, this is a roundabout. Then you will head north into watertown and take a right on CR20 and back to CR 17. You are not done however, you need to do this TWO times before you take a left on CR 17 and head north towards Lake Rebecca. So as you get to CR 17 and CR20, the first time you will go straight and head towards CR92, the second time you will go left and head back. The long course is the same as the olympic course at is is rolling hills, none to big and many of the roads are newly paved. You will find the race roads to be faster than most.
The run is an out and back around Lake Rebecca. This is a beautiful course but not a flat course. It is a rolling hills and valley that you will love to run but there will be challenges on the run. We have a water stop about every mile and the waterstops have water, nutrition drinks and other nutritional items depending on the stop. The olympic turns around at the 3.1 mile mark where as the the long course turns around at the 6.55 mile mark. The long course miles 5.5 to 6.5 goes by a swam sanctuary that will give you many breathtaking views of some of natures most beautiful birds. You will love this run.
History:
Liberty Triathlon started its tenure at Lake Independence at Baker Park, in 2004. Due to many construction constraints, the race moved to Lake Rebecca in 2013. After 2013, Final Stretch surveyed the triathletes and over 75% of the people wanted to keep the race at Lake Rebecca.
Race Awards & Finisher Medals:
All Liberty Triathlon finishers in both the Long and Olympic course will receive finisher medals! Awards will be given to the top three male and female runners in each age category: 19 & Under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 & Up. There will also be awards for the top 3 overall male and female athletes, top 3 relay teams, top 3 Clydesdales and top 3 Athenas. The Olympic award ceremony will begin at 12:00pm and the Half Iron award ceremony will begin at 3:00pm. Amateur Elite athletes are only eligible for the overall awards.
Aquabike awards will be presented to the top three overall finishers in both of the Aquabike distances. There are not age group awards for the aquabike events.
Must be present to win.
2017 Finisher Medal:
2017 Shirt Design:
Stay tuned for the 2018 Shirt & Medal Designs!
Parking:
There is plenty of parking in the Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. When you enter the park, follow all signs to parking lots or overflow parking. There will also be event signs and volunteers to help you find a place to park your vehicle. There is no fee to enter the park.
Accommodations:
The Country Inn and Suites by Carlson is the official hotel partner for Liberty Triathlon. They are offering a special discounted rate to triathletes on the weekend of the event.
To reserve your room – please call the hotel direct at 763-473-3008 or reserve a room here using the promo code LIB18. Liberty Triathlon participants using the promo code can get a rate of $98 (2 queen beds) or $108 (king suite).
2017 Race Photos:
Race photography by Fred Sobottka.
Do you have great Liberty Triathlon photos? Feel free to share them with us on Facebook, Twitter (@finalstretchinc), or Instagram (@finalstretchinc).
A Triathlete's Perspective:
On race morning you will be directed by volunteers and park personnel to one of the large parking areas near the transition. As you enter transition with your timing chip you will be ‘body marked’ with your race numbers and then you can set up your equipment in the large grass transition area. The lake and swim start/finish is to the south down the hill while the bike leg starts on the north side of the transition area and leaves the park the same way you drove into the park.
The swim start is a very short walk down the hill to the sandy beach. With plenty of area to warm up the race starts with the Long course athletes and then if followed by the Olympic Distance Athletes (see race schedule for details and updates). All the athletes enter and exit at the same area. The great thing about Lake Rebecca is that motorized boats are not allowed on the lake and it is very secluded and small so the wind does not affect it much. Once out of the water you run up the hill and across the grass to the transition area. With your helmet, cycling shoes, and bike you will run out the exit on the opposite side of the transition area.
Once safely mounted on your bike you ride the short distance out of the park and turn left onto ‘river road’. For the next mile you will be riding adjacent to the Crow River and then into downtown Delano. You ride down Delano’s Main street and cross under Highway 12 and into the rolling country roads. The road surfaces are in excellent condition so you only need to worry about your competition. After the first 5 miles or so you will begin a Looped course; one loop for the Olympic race and TWO loops for the Long course.(see map for details). The first 5 miles and the last five miles are the same. Once you finish your required loops you will ride back through downtown Delano, back into the park, and to the transition area.
The ‘Bike-In’ opening of the transition area is the same as the ‘Bike-out’. After racking your bike, removing your helmet, and putting on your run shoes, you head to ‘Run-out’ which is the same opening as the ‘Swim-in’. As soon as you begin the run you will be on a paved bike path. Some of the path is shaded and some is open to the elements. Outside of the opening half mile the run is anything but flat. The good news is that there are not any significant hills. There are rolling hills throughout the run. Both distances have an out and back course so you will receive encouragement as well as have the opportunity to cheer on your friends. Water stops are every mile or so to help you fight off dehydration. Use them as June can often be hot!
Liberty Triathlon has become one of the most popular races because of first class race management, beautiful venue, safe course, and great roads. The race typically fills so don’t wait to sign up. The race shirt and finisher medals are great! Stick around for the awards as they have MANY door prizes to give out. Whether you consider an Olympic a long course or you want to do a half, Liberty Triathlon will not disappoint.
