Event Description

You know what they call the last person to finish a triathlon? A TRIATHLETE!!

The Hawk Island Triathlon is a USAT-sanctioned, beginner-friendly event designed for people of all ages, body types, fitness levels and abilities. We offer a safe and supportive environment and make accommodate wherever possible for persons with disabilities.

Sure, we have hardcore competitors who race for gold. We also have Aunt Betty, the kid who cuts your lawn, and Bob from finance. Whether they race to win or race to finish, they are all TRIATHLETES. Are you ready to join them?

We offer Sprint, Super Sprint, and Kids options. The Sprint is perfect for beginners and experienced athletes who like a "warm-up" event to start the summer triathlon season.  The Super Sprint is available for those who want the multisport experience at a more doable distance. Participants in these categories range in age from 8 to 80+. 

The kids race has three categories with varying distances for ages 1-14. The swim course is shallow enough that Goldfish and Dolphins can touch at all times, and the entire Kids race is within Hawk Island County Park, providing optimum safety for racers & visibility for parents. 

Think your child is too young? Think again... We see baby triathletes in swim diapers and floaties, and they are adorable! From toddlers to teens, we've got the perfect race for our next generation of multi-sport athletes. 

Event details and schedule

(Scroll to bottom for race weekend schedule)

Distances

Goldfish (age 6 and under): 25m swim, 300m bike, 100m run. 

Dolphin (age 10 and under): 100m swim, 3 mile bike, 1k run.

Shark (age 14 and under) 200m swim, 4.5 mile bike, 2k run.

Sprint: 500m swim, 10 mile bike, 5k run.

Super Sprint: 200m swim, 4.75 mile bike, 2.5k run.

Courses

Kids Swim: Goldfish swim in shallow water parallel to shore (life vests and other swim aids allowed for this age group). Dolphins swim the perimeter of the shallow beach area, inside the buoy lines. Sharks swim the perimeter of the entire beach area, outside the buoy lines. Lifeguards and guides are stationed in the water with swimmers.  

Kids Bike: Goldfish bike in a cordoned-off parking area (training wheels/scooters allowed). Dolphins bike 2 loops around the rivertrail within Hawk Island Park. 3 loops for Sharks. 

Kids Run: Goldfish run in a cordoned-off parking area. Dolphins run out and back along the scenic beach path and boardwalk. Double loop for Sharks.

Sprint/Super Swim: Counterclockwise from north beach to south beach. Super Sprint is counter clockwise around the perimeter of the beach buoy line (same course as Sharks). 

Sprint/Super Bike: Local streets through South Lansing and Michigan State University farms.  

Sprint Run: Scenic paved path out and back on South Lansing's award winning river trail. Half distance for Super Sprint. 

Kids Maps. Sprint/Super Sprint maps

Registration

Rates increase on April 1, May 1, May 18, and onsite. 

Goldfish: $30 / $35 / $40 / $45 / $55 onsite

Dolphins/Sharks: $40 / $45 / $50 / $55 / $65 onsite

Sprint/Super: $90 / $95 / $100 / /$105 / $115 onsite

Relays: $150 / $160 / $170 / $180 / $200 onsite

Online registration ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. Onsite registration is available during Saturday and Sunday check-in. CashApp, Venmo, and Credit Cards accepted onsite (CC has processing fee). 

Race Shirts

Race shirts are included in registration fee. Sprint/Super shirts are tech. Kids are cotton. Choose a shirt size OR choose "Bees over Tees" to donate the cost of the shirt to help our nonprofit expand pollinator gardens at our urban farm and community gardens. Choose "Bees and Tees" if you'd like to make a donation in addition to getting a shirt.

Your pollination donations help us increase food production at South Lansing Urban Gardens, the harvest from which is donated to local food pantries and free meal sites. 

Shirt sizes are only guaranteed if ordered by May 18. Check size chart on race website before ordering. 

Timing

Goldfish are non-competitive. No timing.

All other race categories are chip timed (disposable ankle strap) with T1 and T2 splits.

Awards

All participants recieve a finisher medal.

Placement awards are given to....

Kids: Top three boys and girls in each age division (Dolphins and Sharks).

Sprint: Top three men and women overall, top three masters (40 & older), and top three in each age/weight division.

Super Sprint: Top three men and women in each age division.

Location/Amenities

Hawk Island County Park is located at 1601 E. Cavanaugh St. between Pennsylvania and Aurelius Roads in Lansing, MI. The park features a beautiful beach and swimming area, splash park, playground, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, picnic grounds and shelters, and a beach house/snack bar. 

Park Policies

Hawk Island Park is family and pet friendly. Dogs are welcome on a 6ft or shorter leash in the park and off leash in the 17 acre Soldan Dog Park located at the northeast corner of Hawk Island Park.

Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are NOT allowed. 

Pre Race Practice Swim

On Friday evening before the race, we offer an open water swim practice. The cost is $10 per person (to cover the cost of certified lifeguards), and we collect that fee closer to race day. Many racers take advantage of this opportunity to test the water temp, practice in open water (as opposed to a lap pool), and work out their pre-race jitters. It's a great time to practice be invited to participate through a separate registration.  

PARKING

On-site parking is available for $3 for Ingham County residents, $5 for non-residents. County residents with an annual pass are free. Participants will only need to pay once for the weekend. Those who pay for parking to attend the Friday practice swim or Saturday early packet pick-up will receive an entry pass for the rest of the weekend. This pass is only available to participants. Spectators must pay each time they enter the park. Free parking is available at Soccer Zone, a half mile walk on the river trail to the race pavilion.

IMPORTANT: There is only one route for vehicles in and out of the park (at the gate on Cavanaugh), and those lanes are part of the sprint and supe sprint bike course.  

Park access on race day is dictated by your arrival and departure times. Vehicles may enter and exit the park before 8 a.m. and after 10:30 a.m. From 8-10:30am, park entry and exit is restricted to emergency vehicles only. Everyone else arriving during that time (this includes youth racers, spectators, and volunteers) must park at Soccer Zone and walk into the park.

Check-In

Early check-in is Saturday, May 31, from 1-4pm. Participants receive bib#, swim cap, shirt, disposable timing strap, swag, and body marking (if requested, otherwise race day).

Race Day check-in is 6-7:30 for Sprint/Super, 10:45-11:45 for Kids.  

Race Policies

BIB Transfers: Registrations can be transfered to another racer through Active.com. Racers handle all financial transactions related to swapping registrations. No transfers allowed after 5pm, Thursday, May 29. 

Note: Shirt sizes can be changed if the transfer is complete by Sunday, May 18.  After that, size cannot be guaranteed.

Transition Area: For the safety of participants and security of their belongings, the transition area is off limits to everyone except racers, race staff, and volunteers (wearing fluorescent volunteer shirts or orange vests). Race numbers MUST be displayed to gain access to the transition area.

There is a separate transition area for Goldfish, and parents are allowed to assist their child in that area. 

See Weekend Schedule below for times that transition area closes. The transition area will reopen after the race at the discretion of Race Staff. 

Athlete Conduct: We reserve the right to disqualify anyone who behaves inappropriately toward fellow competitors, volunteers, or race management staff.

No Refunds: While we sympathize with athletes unable to participate due to injury, illness or other circumstances, registration fees are NONREFUNDABLE. This includes cancellation due to severe weather and natural disasters. You may opt to purchase race insurance from Active.com. Registrations cancelled with advance notice may, at the discretion of event organizers, be rolled into the following year.  

Safety/Medical Services

First Aid is available in the medical tent near the finish line courtesy of McLaren Greater Lansing family medicine residents and nurses. Medical staff post up on shore during the swim and ride along in the SAG vehicle on the bike course. 

Lifeguards are stationed on boats and paddle boards using zone coverage along the swim course. If you know anyone with current certification, we are always hiring. 

Officers from Lansing, East Lansing, and Meridian Twp provie traffic control at all signalized intersections on the bike course.

Aid Stations

There are two water stations along the Sprint/Super run course. The first is at the turn around point for Super Sprinters, second is at the turn around for Sprinters. There is one water station on the Dolphin/Shark run. Water is also available under the race pavilion and at the finish. We do not have water on the bike course – make sure to bring a bottle.

Friday, May 30, 2025

6:3-8   Practice Swim and newbie Q&A

Saturday, May 31, 2025

12-4   Early Check-In for all races

Sunday, June 1, 2025

5:45     Gates open

6:00     Sprint/Super check-in & transition area open

7:30     Check-in closes

7:45     Transition area closes

7:50     Pre-race briefing at the swim start 

8:00     Swim start (waves listed at check in)  

10:45   Kids check-in & kids transition area open

11:00   Sprint/Super awards 

11:45   Kids check-in closes

12:00   Goldfish 

12:20   Sharks

12:30   Dolphins

1:00     Kids Awards