Transitions Zones
Transition #1 at the Welland International Flatware Centre
Transition #2 Kingsbridge Park, Niagara Falls
The Swim Course
One of the most exciting swim courses Ontario has to offer! A canal swim in clean clear water. The water temperature should be in the 68F to 72F range. A 2,000m single loop clockwise swim with great viewing for spectators. Calm waters and a roaring crowd will greet you as you exit the swim and run directly up the Grandstands into the transition area!
The Bike Course
View the Interactive Bike Course GPS
Please note that the red and white dotted line in the interactive map DOES NOT indicate a gravel road. Burkett is well paved and scenic.
The course is divided into three main sections: Out and South-West towards Lake Erie, Back to Welland and To Niagara Falls – a breakdown of the sections are as follows:
Out to Lake Erie
Athletes will exit T1 heading towards Prince Charles Drive. There is a left turn at Prince Charles Dr, a short 400m section and then a right at Kleiner St. There are a couple of quick turns at Pietz Rd, followed by a right onto Forks Rd. You will stay on Forks Rd for a little over 2km and then turn onto Feeder Rd. There is then a 15km section along scenic Feeder Rd. out towards the Wainfleet and Haldimand areas. Once you reach Hutchinson Rd. (approximately 19.5km) there will be a turnaround where you stay on Feeder Rd for 3km. When you reach Burkett Rd. (approximately 23km) you will turn right (south). You stay on Burkett until you reach the end of Burkett (approximately 26.8km). There you will turnaround and travel north on Burkett. NOTE: The 1st Bottle Drop is on Burkett and approximately 30km. After the Bottle Drop you continue north until you reach Feeder Rd. (approximately 30.6km). At Feeder you will turn right and head back to Welland.
Back to Welland
The course heads back to Welland on scenic Feeder Rd past the WIFC and through the tunnel under the canal. PLEASE NOTE THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 50KM THERE IS A SHORT 100M SECTION ALONG A FITNESS PATH. WE ASK THAT YOU TREAT THIS AS A NO PASSING ZONE.
The course now takes you under the Welland Canal via Townline Tunnel Rd. As you enter the tunnel you will see the start of a coned lane. While you are riding through the tunnel, under the canal, you will be required to stay in the coned lane.
Once clear of the tunnel, you will continue east on Townline Tunnel Rd and Netherby Rd. taking you over towards the Niagara Parkway.
Please note that the 2nd Bottle Exchange has been moved to the 60km point as we feel the old drop at 50km was a little too early.
You will continue along Netherby Rd towards Fort Erie. You will stay on Netherby, which becomes Townline Rd, until you reach the Niagara Parkway. The course then turns north for the final stretch on the Parkway and, for the final 16km, travels alongside the Niagara River. This extra time on the Niagara parkway should make the ride more enjoyable.
The course reaches the south end of the Niagara Falls using a dedicated coned lane, crosses over a bridge before turning right again onto the Niagara Parkway to the Bike Finish in Kingsbridge Park and T2.
Bottle exchanges will be supplied with:
- Water in sport-top water bottles
- F2C GLYCO-DURANCE™ in cycling water bottles – click HERE for more information on F2C GLYCO-DURANCE™
- Assorted Gels
- Banana Halves
The Run Course
Out Section – 0 – 3.8km
You will exit T2 and turn onto the fitness path running parallel to the Niagara River for the first 500m until joining up with the road and turning right onto the Niagara Parkway. You will run north on the Niagara parkway passing the old Toronto Power Plant on your right, until you reach the first turnaround at approximately 2.8km near the edge of the Falls. You will run south on the Niagara Parkway until 3.8km and then turn right onto Burning Spring Hill Rd.
Loop Section – 3.8km to 8.8km
Once on Burning Spring Hill Rd, you will then veer right as the road splits onto Dufferin Isle Rd and run alongside the scenic Dufferin Islands.
Spectator Hot Spot #1 Note: The Dufferin Island section is a great spot for friends to cheer you on. They can access Dufferin Islands by a stairway at the north end of the Upper Rapids Parking Area.
At 4.6kms you will hit another turnaround and run back towards Burning Hills Spring Rd where you will make a sharp right and tackle a short steep climb covered by a tree canopy before reaching Portage Rd. The course then turns right on Portage Rd. and follows a coned lane north using the pedestrian pathway from Portage Rd to the next turnaround at 6.8km.
Note: You will NOT have to run on the city roads, down the stairs or deal with the pedestrian traffic all down Murray Hill.
After the turnaround you will run back along Portage Rd. turn left at Burning Spring Hill Rd. until the 8.8km point when you will turn right and back onto the Niagara Parkway heading south back towards Kingsbridge park.
Back Section – 8.8km – 10.5km
The next 1.7km takes the runners along the Niagara Parkway, turning left into the parking right turn back into the Finish area where runners will enter the finishers/lap area.
Spectator Hot Spot #2 Note: This is really where all the action will be. Spectators will have an opportunity to see athletes leave T2 onto the run course, then see them again as they complete the first loop of the run and finally the FINISH!
View The Interactive Run Course GPS
There will be Aid Stations approximately every 2km serving
- F2C HYDRA-DURANCE™ – click HERE for more information on F2C HYDRA-DURANCE™
- water
- ice
- Flat Cola
- Assorted Gels
- Assorted Fruit
- Pretzels
Each rest stop will also have a portable toilet available.
2nd Lap – 10.6 – 21.1
At this point you will have the option of entering the finishers chute or heading out for lap 2 of the run course. You will repeat the above sections exactly as described above again.
FINISHING
After completing your 2nd lap of the run course you will this time take the Finisher’s chute and run the final stretch towards the finish line!