The Auburn Olympic Triathlon takes place in and around the scenic town of Auburn, California. Held on the same day and in the same venue as the Auburn Duathlon (home to the 2008 National Duathlon Championships) and the Auburn Triathlon World's Toughest Half, the Olympic course participants will be sharing the same challenging course as other racers.

All three races are put on by former professional triathlete Brad Kearns and the folks at [BradVentures]. Like all of the [BradVentures] events in Auburn, the Auburn Olympic Triathlon is known for it's extremely challenging course in addition to the breathtaking scenery. With a series of very challenging hills on both the bike and run, the triathlon is a great primer for the Auburn Triathlon World's Toughest Half race.

Like all of the other [BradVentures] events, the Auburn Olympic Triathlon maintains a grassroots, community feel that harkens back to the early days of multi-sport racing.

The distances for the Auburn Olympic Triathlon are as follows:
SWIM: 1500 meters (.93 miles)
BIKE: 40 kilometers (24.85 miles)
RUN: 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)

See Auburn Triathlon or Auburn Duathlon for information about the other two races.
See [BradVentures] for information about Brad Kearns and his company.

SWIM
distance: 1500 meters

The swim takes place in Auburn's scenic Folsom Lake at Rattlesnake Bar State Park. The lake is about 7 miles downhill from the Auburn Overlook (where T2 and the finish line are located). Taking place in a secluded canyon, the swim is very flat and easy. Though the swim starts in deep water right off the boat ramp, you can elect to begin the swim standing on the boat ramp if you like. Water temperatures are usually in the high 60s or low 70s. Wetsuits are mandatory.

BIKE
distance: 40 kilometers (24.85 miles)

The bike course is extremely beautiful though fairly challenging. The first six miles are entirely uphill. Though it is mostly a mild grade, Shirland Tract Rd (mile 3.5 to 4.5) is an extremly steep climb with a number of switchbacks. Be prepared for high heart-rate riding.

When you reach mile 6 at Maidu Drive in the Auburn neighborhoods, you have approximately 4 miles of rolling hills with minimal elevation change until you get to the 1.5 mile climb that takes you to the top of Auburn.

After another 4 miles of rolling hills, you reach the turnaround at mile 16. On the final 8 miles you lose approximately 500 feet of elevation, but there are still some challenging parts. Most notably, mile 19 is the notorious "LeMond Walked" climb. Only .4 miles long, the hill is at a 12% grade. Legend has it that Greg LeMond had to walk his bike up this hill.

Click here for a turn-by-turn guide of the bike course.

RUN
distance: 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)

The entire run course stays within the beautiful and challenging confines of the Auburn State Park. There is no traffic in the park, so cars are not an issue. Don't expect to get a 10k PR on this course. It is an extremely hilly and challenging run, though if you can lift your eyes up for a few minutes, you'll realize it is also incredibly scenic. The course takes place on both trails (primarily single-track) and paved road.

The course follows the first lap of the Auburn Triathlon World's Toughest Half run course. During the first three miles you descend along the rim of the canyon and down into "The Pit." Upon reaching the turnaround at the bottom, you ascend up Cardiac Bypass climb for a grueling 1.2 miles.

At the top of the climb you enter a shaded, flat trail that folows a water canal. The two miles along the trail are fast and an area in which you can make up a lot of time. After a small climb at the end of the trail, you are back at the Auburn Overlook and the finish line.

The course is extremely challenging and caters to the strong hill climbers on both the bike and run.

SWIM
There are usually very few waves in the swim start so it is prone to get very crowded. If you get anxious in crowded swims, start on the dry land of the boat ramp at the back of the group. The swim is always close to shore, so the comfort and safety of land is nearby.

The course is well marked, though the buoys are often placed far away from each other. You are better off figuring out sighting points before you start the swim. Large trees or other inanimate objects may be easier to see from afar than the buoys.

BIKE
You start climbing the moment you get on the bike and don't really stop until you reach the end.
There is approximately 1000 feet of climbing in the first 7 miles. Use the first few miles to get your heart-rate down. This course is challenging throughout and you want to make sure you have enough left in your legs for the run. At mile 3.5 of the bike there is a very steep climb that lasts approximately 1 mile. If you've been able to recover effectively from the swim, you should be able to grind up the hill effectively. If you went out too strong, this hill may cause you problems later in the day.

After the first 5-7 miles, begin to pick up the pace and settle into your groove. Though you will have rolling hills ahead of you, the only other challenging climb is LeMond Walked Hill at Mile 19. Only .4 miles long, it is a 12% grade.

RUN
The run is a one loop course that has only one climb, but it's a whopper. As you leave T2, you have 3 miles of steady descent. Use this to warm-up the legs and relax the body. And pay attention to the road down which you are running because at mile 3 you're going to turn around and run back up.

The climb, known as the Cardiac Bypass, is fairly steady and, though steep, you can get in a groove. By the time you hit mile 4.2, you will have finished the toughest part of the run and reached the easiest. The next two miles along the water canal are flat and fast. You can gain a lot of ground over these miles, so pick up the pace and push the limits.

Once you emerge from the woods you only have a very short climb until you get to the Auburn Overlook and the finish line.

The Auburn Overlook (where both T2 and the Finish Line) is the best place for viewing. All athletes pass through the Auburn Overlook two times (T2 and finish) so you can see them in different times throughout their challenging day.

Folsom Lake is a beautiful location and well worth traveling to in order to watch the swim. Keep in mind that Folsom Lake is 7 miles downhill from the Auburn Overlook. A car is recommended (walking will be very long and challenging). If you take a bike to watch the swim and expect to bike up to the Auburn Overlook, you will be climbing the entire 7 miles back (approximately 1000' of elevation gain). Again, a car is highly recommended.

The start of the Auburn Olympic Triathlon occurs 30 minutes after the first wave departs from the Auburn Triathlon World's Toughest Half.