Pumpkinman is one of the more popular late-season triathlons on the west coast. Taking place in the Lake Mead area, just outside of Las Vegas, it's a great excuse to visit Sin City and feel good about it. Pumpkinman is home to the 2008 [TriSports.com] Halfmax National Championships and the annual USA Triathlon Club National Championships, so you'll get a pretty decent club turnout (especially from such large organizations as LA Tri Club and [Columbia Multisport]).

Pumpkinman is put on by BBSC Endurance Sports, who are also the folks behind the SGTri, Rage In The Sage Triathlon and USG Triathlon, among others. BBSC are known to put on very safe, professionally run events and Pumpkinman is no exception.

There are two races held at Pumpkinman on the same day, a sprint distance and an olympic (or intermediate) distance. The distances for each are as follows:

Sprint Distance
Swim: .75 kilometers (which is .46 miles)
Bike: 20 kilometers (12.4 miles)
Run: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)

Olympic Distance
Swim: 1.5 kilometers (.93 miles)
Bike: 40 kilometers (24.8 miles)
Run: 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)

A video of the course can be found here.

INTERMEDIATE COURSE

SWIM
distance: 1.5 kilometers

The Pumpkinman swims take place at Lake Mead, just outside of Las Vegas. The Olympic distance course start at the North boat ramp of Boulder Beach and ends at the South boat ramp.

Water temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 70s. Wetsuits are allowed.

This swim is a U-shaped course that is clearly marked with large, bright buoys. Since there is no current in the lake, as long as you stay focused, you shouldn't have a problem sighting and staying on course.

Transition is right outside of the swim exit.

BIKE
distance: 40 kilometers

After you exit transition, make a RIGHT on Lakeshore Drive. After 9.45 miles of riding, you get to the TURN AROUND. Turn around.

Continue back on Lakeshore Drive. You will pass Boulder Beach (transition) and, after that, you'll pass the Toll Booth. Continue on and head out of the National Park, where you will make a RIGHT turn onto Highway 93. (The right lane of Highway 93 is closed to traffic).

Continue on Highway 93 for 1.59 miles until you take a RIGHT on Pacifica Rd. You will then make a tight loop to connect onto the River Mountain Trail Loop (RMTL)

You will go through 2 tunnels on the RMTL. Take a LEFT after the second tunnel which will take you through a 3rd tunnel that goes under Highway 93.

At this point, you've got a switchback climb up to the RMTL Visitor Center. Ride straight through the Visitor Center parking lot, around the long planter and exit the parking lot to Nevada Way. (The right lane of Nevada Way is closed to traffic).

At this point you only have 1 mile left, but it is a climb with an 8% grade. Once you get up to Colorado Street, you've made it.

Important Note: there are NO water/aid stations on the bike course. Bring fluid!

RUN
distance: 10 kilometers
Exit the run from the opposite end of transition where you came in from the bike. As you exit transition, make RIGHT on Utah street, then a LEFT on Wyoming.

Run to the top of Wyoming and make a RIGHT on River Mountain Trail Rd.
Take a RIGHT on Adams and a LEFT on Utah. You will then take a LEFT into the desert trails.

The running trails will take you back and drop you off on the corner of Adams and River Mountain Trial Rd. From there, head back the way you came:
RIGHT on River Mountain Trail Rd
LEFT on Wyoming
RIGHT on Utah
LEFT back on Colorado Street (and the finish line!)

Water, Hammer Gel, Gatorade and goodies are at aid stations every 1-mile.

SHORT COURSE

SWIM
distance: .75 kilometers
The short course swim takes place at Lake Mead at Boulder Beach. The start/finish of the short-course swim is the same as the Olympic distance course, but shorter. It is a U-shaped course that starts at the north boat ramp of Boulder Beach and ends at the south boat ramp.

Temperatures are usually in the low to mid 70s. Wetsuits are allowed.

The course is clearly marked with large, birght buoys so you shouldn't have any trouble navigating. (See Swim Course in photo section)

As you can see from the Swim map in the photo section, the transition is right off the swim finish.

BIKE
distance: 20 kilometers
Once you exit transition you will make a RIGHT on Lakeshore Drive. After 3.2 miles you'll get to the turn around. Continue back on Lakeshore Drive, passing Boulder Beach and the Toll Booth. As you exit the National Park you will make a RIGHT turn onto Highway 93. (The right lane of Highway 93 is closed to traffic).

Continue on Highway 93 for 1.59 miles until you hit Pacifica Road. Make a tight RIGHT turn on Pacifica and a tight loop to connect onto the River Mountain Trail Loop (RMTL).

You will ride through two tunnels on the RMTL. After the second tunnel make a LEFT turn, which will take you through a third tunnel and underneath Highway 93.

As you emerge from the tunnel, you will have a switchback climb to the RMTL Visitor Center. Ride through the Visitor Center parking lot, around the long planter and exit the parking lot on to Nevada Way. (The right lane of Nevada Way will be closed to traffic.)

At this point you only have 1 mile left in the ride, but it is a climb with an 8% grade. At the top is Colorado Street and the transition.

IMPORTANT: There are NO water/aid stations on the bike course. Make sure you bring enough fluids. Consider yourself warned.

RUN
distance: 5 kilometers
You exit for the run at the opposite end of T2 that you came in on from the bike.

After leaving T2 (onto Colorado Street), make a RIGHT on Utah street, then a LEFT onto Wyoming. You will run all the way to the top of Wyoming and make a RIGHT on River Mountain Trail Rd.

When you get to Adams, take a RIGHT and head down Adams to the turn around.

After the turnaround, you'll run back up Adams and then go back the same way you came:
LEFT on River Mountain Trail Road
LEFT on Wyoming
RIGHT on Utah
LEFT on Colorado Street and the finish.

Water, Hammer Gel, Gatorade and goodies will be at all aid stations every 1-mile.

Pumpkinman Bike (Olympic) Elevation Gain