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Open Water Swims FAQ

Open Water Swimming in Amazing Ohio Lakes!

We offer 3k & 5k Open Water Swims. People call our races positive, friendly, and fun because with your registration you get a FREE performance tee, in-race pictures, and a post-race party with great food, finisher medals, swag, music, and much more!

Our races are USA Triathlon Sanctioned, which means you will need to purchase a USAT membership or one day pass to participate. Our swim races are hosted in conjunction with triathlon events, and open water swimmers share these same courses as the triathletes.

Join us for all our races!

Open Water Swim

Dayton Triathlon & Multisport Championships at Buck Creek State Park in Springfield, OH on June 01, 2025 

Buckeye Triathlon & Multisport Festival at Cowan Lake in Wilmington, OH on June 22, 2025

Cincinnati Triathlon & Multisport Festival at Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville, OH on August 17, 2025

Zoom RedHawks Triathlon Festival at Hueston Woods State Park in Oxford, OH on September 14, 2025

Race Details

  • Our Open Swims are 3k and 5k in length 

  • Our races are USA Triathlon Sanctioned, which means you will need to purchase a USAT membership or one day pass to participate. Our swim races are hosting in conjunction with triathlon events, and open water swimmers share these same course as the triathletes.

  • Swim caps are provided and we ask you wear your designated swim cap for safety. Wetsuits are allowed in these races, if the water temperature is below 78 degrees we will be wetsuit legal. This means you can wear a wetsuit if you want, but you do not have to wear one.

  • We will have a time trial start for all races. Athletes times will start on the beachfront, and end once the athlete exits the water and crosses the finish line. 

  • The swims will use a 750m course: 3000m is 4-laps, and 5000m is 1 x 500m loop (1/2 lap) plus 6-laps on the 750m loop. The courses will be marked with large buoys. We will have lifeguards on the beach and in kayaks in the water to ensure a safe race for everyone. 

  • There is 1 Aid Station for the 5k swim, and it is self serve. To access the aid station you must swim to the table, access your aid and then return to the swim course. You can leave your own aid at the station. We will provide water and gels.
  • Once you have completed your swim, exit the water and run up the beach to the finish line. Follow the cones, chalk and signs.
  • Everyone must have completed the swim course by 10:00am. This should give everyone plenty of time to complete this segment of the race. 
  • Please review the athlete guide for each race to get more information and details.

Finisher Medals & Swag

  • We believe everyone is a winner, and so we give swag and finisher medals. See each race for details.

Saturday Early Packet PickupAthletes Swimming the Open Water Swim

We will have packet pickup and registration at the park beachfront on Saturday from 4-6pm.

Sunday Race Day Schedule

  • 5:30am-8:15am: Registration and Packet Pick-up
  • 7:15am: All Open Water Swimmers will start in the same wave. 
  • 10:00am: All swimmers must have exited the water

​NOTE: Race distances and swag may vary slightly for each event. Please check the event pages for more details.