2025 Swim Waves *New for 2025 Are you racing with a family member or friend? Is this your first triathlon and you want to start in a smaller swim wave?  Do you want to wear a swim buoy while racing?  There are a few spots available in some of our waves. We want to help enhance your race experience.  Stop by the registration table to inquire about switching waves.  Subject to availability.

Post Race Celebration - Wege Plaza We invite you to Wege plaza overlooking Reeds Lake to celebrate your racing accomplishments.  All athletes 21+ will receive a complimentary beverage voucher. Additional beverages can be purchased with proceeds supporting the mission of Upcycle Bikes. The community is invited to attend and support the celebrations.  ID verification is mandatory so please have that ready to show our celebration team.   Beverage selections from City Built Brewing Company will be offered.

Collection Center Donate your old or used adult bike in any condition, and Upcycle will refurbish it to provide at no cost to a community member with financial constraints who needs access to transportation. Have an extra bike seat, reflectors or bike parts?  Bring them to packet pick up and they will be donated to the mission of Upcycle bikes.

Know the course - be an informed athlete.

posted 9/4/25

Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon - Race Information

Saturday, September 6, 2025
 750 Lakeside Dr. SE
 East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
     
Race Day Schedule of Events
 •    Transition Area Opens (athletes only) at 6:30AM, it will close at 7:40AM.
 •    Mandatory Triathlon Meeting 7:40AM – John Collins Park, Swim Start
 •    Mandatory Duathlon Meeting 7:55AM – Duathlon Start, Next to Transition Area
 •    National Anthem 7:50AM
 •    Elite Wave 8:00AM
 •    Duathlon Start 8:15AM 
 •    Sprint Triathlon 1st Wave 8:15AM
 •    Award Ceremony, Wege Plaza – no later than 10:45AM

Current Reeds Lake Temp - 71 degrees
 
 
Packet Pick Up:

Friday – 3:30-6:30PM
 Saturday, September 6th 6:30-7:30AM
 Packet pick up is located at the EGR Parks and Recreation Dept. (lower level of the EGR Community Center).  
 Items:
 Race number (run bib and bike numbers)
 Racing strap
 Race shirt
 Post race celebration ticket
 *Family, friends, and relay members may pick up your race packet.  Please make sure that they collect everything for you. 
 
 
Transition Area:
 Saturday, September 6th will open at 6:30AM; all athletes must be out of transition at their mandatory race meetings at 7:40AM.
 Only registered athletes are allowed in the transition area. Athletes will be assigned bike racks according to their race number. 
 
 

Body Marking:
 Body marking stations will be available at packet pick up.

Body marking stations will be available on race morning at the transition area. 
 

Racing Reminders:

• Bike Helmets – Helmets must be worn at all times while on your bike (pre, during and post-race). Chin straps must be buckled.
• Drafting – Keep at least three bike lengths of clear space between you and the cyclist in front.  If you move into the zone, you must pass within 15 seconds.  Position – keep moving to the right hand side of the lane of travel unless passing.  Blocking – riding on the left side of the lane without passing anyone and interfering with other cyclist attempting to pass.  Overtaken – once passed, you must immediately exit the draft zone from the rear, before attempting to pass again.  Course marshals will be out on the course enforcing cycling rules. 
• Course – All competitors are required to follow the designed course and to stay within all coned lanes.  Cutting the course is a violation and going outside the course is a safety issue.  Cyclist shall not cross a solid yellow line for any reason. 
• Headphones - Headphones, headsets, iPod or personal audio devices, etc. are not to be used or worn at any time during the race. Use of these devices will result in disqualification. 
• Race Numbers – All athletes are required to wear race numbers at all times. Running bib numbers should be worn on the front and bike numbers visible on your bike.

Race Waves:

Are you racing with a family member or friend? Is this your first triathlon and you want to start in a smaller swim wave?  Do you want to wear a swim buoy while racing?  There are a few spots available in a couple of the waves.  Stop by the registration table to inquire about switching waves.  Subject to availability. 

Parking:
 Some parking locations will have restrictions on when you can leave the lot.  Please be aware of this when you park. 
 

• Parking lot (former parking structure – access off of Wealthy Drive by Regatta Plaza. *Note that this lot now charges a parking fee.
• EGR HS lot – access off of Lake Dr.  If you park in this lot you will not be able to leave until the race is over. 
• Side streets – please note that some street parking may have “No Parking” signs due to the 
• Middle School lot – reserved for school activity.  
    

Family Fun Finish:
 We invite your favorite youngster/s to join you for the 2025 finish.  We will have a staging area on Bagley St (just before the final turn to the finish line).  Medals will be available at the staging area for all children. Please be aware of the other athletes around you and guide your child out of the way when finishing. 
 
Relay Athletes:
 You will pick up one “packet” (race numbers and timing strap).  Each athlete will get a shirt and Post Race Celebration Tickets. The swimmer will start with the timing strap around their ankle.  After the swim they will meet the biker near the relay team’s transition spot to pass the ankle strap and chip to the biker.  The biker will place the timing strap on their ankle and proceed out on the bike course.  The bike to run transition will work the same with passing the timing strap to the runner.  All the relay teams will be placed near one another in the transition area.  
 
Awards:
 Finisher medals – a finisher medal will be presented to all athletes at the finish line.  If you are participating in a relay please make sure that all members of your relay team receive a medal.  If you are participating in the Aquabike please make sure to stop by the finish line after your race to get your finisher medal (finisher medals will be available in the transition area for Aquabike and relay members). 
 Age group awards -will be presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each age group Male and Female for Triathlon and Duathlon.
 Overall awards - will be presented 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Triathlon Male and Female and 1st place Masters. Duathlon Male and Female and 1st place Masters. Overall awards will be issued 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Aquabike and Relays.
Elite Wave awards – Top 5 Male and Top 5 Female athletes will be presented awards.

 Best of luck on Race Day!  Thank you for being part of the 41st Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon!