The Lobsterman Triathlon is one of the most popular destination races in New England, attracting 900 athletes from across the US. Ranked as a Top Race in America by Inside Triathlon, the Lobsterman features a stunning venue on the coast of Freeport, ME. A truly amazing Maine experience, complete with a full lobsterbake following the race, the Lobsterman is as good as triathlon gets.

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2012

Start Time: 9:00 A.M.

Where: Starting and Finishing at Winslow Park in Freeport, Maine

Distances: Olympic

Swim 1.5 kilometers, Bike 40 kilometers, Run 10 kilometers

Swim 1.5K (.93 miles): Starting at the boat launch near the entrance to Winslow park, athletes will do a counterclockwise slightly diamond swim in Casco Bay that finishes on the beach. Average water temperature for September is low to mid-60s, but can be colder depending on the weather leading up to race day.

***Wetsuits: Due to the potentially chilly water, all athletes are required to wear a wetsuit when competing in the Lobsterman. Wetsuits can be rented at Gorham Bike and Ski in Portland (www.gorhambike.com)

Bike 40K (24.7 Miles): Bike along the scenic coastline of Freeport and Brunswick. Enjoy waterviews, sprawling pastures, and low traffic. The route is a challenging lollipop, with rolling terrain that includes a couple of climbs.

Run 10K (6.2 miles): Leave Winslow park and run through the quaint village of South Freeport before returning. The course features closed roads and lots of spectator support! There will be aid stations at approximately every mile with water and lemon-lime Cytomax electrolyte drink. Some stations will have energy gels and other snacks as well.

Aquabike - A great option for athletes who only want to swim and bike, the Aquabike course is the same as the Triathlon, minus the run! Aquabike athletes will start in one of the waves and race alongside triathletes until the end of the bike. As triathletes dismount to the left, Aquabike athletes will continue riding to the right, following the road until the finish chute. At this point, they will dismount their bikes, hang them on the bike racks, and run or walk across the actual finish line. Helmets and shoes are allowed in the finish chute! Aquabike athletes will be given a finisher medal and provided access to all the post-race areas.

Directions - Click here for a Google Map

Timing/Results:
The Lobsterman will be chip-timed by All Sports Evets. Each athlete will receive swim, bike, run, finish, T1, and T2 splits There will be a "Results Center" set up at the post-race expo with computer monitors providing live, scrolling result as athletes cross the line. Live Results will also be available online and via text messages (for athletes that include their cell numbers in their registration). Full, official Results, including splits, will be available online the day after the race.

Awards:
Top 3: Male/Female overall, regardless of category
Top 3 in each age category (every 5 years and U-19), including elites
Top Coed, All Male, and All Female Relays
Top 3 Clydesdale/Athena. Please note that clydesdale and athenas are not eligible for age-group awards.
Top 3: Male/Female Aquabike.

Pre-Race Logisitics:
Packet Pickup will be available three times:

Thursday, September 13th at Gorham Bike And Ski in Portland from 5pm until 6:30pm

Friday, September 14th from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Main Street entrance of Freeport Village Station (click here for directions).

Saturday, September 15th (race morning) at Winslow Park between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. at the large pavilion.

Race Morning: The gates to Winslow Park will open at 5:30 a.m. We encourage athletes to arrive early. All athletes must be in the park by 8:00 a.m., otherwise, they will not be guaranteed parking. There is no longer an entry fee to get into the Park (see below). The Staples Point Road will be closing at 8:00 a.m. so please arrive before that time. The 2011 Lobsterman will begin at 9:00 a.m.

DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:

CARPOOL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Meet your friends at the Park and Ride on Route 1 and take one car down to the park. This will alleviate a lot of potential stress and will get you excited for the race.

Athletes who need to leave early or who don't want to arrive early should plan to park at the Park and Ride on Route 1 (Near Exit 17) or at another public lot in Freeport (click here for map) and ride their bikes into the venue. It is approximately 3 miles from the Park and Ride to Winslow Park (north on Rt 1, right onto South Freeport Rd., Right onto Staples Point Rd).

Spectators are encouraged to either walk or ride bikes down to Winslow Park from South Freeport Road. It is approximately 1.5 miles down Staples Point Road.

Staples Point Road Closure: Staples Point Road will be closed to traffic starting at 8:15 a.m. on race morning. It will reopen when the majority of the athletes are done with the race, approximately 12:15 p.m. During this time, NO CARS will be allowed to leave Winslow Park. This is for the safety of the athletes and volunteers still on course. Please plan accordingly.

NO Winslow Park Entry Fee: We have negotiated with the park to allow for free entry for all athletes, spectators, and volunteers! This will alleviate the traffic issues that we have experienced at the gatehouse in the past and hopefully smooth the pre-race experience for everyone. When you arrive on race morning, please follow the instructions of the parking staff and In return, the Lobsterman will be making a contribution to Winslow Park on behalf of the race.

Dogs at Winslow Park: Dogs are allowed in the park, but there have been issues in the past with owners leaving their dogs in hot cars or tied up in the sun without water for hours. If you are bringing a dog, please plan accordingly and have someone to take care of your pet. Failure to do so will compromise our ability to have dogs in the park at future races.

Lobsterbake: Join your fellow triathletes at a delicious Maine lobsterbake, hosted by Gritty McDuff's of Freeport! Fresh lobster, steamers, corn-on-the-cob, baked potato, etc. plus Gritty's own microbrew (must be 21 to drink). There will be music and post race entertainment as well. Tickets are $25 and not included in your entry fee, however, you can purchase tickets for the lobsterbake when you sign up for the race.

USAT Sanctioning:
The 2012 Lobsterman Triathlon will be sanctioned by USA Triathlon. If you are not a n annual member of USA Triathlon, you will need to purchase a $10 one-day membership when you register and sign a USAT waiver that can be downloaded here.

Rules: Please look over the USAT competitive rules - you are responsible for understanding them and abiding by them. They are available at www.usatriathlon.org.

Relays: Relays are required to transfer their chip at their assigned rack space in the Transition Area. The overall time for a relay will be the aggregate of times for each of the members. Specific relay information will be available at packet pick-up.

Weather:
The weather in mid-September is typically very stable, with air temps in the low 70s by race time. It can be chilly (sub-50s) in the early morning, so bring some extra layers (and don't pump up your tires too full!).

Refund Policy:
There will not be any refunds issued for the 2012 Lobsterman Triathlon and Aquabike. If you are unable to race, you will receive a partial credit (the entry fee minus $20 for processing) toward another Tri-Maine event or to next year's event. Any athlete who participates and is not legitimately registered for the race, or who is racing as someone else, will be removed immediately from the competition.

Recommended Lodging Options:

The Comfort Suites is now offering rooms for $130 per night, which is an unbelievable deal. Located about 4 miles from Winslow Park, The Comfort Suites is a great option for being close to both the race and downtown Freeport. Call 207-865-9300 or visit www.freeportcomfortsuites.com for more information (numbers below).

The Hampton Inn on Lower Main Street- only a few miles from the race venue and easy access to Downtown Freeport. Click here to learn more about what they offer or call 207-865-1400. Be sure to mention that you are racing Lobsterman when you make reservations for the special low rate of $159/night plus tax for a King bed or two Queen beds. Amenities include secure locked bike room inside hotel, full hot breakfast or "on the go" breakfast bags for athletes starting at 6 a.m.

The Captain Briggs Bed and Breakfast is offering a 15% discount to racers. Mention the Lobsterman Triathlon when making reservations. Call 888-217-2477, or contact info@captainbriggs.com and visit www.captainbriggs.com