Lava Man Sprint Triathlon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Jennifer L.
New York, NY

  (07-23-2010)

"This was my introduction to triathlons and a great first one to get me prepared and excited for future races. It takes place in the town of Lavallette, NJ and has about 250 participants. While it's a sprint race, I am told they can vary a bit in terms of distance so this one consisted of a .33 mile swim, 12.5 mile bike and 3.8 mile run.

Expo - None, and number pick-up was at local shops in the area. You could either go the Friday or Saturday before or they also allowed you to get it the morning of the race. As a quick note, if you decide you would like a t-shirt, definitely pre-order one when you register as they sold out of them (I guess due to popularity).

RaceDay - The transition area was in a nearby parking lot where you picked up the electronic anklet and dropped off your bike along with your various other gear. From here, you walked to the swim start where you were able to warm up and get a few strokes in before heading to the ramp that lead you to the start line. The swim takes place in the bay so they called out each wave and off we went. Water was calm and a good temperature for a wetsuit. There was plenty of room to spread out so not much kicking or bumping occurred. The course is straight and then you hook a left at the end and head to shore.

The bike consists of three loops, it can be slightly confusing as the first one is longer then the second two, but there are plenty of volunteers pointing you in the right direction. It was a flat ride and since you pass the same points multiple times, there are plenty of opportunities for spectators to see you and snap pics!

When it's time for the run, you go along the loop that you did for your second and third of the bike. There were a few water stations along the way and at the end you turn into the park area where the finish line awaits.

Overall, I would highly recommend this race. The staff is friendly and organized and there is lots of excitement and energy from the participants as well as the fans who are out to watch. And to top it off, there was a group of us who participated in honor of the Mesothelioma Mission - thanks to the race, they were able to raise awareness for a great cause - GO LAVA FOR LANCE!!!
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010