If you're swimming
Remember, you're swimming in a lake, so you may want to bring goggles and an older swimsuit.

Pontoon boats will ferry you to the swim start. (The map on the Web site is a bit outdated--the swim actually starts in the middle of the lake and is a straight shot to the finish.) If you want to leave some personal items on the boat at the start, you may want to put them in a bag with identification.

If you don't want to tread water for a few minutes while everyone gets in position at the starting line, stay on the boat until we give you the signal to get in the water. You can also bring a "personal flotation device" (a ski belt, noodle, beach ball, water wings) to hang onto before the swim. Just be sure you toss your PFD behind the start line out of everyone's way before the start. The folks on the boats will probably be kind enough to retrieve it for you.

Plenty of boats will be nearby if you need assistance during the swim. Please do not hesitate to ask for help! We will happily offer a life jacket, a ring buoy, or a boat ride to any swimmer who needs a rest.

For those of us who are directionally challenged and have trouble swimming without lane markers, we plan to have four large, neon orange buoys to help define the swim lane. That may give you something else to sight as you check your course in the water.

The swim route has been slightly modified this year. Swimmers will now exit at the neighborhood boat ramp, which is just across from our backyard. There's no steep hill to climb before you get to your bikes! However, the number of swimmers exiting in shallower water could make the conditions a little muddier than we've had in the past.

If you're biking
Once again, we'll keep our fingers crossed that all road repair will be complete by August. If necessary, we'll mark all potholes so they're clearly visible. We will point out any particularly dangerous areas at the pre-race meeting, so pay close attention.

Your safety is our biggest concern. Please slow down when necessary to avoid any mishaps. There are some blind curves and dangerous hills on the course, and you will have to share the course with cars.

If you're an individual participant, you can drop your bike and all accessories at the neighborhood boat ramp off Mallard Point Drive before you check in. If you've participated in the Lame Duck before, you'll recognize this area as the finish line for the run. Make sure you leave everything you need with your bike (helmet, sunglasses, gloves, shorts, shoes, socks, towel, full water bottles, etc.).

Team participants can bike to the start from my house, or park at the tennis courts and roll down the hill to the start. The swim may only take 10 minutes, so don't be late!

Remember, the swimmer on a team will have to exit the water and physically tag the biker for the team. The biker must then walk to the top of the "no biking" zone and start the ride on Mallard Point drive. There's a fairly steep hill at the beginning of the bike, so make sure you have geared down sufficiently.

Bikers, as you approach the transition to the run on Teal Court, please stay on the right side of the road so you leave the other side open for the runners.

If you're running
You have it easy. The run will start from our house. You can hang out at or near the house and cheer on the cyclists until it's your turn to run. The swim will take approximately 10-20 minutes, and the bike will take 30-60 minutes. Make sure you physically tag your team member at the bike/run transition. We'll have a line marked in the cul-de-sac to identify the transition area. If you're an individual participant, make sure you leave all the gear you need for the run (shoes, socks, visor, hat, intravenous fluids) in our front yard. You may want to put it all in an easily recognizable bag of some sort.

If you're a volunteer
It takes a little time to get all the volunteers into position on the course, so please arrive about an hour early. Check in with Rick or me when you get here.