Clemson Triathlon

SWIM: 1000 Meters (Lake)
BIKE: 21 Miles
RUN: 6 Kilometers

The Clemson Triathlon moves into its 27th season in 2026 and will once again be a Sprinternational Distance event and feature two loops of the world famous bike course and more flat running along the East Beach Dike making for an incredible event.  Held on an around the beautiful campus of Clemson University, this event is the oldest existing triathlon in South Carolina and a true classic.

The 2026 event will once again serve as the USA Triathlon SC State Championship.

Aquabike (swim - bike)
SWIM: 1000 Meters (Lake)
BIKE: 21 Miles

Aquathlon (swim - run)
SWIM: 1000 Meters (Lake)
RUN: 6 Kilometers

Part of the South Carolina Triathlon Series

USAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB COMPETITIONS

Compete as a part of your team! Make sure you are attached to your local USA Triathlon Club.
All individual triathletes will be considered "age group" for the club competition. The higher you place in your age group, the greater it helps your club for this competition. The club with the lowest score wins. For each club to receive points, they must meet the minimum number of finishers. The minimum for 2026 is 3 finishers for a team to be scored as part of the club competition.

You can add yourself to a team/club from your registration profile. A helpful link can be found HERE if you need to join an existing USAT club or create a new one for the race.

**The club competition will only apply to individual triathlon participants. Those racing aquabike, aquathlon or on a relay will not count towards the club competition.**

USAT Sanctioned: This event is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event.

Cut-Off Time: All participants must complete the race in under 3 hours, 30 minutes from the start of their swim.

Event officials reserve the right to pull a participant off the course if it appears as though that participant will not be able to complete the race in under 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Minimum Age: The minimum age allowed for participating in this event is 10 years old.

Timing System: This event will be timed using the My Laps Timing System. 

Shirt deadline is 3 weeks prior to event. 

In the event of inclement weather the following procedures will be followed:

The event will be postponed in hopes the inclement weather will pass. If the inclement weather does not pass in time to complete the event safely in the original or modified format, the event will be canceled. If the weather passes and the event cannot be held within the permitted time limits, the event will be changed to a duathlon format and possibly modified in length to meet these restrictions.

Every effort will be made to hold this event on time on this date. Should this event be canceled due to an Act of God or other circumstance beyond the race directors control there will be no refunds, credits, or transfers.

NO EXCEPTIONS will be made to this policy.

By registering for this event you agree to this weather policy.

Lodging info to be posted soon...

PACKET PICK-UP:

Friday, June 19, 2026 (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Clemson University
Snow Family Outdoor Fitness & Wellness Center
275 YMCA Circle, Seneca, SC

Saturday June 20, 2026 (5:15AM – 6:30AM)
Clemson University
Snow Family Outdoor Fitness & Wellness Center
275 YMCA Circle, Seneca, SC 

2025 Athlete Guide (The 2026 Guide will be posted closer to the event)

EVENT SITE MAP - PARKING

Course Descriptions:

The swim is one clockwise 1000 meter rectangular loop. Wetsuits will likely not be allowed. Depending on the wind, swimmers may encounter light to moderate chop with a small current.

The 21 mile bike course is two loops of the original Clemson Triathlon bike course.  The majority of the course is on 2 lane roads that cross the Lake Hartwell multiple times.  Traffic should be light.

The 6k run course is an extension of the original Clemson Triathlon keeping the world famous East Beach hill and adding more of the flat and fast Dike run into the course.

Course Maps can be found by clicking on the links below:

Swim Course - MapMyRun

Bike Course - MapMyRun

Bike Course - Ride With GPS

Run Course - MapMyRun

NOTE: The 2025 Run Course will return to its original route to the East Beach Diversion Dam.  The map above shows that route.

Event Site Map - Parking

To defer your registration to the following year, navigate to Profile > Upcoming Events > Manage Registration > Defer Registration.  

To claim a deferral from the previous year, navigate to your profile and use the Deferrals tab to start your claim process to register for the current year.

To adjust parts of your registration such as category,  navigate to Profile > Upcoming Events > Manage Registration > Questions on left hand side. 

To transfer to another event such as aquabike, aquathlon or relay team, navigate to Profile > Upcoming Events > Manage Registration > Transfer Event. 

Additional help can also be found on our FAQ page. 

9/25/2025: 2026 Registration to Open October 1, 2025
The 2026 event will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026

Awards will be given to the Top 3 in each of the following divisions:

• Open/Advanced (M & F)
• Masters Open/Advanced (M & F)
• Age Groups (M & F): 15 & Under, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 & Over
• Clydesdale
• Master Clydesdale
• Athena
• ParaTriathlete (M & F)
• Novice (M & F)
• Aquabike (M & F)
• Aquathlon (M & F - Top 1)
• Co-Ed Relay (Top 3)

SCTS rules state that once you compete in a particular race category in a SCTS race - you must remain in that same category for all future SCTS races in that calendar year. The exceptions to this rule are the Aquabike, Novice and Weight categories. You may begin the year as a Novice and then switch into another qualifying category (ie: Age Group, Clydesdale). For Weight categories (Clydesdale 220+, Master Clydesdale 220+ and Athena 165+) it allows for you to drop to Age Group if you go below the weight limit for the category. If you switch to Aquabike you can switch back to your previous category at any time without penalty.

Below is a brief description of each race category:

Open/Advanced - Category for Elite participants. These are typically the fastest people in the race and they compete on an Elite/Professional level.

Age Group - Participants competing in their age group.

Clydesdale - Category for participants who are over 220 lbs.

Master Clydesdale - Category for participants who are over 220 lbs. and are 40 or over.

Athena - Category for women over 165 lbs.

Aquabike - Category for participants doing the Swim and the Bike only. Your race ends when you cross the Bike Finish mat.

Aquathlon - Category for participants doing the Swim and the Run only.

Novice - Category for beginner participants. Participants competing as a Novice have usually done less than 3 events. No age restrictions.

NOTE: You may fit into one or more of the above categories, so whichever category you choose to compete in is completely your choice. Choose the category that you feel you would have the most fun competing in.

• Relays can comprise of a 2-person (one person does 2 legs, and one person does 1 leg) or 3-person teams (each person does 1 leg of the event). Teams can consist of any mix of genders.
• EACH Relay member MUST pick up his/her own packet.
• EACH Member MUST have their photo ID and USAT card (if applicable) to pick up their packet.
• If a member is a minor (17 or under), then a parent/guardian must show an ID to get their packet.
• If a member turns 18 by the end of the year then they are considered an adult per USAT, thus they must pick up their own packet.
• If you need to replace a relay member you can e-mail us using the Contact Us button at the top of the page with the changes.
• If it is the week of the event and you need to make a change to a relay member then you can make this change at packet pick up.
• Additional help can also be found on our FAQ page. 

USAT Rules:  Click HERE to learn the USA Triathlon Competitive Rules

USAT INFORMATION:

USAT states all participants must show a photo ID at packet pick up. You will not be given your race packet without photo ID.
All participants must pick up their own race packet. This applies to individuals and relay team members. 

USA Triathlon requires that all USAT annual members must show their USAT membership card during registration. With
that said you were most likely verified to be an member or not a member DURING registration. Thus, you will not be
required to show your USAT Membership card. We suggest always bringing it with you just in case. 

USAT's "Age Up" Policy:

An athlete's age for any USAT sanctioned race will be his/her age as of Dec. 31 of the current race year. The age he/she is on 12/31 will determine his/her racing age group. If an athlete is due to "age-up" into the next group, it will happen at the beginning of the year, not after the athlete's birthday. This action aligns regular U.S. age group racing with the method used by USA Triathlon for its National Rankings Program and its new Grand Prix Series.

Examples:

• John Smith is 39 and will turn 40 on November 20th. John will be considered 40 for all races in the same year (January-December) and will race in the 40-44 age group at all SCTS races that year.
• Sally Jones is 29 and will turn 30 on July 3rd. Sally will be considered 30 for all races in the same year (January-December) and will race in the 30-34 age group at all SCTS races that year. 

Refer 3 or more participants and get a refund of up to $15.00.