Sandling Beach Triathlon Festival

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Join us on Saturday, October 3 for the Sandling Beach Triathlon Festival for the culmination of the 2026 North Carolina Triathlon Series.

These two races - Sprint and International - take place at Sandling Beach State Recreational Area at Falls Lake.

International:  8:30 am
Sprint:  8:45 am

NOTE:  ALL participants, volunteers, and spectators need to be in the park NO LATER than 8:15 am.
The front gate to Sandling Beach will close at 8:15 am and nobody will be allowed to enter after that time.

Sprint:

Swim:  750 meters
Bike:  20 Miles
Run:  3 Miles

International:

Swim:  1500 meters
Bike:  25 miles
Run:  6 Miles

As our way of saying thank you for your service to our country, we would like to offer you a 25% discount on your race registration.  
At check out please enter coupon code USA2026
*Please present your military ID at packet pick up to validate your discount.
*Please note the military discount is not applicable with bundle pricing. 

Claiming Awards:

Participants who win an award must be present at the awards ceremony in order to claim an award. If an award winner can't stay for the awards ceremony, they need to make arrangements with another participant to claim their award.

Physical awards will not be mailed out nor will participants wanting to take advantage of the 25% future discount (as their award choice) be able to claim that discount after the fact.

25% Award Discount:

The 25% award discount is limited to the following races only:

Azalea
Pinehurst International
Pinehurst Sprint
White Lake Spring International
White Lake Spring Sprint
Lake Norman
White Lake Fall International
White Lake Double Sprint
Sandling Beach International
Sandling Beach Sprint
White Lake Fall Swim Challenge
All Viking Dash Races
Pinehurst Turkey Trot

Same award categories for Sprint & International

Top 3 in each of the following categories 

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
Clydesdales (Males - 220 Lbs +)
Athenas (Females - 165 Lbs +)
AquaBike (M & F)
Novice (M & F)
Relay Teams (1 category only)

NCTS rules state that once you compete in a particular race category in an NCTS race - you must remain in that same category for all future NCTS 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+ and Athena 165+) it allows for you to drop to Age Group if you go below the weight limit for the category - however you won't transfer any race results and awards to your new 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:

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 men who are over 220 lbs.

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.

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.

There are no deferrals or transfers allowed after 9/21/2025.

Registered participants are allowed to defer or transfer their race registration to another Set Up Events owned race at any time UP TO two weeks before race day.
Deferral & Transfer fee is $20.
There are no deferrals or transfers allowed the final two weeks before the event.

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

Cut-Off Times: 

Sprint:

All participants must complete the Sprint distance race in under 2 hours - 45 minutes from the start of their swim.
All participants must also meet the following segment cut-off times:
Swim must be completed in under 30' from the start of the race.
Bike must be completed in under 2 hours from the start of the race (including swim time)
Run must be completed in under 2 hours - 45' from the start of the race (including swim & bike times).

International:

All participants must complete the International distance race in under 4 hours - 15 minutes from the start of their swim.
All participants must also meet the following segment cut-off times:
Swim must be completed in under 50' from the start of the race.
Bike must be completed in under 2 Hours - 45' from the start of the race (including swim time)
Run must be completed in under 4 hours from the start of the race (including swim & bike times).

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 by the designated cut-off times.

Minimum Age: 

The minimum age allowed for participating in the Sprint is 10 years old.
The minimum age allowed for participating in the International is 13 years old.

Timing System: This event will be timed using the MyLaps Bib Tag Timing System. All run turn locations will have timing mats to verify completion of the course.

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.

*  The International bike course takes place on some of the most familiar and popular roads for Raleigh area cyclists.
*  The course is a lollipop design; 5 miles out to the start of the loop - a 15 mile loop - and then 5 miles back to the finish.
*  The course features good pavement, not a lot of traffic, and some good hills.
*  There will be one water bottle handoff roughly halfway through the course.

The International run course takes place entirely inside Sanding Beach Park, so this is a closed course - no traffic.
The run course is a two-loop design - all on the paved park roads.
There will be aid stations every mile.
The course is relatively flat.

*  The International swim course is a two-loop course. 
*  This will be a time trial start - with individuals starting every 2-3 seconds.
*   A water temperature will be posted by 6PM Friday (10/4).

Time Trial Start Procedure

Participants may line up for swim start in whatever order they want.
Faster swimmers are encouraged to line up at the front - slower swimmers in the back.
Time Trial starts allow people to swim with friends or family members.
Swim caps are mandatory - participants may select the swim cap color of their choice at packet pick-up.

Most Commonly Violated USAT Rules:

Most Common

Blocking

Drafting

Position

USAT INFORMATION:

USAT's "Age Up" Policy:

An athlete's age for any USAT sanctioned race will be his/her age as of Dec. 31, 2026. 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.

Examples:

John Smith is 39 and will turn 40 on November 20, 2026. John will be considered 40 for all 2026 races - and will race in the 40-44 age group at all 2026 races.
Sally Jones is 29 and will turn 30 on July 3, 2026. Sally will be considered 30 for all 2026 races - and will race in the 30-34 age group at all 2026 races.

Packet pick-up is ONLY on race day at the race site.

Saturday, Oct. 3rd:

Time:  6:45 am - 8:15 am
@ Race Site

Mandatory Photo ID: All participants will be required to show photo ID at packet pick-up (including relay team members). You will not be given your race packet without photo ID! All participants must pick up their own race packet – individuals and relays. Please remember: you will not be able to pick up race packets for you friend/spouse/partner/etc. 

Race Packet: Your race packet will contain two race numbers and a swim cap. 

As part of Set Up’s GO GREEN initiative, we’ve reduced the amount of printed materials in your packet. Course maps and event details are available online. If you wish to have this info with you, please print it out before the race. 

You will be issued two numbers at packet pick-up: The square number is your run number and must be displayed on the front of your body during the run segment of the race only. Safety pins will be available at packet pick-up if you don’t have a race number belt. The rectangular number (with an adhesive backing and containing your number twice) is used during the bike segment of the race. Place this number over the top tube of your bike – toward the front if possible. 

NOTE:  Sandling Beach State Recreation Area closes for the year on Oct. 1st.
The NC State Park folks have allowed us to stage the race at Sandling Beach even though the park is closed.

Important things to remember :

•   A photo ID is required for packet pick-up.
•   Cash, Check or Credit Card are accepted.
•   All participants must pick up their own race packet.

The parking situation at Sandling Beach presents a "good news/bad news" scenario.

The good news:  Parking for the races is literally right next to the transition area and finish line in the main parking lot at Sandling Beach - which is huge.  Any overflow parking will be in an adjacent lot only a few hundred yards away.

The bad news:  Since Sandling Beach is closed for the triathlon and the main road leading out is part of the bike course, there will be NO entering or exiting the park between 8:15am and 11:15am.

FRONT GATE WILL OPEN AT 6:45 AM 
NO TRAFFIC IN OR OUT OF SANDLING BEACH BETWEEN 8:15 AM and 11:15 AM.

This rule will apply to all participants, all volunteers, all spectators, and any vendors or support personnel that we have.

Please let any family or friends who are thinking about coming out for the race - they need to arrive NO LATER than 8:15 am.
The Wake County Sheriff's Dept. and the NC State Park personnel who will be manning the front gate will also not allow any parking outside the gate along Hwy 50 or in the entrance to Beaverdam (across Hwy 50 from the entrance to Sandling Beach).

"No Shirt/No Swag" Registration Option:

Participants racing as individuals have the option of registering for a race at a discounted price and NOT receiving the race shirt and any “swag” given away at the race. If you opt to do this, select the registration category that fits you (Age Group, Clydesdale, Athena, etc.), and when you get to the stage during this registration process where you pick your shirt size – you’ll see a “No Shirt/No Swag” option – and the discounted amount.

Relay team members do not have this option. They will automatically receive race shirts.

Race Shirt Deadline: 

In order to receive a race shirt - participants must register no later than Sept. 19, 2026.

Race Shirt Purchasing:

If you registered after the race shirt deadline - check at the finish line at the conclusion of the race. If any inventory remains, Race shirts will be sold for $10.

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 2021 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.
At packet pick up you will be given a sheet of paper that explains how the relays will work (chip handoff, tagging spot, etc.).
If you are an individual that wishes to switch to a relay team, log into your profile and click on change category next to the event you wish to convert to a relay. It will walk you through the steps to change from an individual to a relay.

*  The Sprint bike course takes place on some of the most familiar and popular roads for Raleigh area cyclists.
*  The course is a lollypop design - 5 miles out - a 10 mile loop - and then 5 miles back to the finish
*  The course features good pavement, not a lot of traffic, and some good hills.

*  The run course stays entirely inside the park on closed roads.
*  The run course is a one-loop design - all on the paved park roads.
*  There will be aid stations every mile.

*  The Sprint swim course is a one-loop, triangular shaped course.
*  This will be a time trail start - with participants starting every 2-3 seconds.
*  A water temperature will be posted by 6PM Friday (10/4).

Time Trial Start Procedure

Participants may line up for the swim start in whatever order they want.
Faster swimmers are encouraged to line up in the front - slower swimmers in the back.
Time Trial starts allow people to swim with friends or family members.
Swim caps are mandatory - participants may select the swim cap color of their choice at packet pick-up.

USAT rules state that competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower. 
USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.1 – 83.9 degrees, competitors may wear wetsuits but will not be eligible for awards or USAT ranking points.
USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is 84 degrees or higher, wetsuits may not be worn.

Online registration opens - November 1st