DRAFT-LEGAL SPRINT

Date: February 14, 2026
Time: ca. 8:30 AM
Location: Seal Point Park, San Mateo
Distance: 750m open-water swim, a 20km bike, and a 5km run

QUICK LINKS

DESCRIPTION

Draft-Legal is a highly competitive race format for experienced triathletes. In comparison to a traditional triathlon, like the Classic Sprint race, there are some significant differences:

  1. Drafting is allowed in the bike portions. Competitors form packs and work together so that the speed of all athletes in that pack is faster than what a single athlete could do on his or her own. Because of the increased danger from drafting, competitors must have experience riding in packs and have excellent bike handling skills.

  2. For safety reasons, certain equipment (e.g. aero helmets, aero bars, and time trial bikes) is not allowed in this format.

  3. At this year’s Treeathlon, sleeved kits are allowed and the lap out rule will not be enforced.

schedule (subject to change - Check again prior to RACE DAY)

7:00-8:15 Transition is Open for DL Athletes
Pay attention to entering transition through the correct entrance.
Before entering transition, place stickers on bike and helmet, get body-marked, ensure handlebars have end-plugs.
All athletes must be out of transition by 9:45 pm to ensure transition is clear while other athletes are racing.

8:30 am Start: Draft-legal Male

8:40 am Start: Draft-legal Female

10:00-10:30 Transition is Open for DL Athletes (or when the last racer finishes the bike portion)
Please clear transition quickly and by 10:30 at the latest so the next race can be set up.

Swim warm-up is possible in the 10 min leading up to a wave start.


Packet Pickup

Packet pickup will be held on Friday, February 13, 4:00pm — 7:00pm at Sports Basement Redwood City, 202 Walnut St., Redwood City, CA, 94063. The race packet contains the race bib, swim cap, helmet and bike stickers, etc.

We strongly encourage you to pick up your packet on Friday to avoid lines but will also hold race-day packet pickup from 7am - 11am at the race venue in case you are unable to. Additionally, racers get 20% off Sports Basement purchases during packet pickup hours!

Please note that you cannot pick up packets for other racers as we are required to collect wet-signatures for our waivers. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian at packet pick-up, or submit a scanned copy of their wet-signed waiver to treeathlon@gmail.com before race day.


AWARDS

We will have prizes for the top 3 in each category (see FAQ for more info). Our formal awards ceremony will be at 2:30 PM on race day. If you cannot attend the ceremony, you can pick up your awards at the awards table near the finish. Important: We will not mail any awards - you must attend the awards ceremony or pick them up at the table near the finish after the race.


GEAR AND DUATHLON OPTION

Please expect the swim to be wetsuit-mandatory. If ambient and water temperatures fall below USAT thresholds, the swim portion will be converted into a 2 km run (duathlon), starting at the swim entry as indicated on the course maps. Please ensure that the ends of your handlebars are sealed to reduce the risk of injury (e.g., with bar-end plugs). For additional gear advice, please refer to our FAQ.

Martin from TCMTriSquad has wetsuits available to rent for Stanford Treeathlon participants, but will need to coordinate your sizing in advance. To reserve a wetsuit please email tricoachmartin@gmail.com. Martin will be at the race during packet pickup or you can get the wetsuit shipped to you prior. He will also have racebelts, locklaces, goggles, thermal caps and other triathlon supplies. Check out his website to see information about wetsuit rentals at: www.tcmtrisquad.com/wetsuits.


DIRECTIONS and Parking

Please read our parking instructions carefully and allow sufficient time, as the parking lots are located ca. 1.5 miles from the race venue.