The Olympia Traverse can be a challenging event from a physical standpoint but it is equally challenging logistically. It is almost like a race within a race.  In Bellingham the race starts downtown, all the transitions are within the city limits, and the course is one big loop that finishes back at the starting line. Unlike Bellingham,  Olympia’s course is point to pint, with a twenty mile gap between the star out at Capitol Forest and the finish line downtown. Add in packet pick up, gathering with your team, and dropping all your gear, and needless to say, it’s going to be an early morning!

Here is an outline of how we feel is the best way to reduce the stress and make it to the starting line on time:

Have a team meeting prior to race day. Go over the directions for each leg and transition (provided below.) Talk about estimated times each person anticipates completing their leg so each team member knows when to be ready to start. If you have a game plan for race day things will go much smoother.

FRI 6-7pm Packet Pickup @ Fish Tale Brewery If you’re local or coming in for the night from out of town and can pick up your packets Friday night you will be one step ahead of the Saturday morning rush. If you can’t make it by 7pm, packet pickup will resume Saturday morning at 7am at Fish Tale.

SAT 7-8am Packet Pickup & Gear Drop Final packet pick ups will be available Saturday morning at 7am sharp at Fish Tale. IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU ARRIVE PROMPTLY AT 7 AM TO PICK UP YOUR PACKET TO ALLOW YOUR TEAM ENOUGH TIME TO DROP GEAR AND ARRIVE AT THE STARTING LINE ON TIME! We prefer that you carpool but it is not a crazy notion to split up – assign someone to head downtown for packet pickup while other members of your team take care of the gear drops. Here is our suggested course for efficiently dropping your gear:

Your first stop should be West Bay Park(WBP) for the paddle drop off.  WBP has very limited parking so there will be no parking, just drop off. We will have a team of volunteers to direct you in and assist you with unloading your watercraft.

Next head to Mima Falls Trailhead for the road bike drop.

Next head to Middle Waddell Trailhead for the run and mountain bike.

*If you are carpooling and going to leapfrog ahead of your mountain biker to the road bike start you don’t necessarily have to drop your road bike and biker off early.  Just don’t lollygag around after your teammate leaves!

Start is at 0900 at Middle Waddell Trailhead. We will close Waddell Creek Road at 0855 and start lining up the runners.

There have been questions about dropping off racers at the beginning with the gear drops or while the race is unfolding. We prefer each team member is at their transition early to reduce the traffic in and out of each transition for safety but realize it’s fun and exciting to see your teammates come in and leave.  If you leapfrog from transition to transition please slow down entering and exiting the transition parking lots.

Special Note: At West Bay Park there is no parking in the park or along the street.  We recommend after the road biker tags his paddler he pedals to Swantown to meet up with the rest of the team for the Trek.  Directions from West Bay Park to Swantown will be provided in the packet.  We are working on a parking solution and will let you know at packet pickup if the parking situation improves.

With a little pre-planning and with your most type A personality teammate in charge, you should have no problem with the race within the race. And remember, it’s all about having fun

DIRECTIONS FOR EACH TRANSITION SPOT:

Directions to the START and Run/MTB Transition at Middle Waddell Trailhead:

From I-5 take exit 95 and head North on SR 121 toward Littlerock.

Go through Littlerock (don’t blink). SR 121 bends 90 degrees to the left but continue straight onto 128th SW.

At T-intersection turn Right onto Waddell Creek RD SW.

Middle Waddell Trailhead will be just over 3 miles down on the left.

Directions to Road Bike Transition at Mima Falls Trailhead:

12700 Marksman St SW, Olympia, WA, 98556

From I-5 take exit 95 and head North on SR 121 toward Littlerock.

Go through Littlerock (don’t blink). SR 121 bends 90 degrees to the left but continue straight onto 128th SW.

At T-intersection turn Left onto Waddell Creek RD SW.

Right on to Bordeaux RD SW.

Right onto Marksman RD to Mima Falls Trailhead.

Directions to Paddle Transition at West Bay Park:

700 West Bay Drive NW, Olympia, WA

From I-5 take Exit 105 toward the Capitol.

Turn Right on Capitol Way S.

Turn Left on 5th Ave SW.

Turn Right on Simmons ST.

Left on 4th Ave.

Enter Roundabout and take first Right onto Olympic ST W.

Enter second Roundabout and take first Right onto West Bay Drive NW.

West Bay Park will be down on the Right.

Directions to Trek Transition at Swantown:

1022 Marine Dr NE, Olympia, WA

From I-5 take Exit 105 toward the Capitol.

Turn Right on Capitol Way S.

Heading North trough downtown to the Farmers Market.

At Roundabout take first Right.

Slight Right onto D Ave NE.

Left onto Marine Drive NE.

Swantown is down on the Right.

Please park in the upper parking lot North of the Boat Launch.

Directions to FINISH/Fish Tale Brew Pub:

515 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501
From I-5 take Exit 105 toward the Capitol.

Turn Right on Capitol Way S.

Turn Right on 5th Ave. or 4th Ave.

Park anywhere within the next few blocks and make your way to Fish Tale at 5th and Jefferson.

Street parking downtown is free on weekends.