Frequently asked questions:

When does registration close? 

The Great Illini Challenge will be limited to 600 athletes.  If the race does not fill,  September 5th will be the registration cut off for the Full Distance and September 6th will be the cut off for the Half Distance. 

When is packet pick up?

Packet pickup and Special needs drop off for the Great Illini Full Distance will be on Friday September 5th from 5:00pm - 8:00 pm.  Athletes participating in the Great Illini Half Distance can pick up their packets on Friday, September 5th from 5:00pm-8:00pm or Saturday, September 6th from 5:00am-6:00am. 

Where do I go for packet pickup? 
The pavilion at Lake Mattoon Beach will be the location for packet pickup.  We will also be hosting the past dinner and awards breakfast at this location.

Where is awards ceremony for the Great Illini Half? 

Awards for the Great Illini Half will be at the pavilion at Lake Mattoon Beach.

Where is race start? 

Lake Mattoon beach.

What time do the races start? 

The Great Illini Full will be scheduled to start at  6:45 am and the Great Illini Half will scheduled to start at 7:00 am.

Will wetsuits be legal?

The Great Illini Full and Half Distance Triathlons are USAT Sanctioned races.  USAT rules state that wetsuits will be permitted If the water temperature is below 78 degrees.

What is average water temperature in September? 

74-78 degrees.

What will wave assignment be for the Great Illini ? 

The Great Illini Full Distance will be a mass start.  The Great Illini Half will broken into gender/age group waves dependant on the number of registered athletes.

How is the swim course designed ? 

The Great Illini Full and Half Distance events take place in Lake Mattoon.  The Full distance athletes will swim a 1.2 mile course two times, the Half Distance athletes will swim the course one time.

What kind of timing will used at the event?  Mattoon Multi Sport  will be providing timing services using ChampionChip timing technology.

How will bike racks be assigned? 

Rack location will be assigned by age groups and identified by bib numbers.

Will there be changing tents? 

Yes, there will be both male and female changing tents.

What is the terrain of bike course like?

The Great Illini bike course is predominately flat.  There are no substantial climbs on the course.

How many loops on bike course ?

The Great Illini Full Distance athletes will complete the 56 mile bike course twice, the Half Distance athletes will complete it once.

How many aide stations on bike?  

Athletes will have access to an aide station every 14 miles of the bike course.

What will be at aide stations on bike? 

Water, Gatorade, Heed,  Hammer gel, e-caps, bananas.

When will the special needs bag be available on bike? 

Great Illini Full Distance athletes will have access to their special needs bags half way through the bike course.

How many times can we get to our special needs bag on run?

Great Illini Full Distance athletes will have access to their special needs bag 3 times during the marathon.

How many aide stations will there be on run? 

There will be an aide station every mile of the run course.

What will be at aid stations on run? 

Water, ice, Heed, Gatorade, fruit, e-caps, Hammer gel ,Coke, cookies much more.

How many loops are there on the run course ?

There will be four 6.55 Loops for Full, two for Half.

How many port potties will there be? 

There will be one at the 28 and 56 mile point of the bike course.  The run course will have one every 3 miles.

Does the pasta dinner and awards breakfast cost anything ?  There will be no cost for the Great Illini Full Distance athletes.  Half Distance athletes and guest can purchase a ticket at packet pick up.

What do finishers receive? 

Full finishers will receive a finishers award, finishers shirt, and age group awards depending on placement.  Half finishers will receive a finishers award and an age group award depending on placement.

When is the awards ceremony for the Great Illini Half Distance Triathlon ? 

The awards ceremony will be held at 3:30 pm September 6th.

Where is the awards ceremony for the Great Illini Half Distance Triathlon ? 

The Lake Mattoon Pavilion.

If I cannot be present to accept my award can it be mailed?

No, athletes will need to be present to receive awards.

What is the finishing time cut- off for the Great Illini Full Distance Triathlon? 

17 1/2 hours.  Accommodations will be made for athletes who are still making progress.

Is there a time cut-off for the Great Illini Half Distance Triathlon?

NO.

Are the Great Illini Full and Half Distance Triathlons USAT sanctioned?

Yes, all USAT rules apply.