Beginning at the mouth of the Deer Island parking lot adjacent to Waterworks, you will head out the "haul" road on the outbound lane. There is an island so the field is restricted to one lane, it could be on the tight side. The road curves slightly for about 400 meters then you'll make a rounded right onto Victory. You'll go about 75 yards or so and make a right out of the rotary and head down Seaport. Going down Seaport for about 500 or so meters you'll make a U turn and come back up Seaport, (no ace you won't run into people as the road is divided by an island). Back at the rotary, you'll head right onto Victory and after 75 or so yards its the 1 mile mark.

You are on the water, so wind can be a factor, but in mile 1, you'll be somewhat protected from the wind by the buildings of Marina Bay. It could be tight so bide your time and be patient. Mile 1 offers some shade, some protections from the wind and is totally flat.

MILE 2

After the mile mark you'll get two lanes on Victory and will head out of Marina Bay, taking a left on E. Squantum and into Squantum proper. This part of E. Squantum is a causeway and runs between marshland and therefore leaves you completely exposed to the elements. As you come into the housing on the right you’ll have a seawall and Dorchester Bay on your left and at about 1.5 or so will be your first water stop. After the water stop, you’ll hug the seawall on Dorchester Street giving you a panoramic view of the Boston skyline. The 2 mile mark is the first house on the right after the right you are going to take on Bellevue.

Mile 2 is flat and opens up, with the field spread out, you should be able to settle in on your pace. You’re exposed to the wind and have no shade here. You’re wise to note the wind direction because the stretch between the Marina Bay entrance and the water stop will be repeated in the opposite direction later in the race. If the wind is with you now, it should be against you later and vice versa, so race accordingly.

MILE 3

Mile 3 is the separator. Bellevue is demanding hill of about 400 meters or so and will separate the Sturdlees from the Smyerskees. [A Sturdlee is the term in Squirese, (a language vaguely resembling English used by the coaching guru Bill Squires), that is used to describe someone who is "new", not quite with it, naïve, a little seedling, lower on the food chaine than the lowly guppy, alas, the weakest fish in the pond. A Smyerski is world triathalon champion Karen Smyers—a training machine, an "ironwoman", a "psycho", a champion. A Sturdlee will cower at the hill, shuffle up it and let it beat them. A Smyersky will hammer the hill attacking it if even noticing it in the first place. So the question is my friend, "What are you, a Sturdlee or a Smyersky?"

At Star of the Sea Church, the hill levels off then undulates downward for a ¼ mile or so. Take this opportunity to regroup yourself. At Sonoma, there is a short but fairly steep downhill "S" turn followed by a short but fairly steep up hill at the start of Crabtree. Use the downhill to catapult you up Crabtree. Once on Crabtree, you’ll see behind the housing on your left, Quincy Bay. This road undulates slightly and just after Essex, you’ll be at mile 3.

When you get your split, don’t freak out(!), mile three will be slower because of the hill. Once you go up Bellevue, you’ll be heading deep into Squantum and will have less wind to slow you down, but less wind to cool you off. There will be shade and maybe some locals with hoses, but how you handle the hill will be the key.

MILE 4

Taking a right on Lansdowne, you’ll get a short quick downhill followed by a short quick uphill. After going right on Sonoma it levels off and the hills are over! Taking a left on E. Squantum, it’ll undulate slightly down. You hang a left on Huckins and cut back to the Seawall and there will be the 2nd water stop at approximately the 3.5 mark. You’ll now head back out the causeway to Marina Bay—which way is the wind blowing??? Just before the Marina Bay entrance is the 4 mile mark, (about 4 telephone poles from Victory).

Mile 4 is 90% flat, the first half of which is protected from the wind. If the wind is with you going out the causeway you may want to begin to bear down and begin the long grind in after you’ve taken water. If not, you may want to wait.

MILE 5

After going right on Victory into Marina Bay, you’ll take a right on Marina Drive. Once back in the Marina you should get a break from the wind—should you push it now??? After going past the Marina Point Condos, the big white building on your right, there’ll be a fork in the road, you go left and get a little downhill push going left onto Victory. You’re about a ½ mile from the finish!! Crossing over at the break in the road, you’ll then come to the top of the "haul" road. This is the bell lap, it’s about 400 meters to the finish back where you started. It’s your last chance for glory.

And that’s it!! Good job, you’re finished. Now head over to Waterworks to begin the cool-down.