Date: July 13, 2025
Location: Lake Gardner, Amesbury MA (80 High St)
Details: This will mark the 15th Annual DAM sprint triathlon & the 6th Annual Duathlon at Lake Gardner in Amesbury, MA. Both events are USAT sanctioned events and managed by a USAT Certified Race Director. This annual local favorite, is just 45 minutes North of Boston and the perfect race for any athlete, beginner to elite alike.
Eligibility: The minimum racing age is 13 years as of race day if they have demonstrated experience training/racing the distances they plan to race and/or are interested in participating as a member of a relay team.
Pre-packet pickup is strongly encouraged: Saturday, July 12th from 11-3pm Sylvan Street Grille in Salisbury, MA. Stay tuned for more information! **We highly encourage you take advantage of pre-race packet pickup.
Sunday, July 13th (Race Morning): 6am-7:30AM at Lake Gardner
*Note: Our friends at Riverside Cycle will have a bike mechanic available on race morning for any last minute requests/issues.
Event Day Timeline:
6:00AM Packet Pick-up/Chip Distribution + Transition Opens
7:30AM Packet Pick-Up Closes
7:45AM Transition Closes
7:50AM Athlete Briefing On the Beach
8:00AM First Wave Starts
10:15AM Awards Ceremony Starts
2025 Wave Plan
8:00AM Duathlon Start
8:03AM Male 44 and Under / Clydesdale
8:06AM Male 45+
8:09AM Female 44 & Under
8:12AM Female 45+ / Athena / Relays
8:15AM Rec+Novice / Aquabike / Para
All pre-registered athletes will receive the following:
- Cooling Performance Gender Specific Wicking T-Shirt
- Finisher Medal
- Packaged Foods/Fruit
- Ice Coffee
- Beer Voucher (21+)
Triathlon Details
Swim: The 1/3 mile counter clockwise lake swim is very newbie friendly with a lot of support. Including paddle boarders, kayakers & on land lifeguards. After exiting the water, athletes will run a very short distance up the beach to the parking lot transition. Swim Caps will be provided to all athletes that are required during the swim. The swim cap color will correspond to the wave you are assigned to.
Bike: On this 12.3 mile scenic, rolling course, you’ll travel on quiet roads through a picturesque New England farm country into Southern New Hampshire. The course has a few sharp turns that will be clearly marked. The entire course will be heavily marked with signage and volunteers will be stationed throughout the course. You’ll re-enter Lake Gardner through the main entrance and rack your bike in transition. From there you will head out onto the run. Click here for an integrative course map: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2681875?units=miles
Run: This 3 mile course will be a mix of trail and road offering portions of rollers, flats and a few hills . Your first ¾ of a mile will take you through a well packed, maintained trail, staged parallel to the lake. Beyond the single track trail, sits Battis Farm, a beautiful open field, following a nature trail that will lead you out to a quiet & wide road. Just after mile 2, where you’ll have your 2nd opportunity for fuel, you’ll turn Right onto Rowell St. which is one “DAM” BIG Hill. Once you reach the top of that hill you’ll weave your way back to Lake Gardner to the Finish.
Duathlon Details
This annual Duathlon that will consist of a 2 mile trail run, 12.3 mile bike ride and a 3 mile run.
Run: Your first run leg will consist of a 2 mile run that will weave you through the Amesbury Trail System that sits just parallel to Lake Gardner. You’ll start at 8:00AM on the paved path by the High5EM check in tent. The trail is a well maintained, hard packed surface that is rated as easy terrain. The course will have small red ground flags set throughout the single track trail portion (Stagecoach Trail), and then directional course signage once your off the single track. You’ll be following the Stagecoach trail into Battis Farm, a beautiful open field. You’ll turn around at the parking lot at Battis Farm and heading back the same way back to transition, via the Stagecoach Trail.
Bike: On this 12.3 mile scenic, rolling course, you’ll travel on quiet roads through a picturesque New England farm country into Southern New Hampshire. The course has a few sharp turns that will be clearly marked. The entire course will be heavily marked with signage and volunteers will be stationed throughout the course. You’ll re-enter Lake Gardner through the main entrance and rack your bike in transition. From there you will head out onto the run.
Run: This 3 mile course will be a mix of trail and road offering portions of rollers, flats and a few hills . Your first ¾ of a mile will take you through a well packed, maintained trail, staged parallel to the lake. Beyond the single track trail, sits Battis Farm, a beautiful open field, following a nature trail that will lead you out to a quiet & wide road. Just after mile 2, where you’ll have your 2nd opportunity for fuel, you’ll turn Right onto Rowell St. which is one “DAM” BIG Hill. Once you reach the top of that hill you’ll weave your way back to Lake Gardner to the Finish.
Aquabike Details
Aquabike is a swim and bike combination race. Aquabike races in the United States are often combined with the first two legs of triathlons.
Who are the competitors? Aquabike races are usually comprised of athletes who:
- Are strong swimmers and/or cyclists
- Enjoy cross-training for other disciplines
- Do not enjoy or have an affinity for running
- Have an injury that prevents any running
- Love the multisport lifestyle
Start: Aquabike athletes will start at 8:15AM.
Finish: Aquabike athletes will dismount their bike at “bike dismount” and cross the finish line with bike in hand. There will be racks at the end of the finish line chute for you to rack your bike there.
Wetsuits: Athletes may wear a wetsuit and be eligible for rankings and prizes if the water temperature is less than 78 degrees. If the temperature is between 79 and 84 degrees, participants wearing a wetsuit will not receive a ranking or be eligible for awards. If the temperature exceeds 84 degrees, wetsuits will not be allowed.
Timing: All athletes will receive 6 timing splits: Swim, transition 1, bike, transition 2, run and overall time.
Results are in real time, meaning results will be immediately made available once people start racing.
Results:
Triathlon Award Categories
Top 3 M/F Overall
Top 3 M/F Age Groups: 15-19, 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+
Top 3 Clydesdale – Male weight class (Clydesdale) 220 pounds
Top 3 Athena – Female weight class (Athena) 165 pounds
Top 3 M/F Para
Top 3 Tri Relay Teams
Top 3 M/F Novice/Rec
Aquabike Award Categories
Top M/F in Age Groups: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Duathlon Award Categories
Top M/F in Age Groups: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Top Du Relay Team
Finisher Results Link: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Amesbury/DAM
USAT Information/Guidelines/Policies: Your racing age is determined by your age on 12/31/2025.
- All athletes must (a) present a valid, current USAT Annual Membership Card at registration OR (b) purchase a 1-day USAT license. Athletes age 17 and under only have the option to purchase an annual license which is now $10. Athletes age 18 and older can purchase a 1-day license for $15 or an annual license for $50.
USA Triathlon (USAT) Rules will apply at the DAM. Please review the rules at www.USATriathlon.org before race day.
DAM GOOD Post Race: Athletes will pick from a variety of packaged refreshments not limited to granola bars, packaged snacks, fruit, ice coffee and more. Your race entry includes 1 free BEER from Mill 77 Brewing for those 21+.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for 10:15AM.
Directions: Race Site Address: 80 High Street, Amesbury, MA, 01913
From I-495 N: Take exit #118 (Rt. 150) onto Rt. 150 Ext. toward Amesbury. Drive for 1.1 mi, until Rt. 150 becomes Greenleaf Street. After .2 mile, turn right onto Friend Street. Turn left onto Whitehall Road, then right onto High Street. Drive for .2 mile – access is on the left.
From I-95 N: Take exit #88B (Rt. 110 W) onto Macy Street (Rt. 110) toward Amesbury. Drive for .4 mile, then turn right onto Elm Street. After 1.7 miles, bear right onto Market Square, then continue onto High Street for .4 mile. Access is on the right.
Parking: Parking is PROHIBITED at race site. Please utilize the following public parking lots. Please abide by all Town signage. There will be NO PARKING signs posted on most streets surrounding Lake Gardner. Your car will be towed if you park there.
Parking: See options below in order of convenience.
–21 Friend Street, Amesbury MA (Public Parking) – 1/4 mile away from race site
–49 Friend Street in Amesbury, MA (Town Hall Parking Lot) – 1/4 mile away from race site
–24 Water Street, Amesbury MA (Public Parking) – Less than 1/2 mile away from race site
–9 School Street, Amesbury MA (Back of the Public Library) – Less than 1/2 Mile away from race site
**AVOID PARKING DOWNTOWN, IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES, THEY’VE IMPLEMENTED 2 HOUR PARKING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
Charity Partners: This year a portion of proceeds will be allocated to the Amesbury High School Boosters, Amesbury Park and Recreation Department, Fellowship Christian Academy and more.
Volunteers: Do you know anyone interested in volunteering race weekend? Maybe it’s a friend or family member or work colleague? We have a variety of opportunities for volunteers and we take good care of our volunteers.
Please email Ashley at info@high5em.com
Company Event Policies:
Event Cancellation: In the event, this race is cancelled/re-scheduled/postponed due to inclement weather, acts of God, or unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of Event Management, refunds will not be given; however, you will be given a partial credit to next year’s race.
Course Modifications: Event Management reserves the right to alter, cancel or eliminate any portion of a race at any time in the interest of athlete safety or for other reasons beyond our control. No refunds will be issued under these circumstances.
Refunds/Deferrals: We understand life happens and things may come up. We’ve implemented a defer and transfer policy for FREE up to a certain date for all High5EM events. Transfers or deferments made after said date will incur a small fee for administration purposes. In the case of event cancellation due to public safety, inclement weather or some other unforeseen power at be, the event will either be postponed or become virtual.