FAQ: 565
Travel Logistics
Q. What airport(s) should I use for the start and end of the Epic565 event?
A. The event starts on Kauai so you’ll want to fly into Lihue (LIH) at least by Saturday so you can join us for a Meet & Greet social on Saturday afternoon, and the Pre-Event Briefing and bike checks on Sunday morning. Many people arrive sooner to acclimate but it is personal choice.
The event ends on Hawaii Island (the “Big Island”) and we recommend flying out of Kona (KOA). The event ends with a celebration brunch on Saturday so it’s recommended that you book your departure flight for Saturday afternoon at the earliest. If you need to fly out on Friday, we recommend an evening or red eye flight so that you can join the award celebration on Friday afternoon.
Q. How do we get from one island to the next?
A. Two of our flights will be on larger commercial planes, and two of our interisland travels will be via a private buyouts or charters. The private buyouts or charters will consist of small planes and potentially a private ferry from Molokai to Maui, pending availability. Post pandemic & Maui fires have impacted ability to do private ferry charters in recent times.
Q. What are the baggage restrictions on flights?
A. Each athlete is limited to 3 pieces total checked luggage.
Bike box and two pieces of luggage whether they be suitcase, bin, wheel case etc. Crew should plan to do carry on only.
If you are bringing crew, you will be provided with an optional 4th piece of luggage, a cooler.
In terms of flights to/from Hawaii, it all depends on the airline and your status with them. We recommend you check your airline’s website for their policy.
As for inter-island flights, we often use small charter flights for the event. These smaller aircraft usually charge for checked baggage.
Note that overhead bins are either quite small or are non-existent on inter-island flights so expect for carry on bags to be tight. Crew should bring backpack or duffle bags, but not hard shell roller type as they will not fit.
We encourage you to pack light for the event. We’ll provide a suggested packing list for all athletes & crew.
All associated costs for luggage are the responsibility of the athlete. The private charters are typically luggage inclusive but buyouts are not.
Q. Where should I stay before, during and after the Epic565 event?
A. We will provide suggestions on where to stay and in some cases there will be group hotel rates. If you’re traveling without crew, you may opt for solo lodging, or to pair up with another athlete & split the cost.
Q. How should I get from the airport to my accommodations?
A. If you opt for the transportation package ($650 USD per person), we will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at the end of the event if you arrive two days before the event and depart the day after the event. Transportation package includes transport for you & three pieces of luggage (including a bike box), as described above.
You may rent cars on each of the islands and this is the best option if you are bringing your own crew member.
During the Event
Q. What does a typical event day look like?
A. Each day starts at 6AM. Depending on how much prep time you’ll need, expect to rise around 4 or 4:30AM to get packed up and ready for the day. We’ll meet up at the starting point and be prepped for the day by one of the race directors to ensure we are all familiar with the course for the day.
There will be aid stations along the course. Generally every 4-6 miles on the run, and every 10-20 miles on the bike. Ice, electrolytes and water will be available. You will have the opportunity to leave drop bags in the staff cars. If you have crew members, they may stop along the course (where appropriate) to provide food and drink for you as well.
Cutoff time is 3PM to give us enough time to get to the airport for our flight to the next island.
After each day, we should have time to wash up, grab a quick bite to eat and get to the airport for our flights. What we have time for depends on how fast the group is and what time our flight departs (this is different on each island and is dependent upon the airline’s schedule).
Once we arrive at the next island in the early evening, we’ll grab another bite to eat or stop by a grocery store and then make our way to our accommodations. The evening is generally spent recovering, getting ready for the next day’s event and sleeping!
Q. Will there be a “finish line” and timing mats?
A. There will not be timing mats at the beginning, end or along the route, however there will be tracker devices which are required. We will have an official timer on course to track times reported to USAT. There will be no first, second or third place winners, only finishers and participants. This is a challenge, not a race and, as such, we want you to pace yourself for endurance and finish the event vs. race each day as fast as you can and not be able to finish.
At the end of day 5, there is a finish line banner for all those who completed all 5 days. This is yours to keep & take home.
Q. What is the course like and what does the elevation profile look like?
A. We have both OWS and pool swims.
We are finalizing the courses, but expect the bike elevation to be approximately 2,000 – 3,000 feet gained each day though this is just an estimate.
The run is generally <500 feet gained each day, though we are still finalizing the courses for the inaugural 565 so this may change.
Q. What will the weather be like on the islands?
A. Though we try to start early in the morning, days can get quite warm (expect as high as mid-80s). The humidity of the islands can make it feel much warmer. If skies are clear, expect blazing heat but if we’re lucky with cloudy skies, it can be pleasant. Because the islands include a number of microclimates, there will be a variety of temperatures. Overall, plan for wind, rain, sun & humidity. Nothing is guaranteed!
Preparing for the Event
Q. How do the relay teams work?
A. If you’re unsure whether you can do all five triathlons, consider organizing a fundraising relay team and share the event with friends! Each team member must do one discipline each of the five days for your team to qualify as a Relay Team Finisher.
Q. Why is there a cost for additional people on a relay team?
A. While there may only be one of you doing the event at a time, the additional cost covers the interisland travel, epic swag bag, and pre- and post-race meals during the event.
Q. What should I pack for the Epic565?
A. We provide a detailed packing list to all registered athletes. In short, because of the baggage restrictions on the inter-island flights, we encourage all crew to pack as light as possible.
Other Questions
Q. Why are there so few athletes involved?
A. This is a very special event in a very special location. Because the event takes place on roads that are not closed for the event and are on pathways where we want to tread lightly, we keep the numbers low in order to have as light of an impact on the communities we visit as possible. There are also limitations on some of our interisland flights, both number of people and cargo space (bikes & luggage).
Q. Why is travel/medical insurance so important?
A. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We realize you are making a large financial investment and large commitment of time to join us in Hawaii. Having travel insurance (including “cancel for any reason” insurance) helps protect that investment. Separately, having medical/evacuation insurance, ensures that if something happens to you during the event, you can get the medical attention you need without breaking your bank! Many travel insurance options include activities such as this. Select the full amount you want to insure for when getting setup.
If your ACTIVE.com purchase is <$2400, you can add ACTIVE refund insurance through the registration portal.
Q. When is final payment due?
A. Final payment for the Epic565 event is due 6 months prior to the start of the event. We need this amount of time to confirm inter-island flights & private charters on your behalf as well as swag, permits, accommodation blocks and the Epic565 staff.
Q. Do I need to have my own personal crew and what is their role?
A. It’s not required on the Epic565 that you have your own crew (although it’s a pretty cush job for a significant other or friend!).
Beth, former athlete & race director for the run had her husband as her crew and he said, “There’s nothing better than driving around the islands doing 15 miles an hour sipping coffee from the local coffee shop and getting to know the backroads where no tourists ever go.”
While that’s partially true, it’s really a matter of how involved your crew wants to be. And to be clear, you do NOT need crew. There’s plenty of support staff from Epic5 that you’ll be more than well taken care of.
The reality is that crew could do anything from rent a car and be your transportation (we do offer a transportation package), run errands for you during the event (like getting ice, cold drinks, food, etc.) or help with your recovery and getting ready for the next day’s event.