Hudson Valley Triathlon Long Course (Alpha Win)
Williams Lake, Rosendale / Kingston, United States · June · Alpha Win
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 88.4 km (55 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. Alpha lists the Long Course as 1.2 mi swim / 54.9 mi bike / 13.1 mi run, i.e. 1.9 km / 88.4 km / 21.1 km; the bike is about 1.6 km (1 mi) short of a standard 56 mi / 90 km half.
Why people love it
- Flat, shaded run on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, 21.1 km (13.1 mi)
- Scenic bike toward the Ashokan Reservoir and Catskills foothills
- Small, relaxed field at a spring-fed lake
- Run since 2016, first as HITS, now under Alpha Win
Watch out for
- All bike roads stay open to traffic; riders keep right with no closures
- Bike is 88.4 km (54.9 mi), about 1.6 km (1 mi) short of a standard half
- Winding hilly roads, some without shoulders; no elevation figure published
- Wetsuits were banned in the 28 °C (82 °F) heat wave of 2018
- Only two 2018 athlete reports found, so recent feedback is thin
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Two 2018 forum reports, one from a half finisher and one from a full finisher, were both positive; no recent athlete accounts found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
A 2018 finisher called it bare-bones but well staffed, with roomy transition and one poorly marked turn at 50 km (31 mi). · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.9
Open roads with no shoulder in places demand bike-handling skill, though the small field and flat shaded run are friendly. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
Winding hilly bike roads, a 88.4 km (54.9 mi) bike slightly short of standard, and a fast flat rail-trail run. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough3.0
Hilly open-road bike and late-June heat risk, offset by a flat shaded run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
Wetsuits are usually allowed in June, but the 2018 heat wave reached 28 °C (82 °F) and banned them. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.4
Spring-fed lake; 28 °C (82 °F) in the 2018 heat wave and no typical June temperature published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Sheltered inland lake, and the small staggered start in 2018 meant no contact. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Staggered start helps, but the first buoy was hard to see into the sun and the entry and exit are muddy. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Pretty spring-fed lake, but a weedy muddy entry and exit, and one finisher said the water tasted of plastic. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
A 2018 finisher called the roads mostly good to great. · Low confidence
- Road closuresOpen traffic1.2
The 2026 athlete guide says no roads are closed; riders keep right and obey police at junctions. · High confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Praised ride toward the Ashokan Reservoir through Catskills foothills. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.6
Forested roads give shelter and no wind complaints were found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Winding, hilly forest roads and open intersections over 88.4 km (54.9 mi); no times found. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
Described as winding and hilly, but no elevation figure is published, so the score is a middle estimate. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Winding roads, no shoulder in places, and one poorly marked turn at 50 km (31 mi) in 2018. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
Small field with long solo stretches in 2018, and the rail trail has few spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Run aid every 1.6 to 2.4 km (1 to 1.5 mi), bike aid every 16 to 32 km (10 to 20 mi); reviews differ. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Wooded rail trail through Rosendale, passing the historic trestle. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
About 90% shaded packed gravel, which helps in summer heat. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is flat, well-packed gravel. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Late June can reach the mid-30s °C (mid-90s °F), as in 2018, though mornings are often 12 to 24 °C (54 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Heat waves are possible and no cancellations were found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Spring-fed lake at the foot of the Catskills, on a former resort site. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Private lake site, remote rail trail and limited on-site parking. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 90 m (300 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.7
Kingston, New Paltz and Rosendale offer a range of lodging, though summer weekends are busy. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Hudson Valley summer pricing; no race-week price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Limited on-site parking, with an overflow lot under 1.6 km (1 mi) away and no shuttle. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.9
About 2 hours by road from New York City; Stewart and Albany are the nearest airports. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
One lake site and a rail-trail run; the athlete guide lists no shuttle. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Rosendale, New Paltz and Kingston have a strong food scene. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Williams Lake, Rosendale / Kingston, New York, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 26 June 2027
- Organiser
- Alpha Win
- First held
- 2016
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 88.4 km (55 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 1:10 (8:10 am), Bike 5:10 bike leg (12:10 pm), Finish 8:30 (3:30 pm)
- Swim venue
- Williams Lake (Fifth Lake), Rosendale (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Legal in most years (USAT rules); not legal in the 2018 heat wave at 28 C (82 F)
- Swim start
- wave
- Run shade
- About 90% shaded per a 2018 report
- Altitude
- 90 m (295 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Stewart (SWF) / Albany (ALB); New York City about 2 hours by road
- Where to stay
- Rosendale, New Paltz, Kingston
- Booking
- Parking on site is limited; overflow lot under 1.6 km (1 mi) away, no shuttle. Kingston, New Paltz and Rosendale offer lodging.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum: HITS Hudson Valley NY 2018 (half)Raced 2018 · forum · Positive
A half finisher praised scenic, mostly good roads with light traffic, a flat shaded rail-trail run, well stocked aid, and spacious transition with prompt shuttles. Noted the bike is winding and hilly on narrow roads without shoulders, and that the event is low-priced and bare-bones. Would do it again.
“mostly good to great”
- Slowtwitch forum: HITS Hudson Valley NY 2018 (full)Raced 2018 · forum · Positive
A full-distance finisher found 28 C (82 F) non-wetsuit water with lily pads and mud, a small staggered start without contact, and a poorly marked turn at km 50 (mi 31.5). Aid was basic, the field small, and the run mostly shaded packed dirt, though the water tasted of plastic. Overall happy and glad for a relaxed race.
“very happy with the experience”
- Endurance.biz: HITS unveils Hudson Valley eventRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Launch announcement for the event: spring-fed Williams Lake swim, bike around the Ashokan Reservoir and a run along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, with five distances on one day. Promotional, but confirms the course concept still used by Alpha Win.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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