The Lost Sheep Triathlon (Kenmare Middle Distance)
Kenmare, Ireland · August · Independent (Cork Triathlon Club)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 83 km (52 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 83 km (52 mi) over the Healy Pass / about 21 km (13 mi).
Why people love it
- Irish national middle-distance championship venue in several years
- Calm bay swim from Kenmare Pier at 06:45
- Healy Pass and Wild Atlantic Way bike with spectacular views
- Lively club atmosphere at the finish
Watch out for
- The 83 km (51.6 mi) bike is short of standard but hard, with the Healy Pass
- The Healy Pass descent is treacherous in the wet; a favourite crashed there in 2016
- Irish weather swings from heavy rain to dry sun between editions
- Winning times of 4:05 to 4:10 are 20 to 30 minutes slower than on fast courses
- Elevation gain is not published and there are no first-person reviews
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
Reports from Triathlon Ireland and a club praise the scenery and finish atmosphere; no first-person athlete reviews were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
A national championship round with volunteers out from 05:00 and 350 to 400 starters; no complaints found, but little independent detail. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding1.9
Healy Pass, a hilly 83 km (51.6 mi) bike, a technical wet descent and changeable weather make it a race for experienced riders. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.7
Winners take about 4:05 to 4:10 on a short but hilly 83 km (51.6 mi) bike, well off the pace of fast courses. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.0
Healy Pass, a hilly half marathon, cool wet weather and a technical descent; the total climbing is not published. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
A sea inlet in an Irish August is likely well under 24.5 °C (76 °F); no water temperature was reported. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.5
Cool Atlantic water, likely 15 to 17 °C (59 to 63 °F) in late August; no measurement was found. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Calm at the pier in 2018 and 2023; one year was choppy the night before but settled by the 06:45 start. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
A 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim in a sheltered bay from the pier; no details on sighting or crowding. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Scenic Kenmare Bay with a pier start; no athlete accounts of clarity or the start format. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Rural peninsula roads; no direct reports on the surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.5
Public roads around the Beara peninsula; no information on closures or marshalling. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
Healy Pass and Wild Atlantic Way views are described as spectacular in several reports. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Exposed Atlantic coast, but forecast gales did not arrive in the one year reported; no clear pattern. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow1.9
The Healy Pass and several more testing climbs on an 83 km (51.6 mi) loop make for slow splits. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly1.8
Two category-one climbs plus many testing ones; total gain is unpublished but likely well over 1,000 m (3,300 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical1.8
The Healy Pass descent is treacherous when wet, and a favourite crashed there about 25 km (15.5 mi) in during 2016. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
Clubs gather at a lively finish, but the bike loop crosses remote country with little roadside support. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
No aid station reports; expect standard club-race provision. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Kenmare area setting, but the run itself is not described in any report. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.8
A hilly half marathon after a hard bike; cool temperatures help. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.3
Every report calls the 21 km (13 mi) run hilly or undulating. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Late August in Kerry is typically cool and damp; reports mention rain and mist. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.2
Heavy rain in 2016, dry and still in 2017, mist then sun in 2023, and a rain-soaked descent in another year. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.6
Kenmare Bay and the Beara peninsula are the main draw in every report. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.5
The bike goes over the mountains, so spectators mostly see the pier and the finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Starts at sea level; the Healy Pass summit is roughly 330 m (1,080 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
Kenmare is a busy tourist town in late summer; nothing race specific was found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
No race-week price information found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
The swim starts at Kenmare Pier beside the town; the finish location was not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.2
Remote south-west Kerry; Kerry or Cork airport, then a road transfer. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
A local pier start and one bike loop; transition set-up is not described. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Kenmare has a reputation as a good food town, but the race reports do not cover it. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 29 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Cork Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 400 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 83 km (52 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Kenmare Bay off Kenmare Pier (sea inlet (bay))
- Swim start
- mass/wave start at about 06:45
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Healy Pass (first of two category-one climbs)
- Nearest airport
- Kerry (KIR); Cork (ORK) is the bigger alternative
- Where to stay
- Kenmare town
- Booking
- Tourist town in late summer; no race-specific advice found.
What racers and reviewers say
- Triathlon Ireland 2023 reportRaced 2023 · article · Positive
About 350 registered and more than 300 started at 06:45 in calm water by Kenmare Pier, with volunteers out from 05:00. Mist cleared early and the bike and run were sunny on a hilly, scenic route. Lively finish with clubs celebrating.
- Triathlon Ireland 2018 reportRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Over 400 athletes started in calm water; the national series round was won with a hilly 83 km (51.6 mi) bike crossing the Healy Pass and an undulating run. The leader's bike split was more than ten minutes clear of anyone else, which shows how much the bike course separates the field.
- Triathlon Ireland 2016 reportRaced 2016 · article · Mixed
Very difficult conditions with heavy rain at the start for 350+ athletes. A favourite crashed on the treacherous Healy Pass descent about 25 km (15.5 mi) into the bike, and the half marathon was hilly. Shows how wet weather makes the course dangerous.
- the42.ie 2012 reportRaced 2012 · article · Positive
Describes an 83 km (51.6 mi) bike that is not for the faint-hearted, starting with the Healy Pass and several testing climbs, followed by a hilly half marathon. Competitors were rewarded with spectacular views.
“spectacular views”
A club account (page no longer loads; read via search summary) says the bay was choppy the night before but calm by the 07:00 start. Rain lasted most of the morning and made the Healy Pass descent tricky; forecast strong winds never came.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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