Toughman New York Half (Harriman Long Course)
Stony Point, United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- Single-venue half in Harriman State Park, 32 to 40 km (20 to 25 mi) from New York City
- Scenic, low-traffic Seven Lakes Drive bike
- Hosted USAT Long Course Nationals 2021 and 2022; Challenge Roth slots in 2023 and 2024
- Calm, clear Lake Welch swim, about 18 to 21 °C (65 to 70 °F)
Watch out for
- The 2022 swim was cancelled for algae and became run-bike-run
- Hilly bike with long climbs and a hard hill to the run finish
- The 2022 lead group was sent off course on the bike, causing a crash
- Sources are mostly promotional; no independent race reports found
- Few places to stay within walking distance of the venue
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 satisfactionLiked3.4
Scenic park and long history, but the 2022 swim cancellation and off-course crash count against it, and no independent athlete reviews were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.1
A long-running event and Nationals host, but 2022 saw an algae cancellation and a lead group sent off course. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
Rolling to hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike and a hard run finish, offset by a calm lake and low traffic. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
The 2022 winners ran 4:02:55 and 4:42:35 on a course with long climbs, slower than flat halves. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.5
Hilly bike and a run with a final hill; elevation figures unpublished. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.4
Late-September water is about 18 to 21 °C (65 to 70 °F), so wetsuits are likely allowed; the rule was not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.9
About 18 to 21 °C (65 to 70 °F) per USA Triathlon. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.3
Sheltered inland lake described as calm with no whitecaps, but sources are promotional. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
Calm, clear lake, but the 2022 algae closure shows the swim can be lost. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Clear, calm lake with a beach start in a park setting. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Organiser says the course was fully repaved by 2025; earlier frost heaves on Lake Welch Parkway. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Low-traffic park roads; the level of closure is not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.1
Seven Lakes Drive and the woods and lakes of Harriman State Park are repeatedly described as scenic. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Wooded park terrain probably shelters wind; unverified. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
Moderately hilly with long climbs and fast descents, per the 2022 national championship recap. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.6
No elevation figure published; probably 800 to 1,400 m (2,600 to 4,600 ft) over 90 km (56 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Long park descents, and one 2022 off-course incident. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse2.0
Remote state-park setting with no town spectator sections documented. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
No evidence either way; assumed standard. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Wooded park and lake views. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Hills, but shaded wooded park in late September at 10 to 24 °C (50 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.5
Run described as challenging with a hard hill to the finish. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Mid to late September highs around 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Seasonal variability; the 2022 race swung between cold on the descents and hot on the climbs. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Harriman State Park lakes and forest. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
Park venue; spectators are mostly limited to the beach and transition area. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.4
Hudson Highlands, a few hundred metres (about 1,000 ft) or less. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
The organiser says lodging is nearby, with New York metro options. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Hudson Valley and New York-adjacent prices; no race-week data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.5
Few lodging options within walking distance of Lake Welch Beach. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
About 32 to 40 km (20 to 25 mi) from New York City and 45 minutes from major airports. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Single venue; the organiser says no two-night hotel stay is needed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Rural park setting; Stony Point and Hudson Valley towns nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Stony Point, New York, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 12 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Entry fee
- About $244,451
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Welch (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–21 °C (64–70 °F)
- Run shade
- wooded park
- Air temperature
- 10–24 °C (50–75 °F)
- Nearest airport
- Stewart International (SWF) / Newark or LaGuardia
- Booking
- Organizer: lodging nearby, venue about 20-25 mi / 32-40 km from NYC and 45 min from major airports
What racers and reviewers say
- USA Triathlon recap, 2022 Long Course NationalsRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Water conditions forced a run-bike-run duathlon swap (2 mi / 3.2 km (2 mi) run, 56 mi / 90 km (55.9 mi) bike, 13.1 mi / 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run) and the aquabike became a bike-only time trial. The course was hilly with long climbs and fast descents; the winner finished 4:02:55.
“cold on the downhills, hot on the uphills”
- St. Thomas Aquinas College team releaseRaced 2022 · article · Negative
Search-result summary: toxic algae in Lake Welch led to the duathlon format, and part of the lead group was directed off course on the bike, causing a crash. Page returned 403 on direct fetch so this rests on the search snippet.
- USA Triathlon 2021 Long Course Nationals previewRaced 2021 · article · Positive
Describes the Lake Welch swim as calm and clear, the bike as a moderately hilly tour of Harriman State Park and the run as finishing on a challenging hill. Promotional in tone.
“calm, clear”
- USA Triathlon: Five Reasons to Race ToughmanRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Promotional piece citing rolling hills, lakes, a post-race BBQ and Challenge Roth qualifying slots for 2024. Venue is about 25 mi / 40 km (24.9 mi) from New York City.
- Slowtwitch: Toughman Harriman 2025Raced 2025 · forum · Mixed
Organizer posts claim a lake swim with no whitecaps and a freshly repaved bike course; no independent athlete replies. Treat as marketing.
Show 3 more
- Slowtwitch: Westchester triathlon 2024Raced 2024 · forum · Mixed
Bike described as rolling with little traffic on Seven Lakes Drive; run called challenging. A poster noted frost-heaved sections of Lake Welch Parkway that were later repaved. Staff say the race moved from Westchester because road closures became costly.
- Boomer Esiason Foundation: Westchester Toughman Half 2010Raced 2010 · blog · Positive
Brief team listing for the old Westchester edition (Hudson River swim, rolling Croton reservoir hills). Historic venue, no longer used.
- Eastern Christian School: EC's ToughmanRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Short reflective post on completing the Toughman half in Harriman State Park (1.2 mi / 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 56 mi / 90 km (55.9 mi) bike, 13.1 mi / 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run); training reflection with little course detail.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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