Publix Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon
Chattanooga, USA · June · Independent (Team Magic / Magic Sports; benefits Chattanooga Track Club)
Course: 1.1 km (0.7 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run. 1.1 km (0.68 mi) swim / 40 km (24.9 mi) bike / 10 km (6.2 mi) run per the 2027 organiser page
Why people love it
- Short downstream river swim: sprint 300 m (0.19 mi), Olympic 1.1 km (0.68 mi), time-trial start.
- Flat Riverwalk run with a downhill finish; the bike has small rolling hills.
- Tennessee state championship for decades, with over 1,000 athletes in recent years.
- One repeat racer rates production 4.8 of 5 and praises volunteers and food.
Watch out for
- River averages 28.3 °C (83 °F); wetsuits are rarely legal, and above 25.6 °C (78 °F) you lose awards.
- A racer reports rough pavement on the bike course; roads are coned, not clearly closed.
- The 2027 venue moves to Coolidge Park, and the organiser page shows conflicting start and pickup notices.
- Late June is hot and humid; river swims elsewhere have been cancelled for high water.
- Only one athlete has written about the race, and nobody covered the swim.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
One repeat racer rated it 4.8 of 5 across 2019 to 2026 sprints; no other athlete accounts were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
The same racer rates production 4.8 of 5 and praises volunteers and food, including vegan options; one source only. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
1.1 km (0.68 mi) swim is short, but the two bike loops and 10 km (6.2 mi) run come in summer heat. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Assisted swim helps; no times were found. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom1.5
River averages 28.3 °C (83 °F); wetsuits are rarely legal and awards are lost above 25.6 °C (78 °F). · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable2.2
Warm river water in late June; no athlete describes the swim itself. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Downstream river swim; nobody wrote about chop or current beyond the push. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
1.1 km (0.68 mi) with the river current. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
Nobody wrote about the swim, so this stays near the middle. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Time-trial start in the river; support is not described by athletes. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.9
The racer reports rough pavement on the bike course. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Roads are coned, and it is not clear they are fully closed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
City and river roads; scenery is not discussed. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Wind is not mentioned by athletes. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Rolling, with rough pavement in places. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6
Rolling hills over two loops of the bike course. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.7
Sprint 22 km (13.7 mi) and Olympic uses two loops; athletes do not complain about navigation. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Riverwalk run in a city centre with a state-championship field of over 1,000. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Volunteers and food praised, including vegan options. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Run follows the river through the city. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.1
Flat but hot over 10 km (6.2 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat river path for 10 km (6.2 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.5
Late-June Tennessee heat and humidity; no athlete disputes it. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
River swims here have been cancelled for high water at other races; no cancellations reported for this one. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Riverfront city setting; the racer gives scenery 3.8 of 5. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Riverwalk course in the city centre; the 2027 venue moves to Coolidge Park. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Chattanooga sits at about 200 m (650 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.9
City with many hotels; athletes say little. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No price evidence from athletes. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Downtown venue; the 2027 move to Coolidge Park may change this. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
Regional airport and interstate access; athletes say little. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
The organiser page shows conflicting start and pickup notices, and the 2027 venue moves. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.1
Active downtown with a restaurant scene; athletes say little. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 27 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Team Magic / Magic Sports; benefits Chattanooga Track Club)
- Field size
- About 1,200 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $110
- First held
- 1981
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.1 km (0.7 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Tennessee River, point-to-point downstream, finishing just past the Market Street Bridge ramp (river)
- Water temperature
- 27–29 °C (81–84 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Rarely legal
- Swim start
- time-trial, one swimmer about every 3 seconds (pre-register by the Wednesday before to be seeded)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- small steady climb leaving transition
- Air temperature
- 22–32 °C (72–90 °F)
- Humidity
- High
- Altitude
- 200 m (655 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA), 18 km (11 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, North Shore
- Booking
- Downtown and North Shore hotels; not researched in detail.
What racers and reviewers say
- WDEF News 12Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Local TV report: over 1,000 athletes raced, with a shorter sprint and a longer Olympic. It is the official Tennessee state triathlon, with a path to national qualifying, and it was the second year back after the pandemic.
- Georgia Tech news (club results)Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Georgia Tech's triathlon club raced the 24 June 2018 edition; the release mentions challenging conditions without detail, a new course record by the overall winner, and over 1,000 athletes. Six club members placed top five in age groups.
- Slowtwitch forum: How Many? (Chattanooga Triathlon)Raced 2007 · forum · Mixed
2007 thread on how big the third edition was; press said 1,100 to 1,500, a poster recalled a cap of 1,200 and about 1,204 finishers including relays. Nothing on the course. Old, so low weight.
Raced Publix Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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