Hammerhead Olympic & Sprint Triathlon (HOT)

Overall score 3.1Good
Thin evidence2 sources#135 of 172 Olympic-distance triathlons

Starke, United States · 1.5 / 40 / 10 km

Usually August

Website (opens in a new tab)

Is it right for you?

First timer
Friendly3.5
PR potential
Fast3.5
Wetsuit swim
Usually3.5
Swim support
Good3.5
Crowds
Strong3.5

Watch out: Prepare for heat and little shade on the run. All 5

Held back by conditions (2.4) and race (2.9).

Provisional: based on 2 sources. Why

Raced it? Your rating helps.

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Why people love it

  • Freshwater swimming in Kingsley Lake at Camp Blanding.
  • The Olympic bike uses two laps inside the base.
  • Race-morning packet collection is listed by the organizer.

Watch out for

  • Prepare for heat and little shade on the run.
  • Spectators must register in advance for military-base access.
  • The organizer warns that base roads remain open to vehicles.
  • Read accounts here describe 2008 and 2017 editions.
  • Published listings disagree on the exact 2026 date.

Typical month

August

Date not confirmed

Official race site(trisignup.com, opens in a new tab)
Cutoffs
swim 1 hour after the last Olympic wave, bike 2 hours 45 minutes after the last Olympic wave, finish 4 hours after the last Olympic wave

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What racers say

Overall score 3.1 out of 5

2 reviews and race reports

2 reviews

  • Randy Lefko; participant Massimo Kostl

    Raced 2017 · Clay Today: From Austria, Massimo wins Hammerhead Tri

    Tone: Mixed

    In race-day interviews, Olympic winner Massimo Kostl describes unfamiliar Florida humidity and a slower run than he expected. This is firsthand participant testimony reported by a local journalist about the 2017 edition. It supports a heat warning rather than claims about current organization.

    Covers Run, Conditions

    Read on cdn5.creativecirclemedia.com (Clay Today: From Austria, Massimo wins Hammerhead Tri, opens in a new tab)

  • Marni (Trimarni)

    Raced 2008 · Trimarni: Hammerhead Olympic Triathlon race report

    Tone: Positive

    The athlete enjoyed her Olympic race and set a personal best. She found the swim comfortable despite sun glare, liked the rolling bike, and struggled with heat and hills on the run. Ice water helped, although aid felt far apart. This describes 2008, not a confirmed current route.

    Covers Swim, Bike, Run, Conditions, Stay and travel

    Read on trimarni.blogspot.com (Trimarni: Hammerhead Olympic Triathlon race report, opens in a new tab)
Raced Hammerhead Olympic & Sprint Triathlon (HOT)? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next athlete about the course, conditions and logistics.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Good. 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: Very tough

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.6

    One historical Olympic athlete enjoyed her race; current athlete satisfaction is lightly documented. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.5

    Historical reports provide little detail about current race delivery. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyFriendly3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialFast3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Good. Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalUsually3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureComfortable3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Calm waterMostly calm3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeModerate3.4

    The 2008 Olympic athlete found the swim comfortable but struggled to sight toward the sun. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat3.6

    The 2008 Olympic report describes a good swim in the freshwater lake. · Low confidence

  • Swim supportGood3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Good. Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceGood3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresPartly closed3.3

    Organizer course notes warn that vehicles may use the base roads. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • WindMostly calm3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedFast3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Good. Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Crowd supportStrong3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsStandard3.3

    The 2008 athlete appreciated ice water but felt aid stations were far apart. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsModerate3.3

    Historical Olympic athletes struggled with heat; the current run route may differ. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessMostly flat3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Below par. Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Air temperatureWarm or cool2.8

    The 2008 athlete and 2017 Olympic winner both describe difficult heat or humidity. · Medium confidence

  • Weather reliabilityReliable3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyLovely3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeLow3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Good. Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSome complexity3.3

    Race-morning collection helps, but athletes and spectators must follow military-base entry requirements. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodGood3.5

    Few athletes have described this part of the race. · Low confidence

Course

Swim, 1.5 km (0.9 mi)

Kingsley Lake, Camp Blanding Military Reservation

Start
wave
Laps
1 lap
Cutoff
1 hour after the last Olympic wave

Bike, 40 km (24.9 mi)

Laps
2 laps
Cutoff
2 hours 45 minutes after the last Olympic wave

Run, 10 km (6.2 mi)

Laps
1 lap
Surface
road
Shade
Little shade, according to the organizer.
Finish cutoff
4 hours after the last Olympic wave

Getting there and staying

Book
Race-morning packet collection is listed. Base entry requires a gate pass and valid photo ID; spectators must register in advance.

Similar races in North America

Key facts

Location
Starke, Florida, United States
Typical month
August
Distances
1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

Training for Hammerhead Olympic & Sprint Triathlon (HOT)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.