America's Race - Leon's Triathlon
Hammond, United States · June · Independent
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 37.3 km (23.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run. 1,500 m / 23.2 mi (37.3 km) / 6.2 mi (10 km) in 2021; 24.6-24.8 mi (39.6-39.9 km) bike in other years; 0.9 mi (1.45 km) swim in 2013.
Why people love it
- Flat bike on wide closed highway lanes with room to pass
- Olympic and sprint share one park venue on Wolf Lake
- In 2011 parking was next to transition; packet pickup was the day before
- Race dates to 1983 and has been in Hammond since 1990
- Hosted the military and first responder national championships in 2021
Watch out for
- Treading-water or dock-jump start with no pre-race swim; one racer panicked in 2018.
- Bike length has varied: about 45 km (28 mi) in 2011 and 37.3 km (23.2 mi) in 2021.
- Wolf Lake water quality drew complaints in the past, though a 2021 city test was clean.
- Steel mills and an oil refinery dominate the scenery.
- Most first-hand reports are from 2010 and 2011, so recent details are thin.
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
Racers praised the closed flat highway and director, with complaints about lake water, an industrial setting and a long 2011 bike. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
The 2011 bike measured about 5.6 km (3.5 mi) long and the director apologised; 2021 distances were shorter than listed. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Open-water start with no pre-swim and a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) loop; a racer panicked in 2018. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat closed highway, but bike lengths varied from 37.3 to 45 km (23.2 to 28 mi). · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
June lake of about 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) is under the 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit; one cold year, one warm. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
Warm in 2011, cold and windy in another year; estimate 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
Lake open to wind; one cold, windy year and a calm 2011. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.9
1.5 km (0.93 mi) loop with a treading-water start. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.7
Veterans complained about water quality, steel mills are in view and the start is abrupt; a 2021 city test was clean. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
A 2021 account mentions boats and a boat pulling a panicking swimmer out, but the start is abrupt. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Highway surface; no complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
Closed highway lanes praised by several racers, one saying they had the freeway to themselves. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPlain2.3
Oil refinery and storage tanks line the route. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Open ground near Lake Michigan; light winds one year, no other reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Wide, flat closed highway; lengths vary by year. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
A 2010 writeup called it pancake flat; likely under 60 m (200 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.1
Wide, straight highway lanes; the dismount line was unclear in 2011. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Neighbourhood residents sprayed runners with hoses; small field. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Volunteers and the director were praised; little else on aid. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant2.6
Industrial area and neighbourhoods. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.3
Little shade on an open road run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat out and back. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Estimated 14 to 27 °C (57 to 81 °F) at an 8 AM early-June start. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
Cool, windy and warm, calm years both reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.9
Park on a lake beside steel mills and a refinery. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Park venue and a closed-highway bike; no spectator reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 180 m (590 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Plenty of Hammond and south Chicago hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Hammond is cheaper than Chicago. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Parking was next to transition in 2011. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
Midway airport is 35 km (22 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One park venue, parking next to transition in 2011, packet pickup the day before. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Hammond casino area; downtown Chicago is about 40 km (25 mi) away. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Hammond, Indiana, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 6 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 437 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $250
- First held
- 1983
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 37.3 km (23.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Wolf Lake, Wolf Lake Memorial Park (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Run shade
- Little
- Air temperature
- 14–27 °C (57–81 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid lakeside
- Altitude
- 180 m (590 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Chicago Midway (MDW), 35 km (22 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Hammond, Munster
- Booking
- Hammond and Chicago south suburbs; a casino hotel nearby.
What racers and reviewers say
- Experience Triathlon (Jeff P.)Raced 2011 · blog · Positive
Olympic report: overcast, cool, light wind, warm water and a flat course; 1,800 m (1.1 mi) triangular swim with a treading-water start, bike that measured about 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long, out-and-back run. Parking beside transition, six waves, and the director apologised for the bike error. He finished 35th of 437 and qualified for nationals.
“a beautiful day for a race”
- Oak Park (2010 writeup)Raced 2010 · article · Positive
Old-school race of about 250 triathletes: swim in Wolf Lake with steel mills in view, a wide closed six-lane highway on the bike described as pancake flat past an oil refinery, and a flat out and back run. Leon shook hands with each finisher.
“pancake flat”
- Slowtwitch forum (Leon's coming back)Raced 2010 · forum · Mixed
Veterans recall the race through the 1980s and 1990s: complaints about Wolf Lake water quality, a cold windy year with few wetsuits, praise for the closed freeway bike, a run about 9 km (5.6 mi) in one year, residents spraying runners and an energetic, hands-on director.
“freeway to ourselves”
- Experience Triathlon: Becoming a SwimmerRaced 2021 · blog · Mixed
Open-water anxiety story: panic at the 2018 start of Leon's, pulled out by a boat about 2 minutes after the horn, then a successful 2021 return. Mentions a long military ceremony and a dock jump with no pre-race swim.
- USA Triathlon (2021 national championships)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
USA Triathlon release on the first Military and First Responders National Championships, with athletes from 25 states at Wolf Lake Memorial Park: sprint 500 m (0.31 mi) swim, 18.7 km (11.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run; Olympic 1,500 m (0.93 mi), 37.3 km (23.2 mi), 10 km (6.2 mi).
Show 1 more
- Northwest Indiana Business (30th anniversary)Raced 2013 · article · Positive
Preview for the 30th race: Olympic course starting and finishing at Wolf Lake, 0.9 mi (1.45 km) swim, 24.6 mi (39.6 km) bike and 6.2 mi (10 km) run, with 750 triathletes the year before.
Raced America's Race - Leon's 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.
Training for America's Race - Leon's Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.