Reston Triathlon
Reston, United States · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Sprint swim is a 400 m (0.25 mi) pool snake swim, a gentle start for first-timers.
- Sprint draws about 1,000 athletes (1,050 in 2018) with a family-fair feel.
- Run on shaded paths with aid at 1.6 and 3.2 km (1 and 2 mi) in the sprint.
- Olympic swims in Lake Audubon, with a practice swim offered beforehand.
- Dulles airport is about 13 km (8 mi) away, and Reston Town Center hotels are close.
Watch out for
- The 2026 Olympic was postponed with no new date found. Check racinginreston.org before booking.
- Algae cancelled the 2018 Olympic swim; the swim can change if the lake is unsafe.
- Three bike laps with a sharp downhill turn at Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue.
- No race-morning packet pickup; collect on Friday or Saturday.
- Steep climb near Home Depot on every lap; elevation gain is not published.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
The sprint draws about 1,000 athletes each year and reads as a friendly local race. Evidence is local news, and the Olympic is postponed. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
About 240 volunteers and police support in 2015. The 2018 swim was cancelled for algae, and the 2026 Olympic was postponed. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Open-water lake swim of 1.5 km (0.93 mi), a hilly bike and a postponed 2026 date. A swim clinic is offered. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.7
Hilly three-lap bike; the 2018 winner's 2:03:16 came without a swim. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.2
USA Triathlon allows wetsuits up to 25.6 °C (78 °F), and Lake Audubon is estimated 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F) in September. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.9
Sprint swims in a pool. Lake Audubon in September is likely 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F), estimated, not measured. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
Sheltered lake. No chop reports. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
Open-water lake with a practice swim offered. Algae cancelled the swim in 2018. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
Lake Audubon start watched by hundreds, but algae cancelled the 2018 swim. · Low confidence
- Swim supportStandard3.4
Swim clinic with the Reston Masters swim team. Water safety details not found. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Suburban Fairfax County roads. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Organiser says closed course with police, but a 2014 notice said roads stay open with lanes blocked. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Suburban Reston roads. No scenic praise found. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm4.0
Tree-lined suburban roads. No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Three laps with a sharp turn and a climb each time. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Hilly per 2016 coverage over 40 km (24.9 mi). Total climbing not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Three laps with a sharp downhill turn of over 90 degrees at Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue, which officials warn about. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Family crowds with cowbells and a live band at the 2016 Olympic finish. Hundreds watch the Olympic swim start. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Sprint aid is at the 1 and 2 mile marks (1.6 and 3.2 km). Olympic aid is not listed. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Shaded Reston paths past lakes. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.8
Shaded paths and a cool September start. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
Shaded paths, finishing at a school track. Climbing not published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Early starts at 07:00 in June and 07:30 in September, typically 15 to 24 °C (59 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Rain in 2018, the 2021 sprint moved to August, and cool, partly sunny weather in 2016. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
Planned lake community with wooded paths. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Sprint runs from one pool venue. The Olympic finishes at a school track with stands. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 100 m (330 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.3
Reston Town Center and the Dulles corridor have plenty of hotels. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
Washington DC suburb pricing. No race-specific prices collected. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Sprint uses one site and a soccer-field parking lot across Reston Parkway. The Olympic splits boat ramp and school sites. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.4
Dulles International is about 13 km (8 mi) away, and the Silver Line stops nearby. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.1
No race-morning packet pickup, only Friday and Saturday. Parking is off site. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Reston Town Center is nearby. No race-weekend detail. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Reston, Virginia, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 6 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 554 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $125
- First held
- 1984
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Newport Pool (sprint); Lake Audubon boat ramp (Olympic) (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- sprint: two athletes at a time through eight lanes; Olympic: open-water start
- Bike laps
- 3
- Key climbs
- Steep climb near Home Depot (Baron Cameron Avenue); Downhill 90 degree turn at Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue
- Run shade
- Shaded Reston Association pathways
- Air temperature
- 15–24 °C (59–75 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid mid-Atlantic
- Altitude
- 100 m (330 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Washington Dulles (IAD), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Reston Town Center, Lake Anne
- Booking
- Reston Town Center hotels are close. No packet pickup on race morning.
What racers and reviewers say
- Reston Connection (33rd Reston Triathlon)Raced 2016 · article · Positive
554 athletes started the 1,500 m (0.93 mi) Lake Audubon swim at 07:00, then a hilly 40 km (24.9 mi) bike and 10 km (6.2 mi) run finishing at the South Lakes High School track. Cool and partly sunny. A live band, cowbells and bagels and pizza for finishers; turnout was lower than usual.
- Reston Now (rainy 35th Reston Triathlon)Raced 2018 · article · Mixed
A harmful algae bloom found on the Thursday forced Reston Association to cancel the swim, and it rained on race day. The race went ahead without a swim; winners finished in 2:03:16 and 2:10:17.
- Reston Now (Reston Triathlon still has space, 2016)Raced 2016 · article · Positive
Preview: Olympic distance with a Lake Audubon open-water swim, a 40 km (24.9 mi) bike in three loops and a 10 km (6.2 mi) run ending at South Lakes High School stadium. A swim clinic with the Reston Masters swim team and 175 spots left.
- Reston Connection (Swim, Bike, Run, 2006)Raced 2006 · article · Positive
Older edition: one mile (1.6 km) Lake Audubon swim, 22.3 mile (35.9 km) bike and a 6.2 mile (10 km) run finishing on the South Lakes track. Hundreds watched the swim start and a crowd in the stands cheered finishers. The winner thanked organisers.
- Racing in Reston (organiser race pages and FAQ)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Official: sprint is 400 m (0.25 mi) pool snake swim, 12 mile (19 km) three-lap bike and 5K, first Sunday of June (6 Jun 2027); Olympic is 1,500 m (0.93 mi) Lake Audubon, 25 mile (40 km), 10K. The 2026 Olympic was postponed; no race-morning packet pickup. Organiser source.
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Sources
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