St. Anthony's Triathlon
St. Petersburg, United States · April · Independent (BayCare)
Why people love it
- Long-running race, 40 or more editions, with a novice Meek and Mighty event the day before.
- Bike and run on closed roads through the downtown waterfront and neighbourhoods.
- Packet pickup and expo the day before, with bike rental at the expo.
- Flat bike course with no hills of note.
- Neighbourhood run section praised by racers.
Watch out for
- Bay swim is often rough: shortened in 2013 and 2017, and replaced by a run in 2023.
- Many turns, 180-degree turnarounds and speed bumps on the bike; crosswinds between buildings.
- Warm and humid for later waves; early start times can mean long waits.
- Street parking near the venue is limited.
- Sprint bike length is reported as 20 or 24.1 km (12.4 or 15 mi); check the athlete guide.
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Racers and local TV praise the volunteers, safety and atmosphere. A rough bay swim and heat temper it. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Volunteers, kayaks and police praised, and a safe swim call in 45 mph (72 km/h) winds in 2023. Long waits and speed bumps noted. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Rough bay swim risk, a crowded bike and heat make the 1.5 km (0.93 mi) Olympic a stretch for a first race. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Flat, but turns and speed bumps over 40 km (25 mi) and a possibly shortened swim complicate comparisons. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.0
The rule varied by year: legal in 2013, not in 2015 per one poster. Water is likely 20 to 23 °C (68 to 73 °F). · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.6
Estimated 20 to 23 °C (68 to 73 °F) in late April. No readings were published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterChoppy2.4
The swim was shortened or dropped in 2013, 2017 and 2023 for wind and chop. A 2013 winner called it the choppiest he had swum. · High confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.6
1.5 km (0.93 mi) in a chop-prone bay, shortened in several years. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
Downtown skyline backdrop and kayak cover, but salty, choppy bay swims are common. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
Kayaks and a police boat cover the swim and organisers shorten or cancel it when safety is in doubt. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
Urban streets with speed bumps. No other surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
Road closures published for the bike and run, and a 2026 racer noted police presence. · High confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Waterfront high-rises and quiet neighbourhoods. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.8
Crosswinds between downtown buildings; gusty or sheltered depending on the day. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Flat, but many turns and crosswinds over 40 km (25 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat over 40 km (25 mi). Climbing not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Many turns and 180-degree turnarounds, according to forum posters. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Spectators filled the course in 2024 coverage, and the neighbourhood run is a highlight. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
A 2026 racer saw many volunteers. No aid station detail was found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Waterfront and historic neighbourhood streets. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
10 km (6.2 mi) in heat and humidity for later waves. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat city streets over 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 temperaturePleasant3.5
Late April is about 17 to 28 °C (63 to 82 °F). Humid and hot for some racers. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Wind or storms changed the swim in three of the editions found, including the 2023 tornado threat. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Downtown waterfront and bay setting. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Waterfront start and finish, with many local spectators in 2024. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 3 m (10 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Race weekend in a busy tourist city. Book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
Spring peak season in St. Petersburg. No price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Downtown hotels are close, but street parking near the venue is limited. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Tampa International is about 30 km (19 mi) away; St. Pete-Clearwater is nearer. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
Packet pickup and expo the day before, but extensive road closures complicate race-morning arrival. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Walkable downtown with dining and nightlife. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (BayCare)
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- 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
- Tampa Bay at North Shore Park / Northshore Beach, downtown St. Petersburg (bay)
- Water temperature
- 20–23 °C (68–73 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Mostly open waterfront and neighbourhood streets; heat and humidity rise with later waves.
- Air temperature
- 17–28 °C (63–82 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to high, rising through the morning
- Altitude
- 3 m (10 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tampa International (TPA); St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) is closer, 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown St. Petersburg, Snell Isle
- Booking
- Downtown St. Petersburg hotels fill on race weekend; book early. Road parking near the venue is limited, per a 2026 reviewer.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2015 · forum · Mixed
Veterans call it a race every triathlete should do once and a fine first event, but warn the bay swim can be dicey. The bike is flat with many turns, 180s and speed bumps, plus gusty crosswinds between buildings. The neighbourhood run is a highlight; long waits before age-group waves and crowded bike lanes drew complaints.
- WeeViewsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Incentivised review from an out-of-state visitor. She praised clear communication, day-before packet pickup, an expo with a bike rental service, plenty of volunteers, kayak and police safety cover, a scenic well-marked course on closed roads, and a lively after party. Only listed drawback: limited road parking.
- WeeViewsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Found the bay swim hard: she swallowed salt water and struggled to navigate. Called the whole race very challenging and hot.
“no joke!”
- BayCare newsroomRaced 2023 · article · Mixed
For the 40th edition, 45 mph (72 km/h) gusts, rain and a tornado threat led organisers to drop the swim the day before. Athletes ran 1.4 mi (2.3 km) first for the Olympic, then rode and ran as usual. Organiser source, so tone is promotional; the weather facts are the useful part.
- SlowtwitchRaced 2013 · article · Negative
In the 30th edition, 15 mph (24 km/h) winds and strong current cut the amateur swim to 750 m (0.47 mi) while pros swam the full course. The winner said it was the roughest water he had swum in.
“the choppiest that I have ever swam in”
Show 3 more
- FOX 13 Tampa BayRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Local TV coverage of the 41st edition: a mix of pros, weekend warriors and beginners, early dark starts, and crowds cheering along the course. A winning pro called it her favourite race, and a nine-sibling local family raced together for the first time.
“my favorite race I've ever done”
- St. Pete CatalystRaced 2023 · article · Positive
History piece: started in 1984 with about 600 athletes, now thousands. Describes a flat, fast bike past high-rises and quiet neighbourhoods and a run through one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. Includes a novice Meek and Mighty event on Saturday. Promotional tone.
- BayCare newsroomRaced 2015 · article · Mixed
Road-closure notice listing full closures of the bayfront and Snell Isle streets and intermittent closures on south-side streets, with racing from about 7 am to 1:30 pm. Confirms a closed-road bike course but also widespread local traffic disruption.
Raced St. Anthony's Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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