Thousand Islands Triathlon & Runs
Brockville, Canada · August · Independent (Somersault Events)
Why people love it
- Run goes through a 500 m (0.31 mi) railway tunnel with lights and music, then finishes on Water Street.
- Clear river swim near shore with kayak club support, per Triathlon Magazine Canada.
- Organiser says transition distances are the shortest of its season.
- Packet pickup the day before from 3 to 6 PM, or from 7:00 AM on race day.
- Organiser reports sell-outs in 2025 and 2026; 2027 is listed for 1 August.
Watch out for
- Bike is on open roads; light Sunday traffic is not the same as closed roads.
- Steep hill from Water Street to King Street right after transition.
- Water temperature, wetsuit rule and swim start format are not published.
- Almost no athletes have written about this race; evidence is a magazine write-up and local previews.
- Parking is not listed on the organiser page.
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
Sells out each year per the organiser, and a magazine write-up is positive; no athlete race reports found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Bibs, official timing, orientations and a pickup day before; no athlete accounts of how race day ran. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.1
A 1,500 m (0.93 mi) river swim and 40 km (25 mi) on open roads suit athletes with some racing behind them. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Open roads, a steep early hill and a downhill finish; no results found. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.4
Wetsuit rule, water temperature and sanctioning body are not published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Early August river swim, usually clear with few weeds per the magazine; temperature is not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.3
Swim stays near shore outside the shipping channel; no reports on chop or wakes. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
Near-shore 1,500 m (0.93 mi) course outside the shipping channel; start format unknown. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Magazine describes clear water with few weeds, ship views and a boat-ramp exit. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.7
Brockville Kayak Club paddlers and volunteers help at the exit; wave format is unknown. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Highway 2 surface is not described. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.8
Magazine states the out-and-back bike course is not closed, though Sunday traffic is light. · High confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
Highway 2 along the river toward Prescott; no athlete comments. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind reports for the exposed highway route. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
Out-and-back with a steep start and a downhill finish; traffic may slow riders. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
Gain not published; a steep climb out of transition, then out and back on Highway 2. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Straightforward out-and-back, with traffic to watch on open roads. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Finish on Water Street over the railway tunnel; little evidence of crowds along the course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
On-course nutrition from the sponsor and volunteers; no athlete feedback. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.1
Magazine highlights shaded streets, riverside paths and a historic 500 m (0.31 mi) railway tunnel with lights and music. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Shade and a 500 m (0.31 mi) tunnel help over 10 km (6.2 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.6
Streets, paths and a tunnel; gain not published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Early August range of 16 to 27 °C (61 to 81 °F) is a regional estimate, not a race report. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
No weather history found for race day. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
St. Lawrence waterfront with ship views and Centeen Park; evidence is one magazine write-up. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Waterfront finish on Water Street and an out-and-back bike; spectators welcome per local press. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 80 m (260 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Small city; no evidence of sell-outs or shortages. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Typical small-city rates; no athlete evidence. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Organiser calls it the shortest transition distance of its season; parking is not listed. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
About 100 km (62 mi) from Ottawa airport. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.1
Pickup the day before or from 7:00 AM on race day, with short transition distances. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Historic waterfront town; little first-hand evidence. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Brockville, Ontario, Canada
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 1 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Somersault Events)
- First held
- 1993
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- St. Lawrence River at the Brockville waterfront, close to shore and outside the shipping channel (river)
- Swim start
- not stated
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Steep hill from Water Street up to King Street right after leaving transition
- Run shade
- good: shaded streets and a 500 m (0.31 mi) tunnel
- Air temperature
- 16–27 °C (61–81 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 80 m (260 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Ottawa (YOW), 100 km (62 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Brockville waterfront, Downtown Brockville
- Booking
- Bib pickup Saturday 3:00 to 6:00 PM at Centeen Park (orientations 4 and 5 PM) or from 7:00 AM on race day. Organiser advises arriving an hour before the start.
What racers and reviewers say
- Triathlon Magazine Canada (course write-up)article · Positive
Course write-up for the Brockville race. The swim stays near shore outside the shipping channel with usually clear water, few weeds and kayak support. The bike heads up a steep hill to Highway 2, runs out and back to Prescott on open roads with light Sunday traffic, and ends with a downhill last kilometre. The run uses shaded streets and riverside paths and finishes on Water Street.
“The out-and-back bike course is not closed, but traffic is light.”
- Brockville Daily (2025 preview)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Local preview of the 10 August 2025 race, saying it welcomes racers of all skill levels. Lists Olympic and sprint triathlon, Try a Tri and run options, and notes registration and sell-out expectations. No race-day feedback.
- Brockville Daily (2026 preview)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview of the 9 August 2026 race at Centeen Park with swimming, cycling and running along the waterfront. Open to all skill levels, bibs and official timing, and spectators welcome. Promotional rather than an athlete account.
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Sources
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