CLASH Endurance Daytona Sprint Triathlon
Daytona Beach, United States · December · CLASH Endurance (formerly Challenge Daytona)
Course: 0.7 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20.9 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Listing: 800 yd (731 m) swim, 13 mi (20.9 km) bike, 5K (3.1 mi) run; ages 12+. Duathlon: 1 mi (1.6 km) run, 13 mi bike, 5K.
Why people love it
- Race inside Daytona International Speedway, with a swim in Lake Lloyd, a 12 ha (29 acre) lake.
- Sprint is 731 m (800 yd) swim, 20.9 km (13 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
- Infield camping sits 100 to 200 m (330 to 660 ft) from the swim and finish.
- The time-trial swim start ran smoothly in 2024, and riding the track is a bonus.
Watch out for
- The 2024 sprint swim was cancelled with water at 13.8 °C (56.8 °F), so expect a possible bike and run.
- Entry is high for a sprint, according to forum posters.
- Sprint bike and run routes are not published; check the athlete guide.
- The 9:15 am recreational wave is not eligible for awards.
- The run is exposed with no shade, and slower runners felt alone on later laps.
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
Few sprint-specific reports. A 2020 racer called it a fun weekend, and 2024 racers called it well run; high entry cost noted. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
The 2024 time-trial start went flawlessly and the swim call was accepted as right; a 2020 volunteer shortage cost an aid station. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Recreational wave and short swim, but cold December water. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Flat; route not documented. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Water of 14 to 22 °C (57 to 72 °F) in December usually allows wetsuits. A swim below the USAT minimum is cancelled. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.9
13.8 °C (56.8 °F) in 2024, about 18 °C (65 °F) in 2020 and 20-22 °C (68-72 °F) quoted by the organiser. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
29-acre lake in a flat infield; no current, but photos show wind chop. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
About 730 m (800 yd) in a lake. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Clean water, unusual speedway backdrop; start format for sprint not documented. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
2023 coverage mentions a lifesaving water-rescue team; recreational wave and wetsuits allowed; no sprint-specific kayak details. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Speedway tarmac and closed roads; 2020 racers reported smooth riding. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
2020 middle-distance riders shared roads with slow cars in the open lane; sprint route unknown. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
Riding inside the speedway is the draw, plain surroundings otherwise. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Open Florida terrain; no wind reports found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Flat and closed. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.2
Flat grounds, assumed under 75 m (250 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.7
Straight track and roads; sprint turns undocumented. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
2020 racer found the second lap lonely if slow; spectators concentrated at the finish. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
One aid station lost in 2020; otherwise no complaints. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
Track and back-lot roads. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
Exposed but cool. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
Flat 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Typical December 12-23 °C (54-73 °F), mild, with cold-front swings. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
2024 cold cancelled the swim, 2018 storms shortened the pro race. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.4
A working racetrack with lake views; distinctive but concrete. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Everything within the speedway; expo village, camping and finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Daytona Beach is at 2 m (7 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Beach hotels plentiful in December plus on-site camping. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No gouging reports; on-site RV rentals are an option. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
A racer in an infield RV was 100 m (330 ft) from finish and 200 m (660 ft) from the swim start. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
DAB is 3 km (2 mi) away; Orlando 90 km (56 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
One venue for swim, bike, run and expo; packet details not retrieved. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
One forum poster called Daytona Beach an ordinary Florida town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 5 December 2026
- Organiser
- CLASH Endurance (formerly Challenge Daytona)
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $140
- First held
- 2018
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.7 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20.9 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Lloyd, a 29-acre man-made lake in the infield of Daytona International Speedway (lake)
- Water temperature
- 14–22 °C (57–72 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- competitive start 7:00 am; recreational start 9:15 am (not award-eligible)
- Run shade
- Mostly exposed
- Air temperature
- 12–23 °C (54–73 °F)
- Humidity
- Around 80 percent by listing; December is dry season
- Altitude
- 2 m (7 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Daytona Beach International (DAB), 3 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Speedway infield camping, Daytona Beach
- Booking
- Plenty of beach-area hotels; on-site RV and tent camping in the speedway infield, 100-200 m (330-660 ft) from the swim, expo and finish per one racer.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum: Challenge / Clash Daytona QuestionsRaced 2020 · forum · Mixed
Posters from the 2019 and 2020 editions. One sprint racer called it a fun weekend; others described a narrow, fast, clean swim around 65 °F (18 °C), a middle-distance bike on the oval then closed roads with slow cars in the open lane, and an exposed run. In 2020 volunteers dropped out so one aid station was lost. Staying in an infield RV avoided parking and toilet queues; one poster found fees far above an IRONMAN.
- Slowtwitch: Clash Daytona Hosts USAT Long Course NationalsRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Report on the December 2024 weekend with forum replies. Both sprint triathlons became bike/run races because Lake Lloyd was 56.8 °F (13.8 °C) and below USAT's adjusted minimum, the first swim cancellation at Daytona. Racers said the self-seeded time-trial start went flawlessly, the event felt safe and well run, and riding the track was a bonus; the race director agreed the cancellation was right.
“came off flawlessly”
- Ormond Beach Observer (local news)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Local club coverage of the 1-3 Dec 2023 weekend: 3,300+ athletes across ten races, a kids triathlon inside the speedway, a Jingle Jog 5K with about 1,200 runners, and water-rescue cover with an Olympian on the team. Club members spoke of the swim in Lake Lloyd; coverage is of the middle distance, not the sprint.
- Slowtwitch forum: Clash Moves from Miami to MississippiRaced 2025 · forum · Mixed
Comments on the series, not a race report. A returning Challenge Daytona athlete said they would come back but felt clashes with NASCAR's calendar hold the December date back; the race director said the speedway is booked January to May, so December is fixed.
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Sources
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