Clemson Triathlon
Seneca, United States · June · Clemson triathlon club; South Carolina Triathlon Series; USAT SC State Championship
Course: 1 km (0.6 mi) swim, 33.8 km (21.0 mi) bike, 6 km (3.7 mi) run. Sprinternational: 1,000 m (0.62 mi) swim / 21 mi (33.8 km) bike / 6 km (3.7 mi) run. Longer than a standard sprint (750 m / 20 km / 5 km); no Olympic distance.
Why people love it
- Separate novice start and a waist-deep swim start in Lake Hartwell help beginners.
- Lake-view bike with police at intersections.
- Fast downhill run start and a cross-country dike finish.
- Doubles as the USA Triathlon South Carolina state championship.
Watch out for
- Sprinternational: 1,000 m (0.62 mi) swim, 34 km (21 mi) bike, 6 km (3.7 mi) run. Longer than a sprint.
- Bike road quality varies, with some fresh pavement and some badly broken sections.
- Transition is a grass field with a 100 to 150 m (330 to 490 ft) uphill run with the bike.
- Wetsuits are likely not allowed in warm late-June water.
- Only one athlete has written about this race; 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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
One first-time racer rated it positively; the only other report is about a collegiate championship at the lake, not this race. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Police at intersections and a separate novice start; the uphill grass transition was the one complaint. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Novice start helps, but the course is a longer, hillier sprint. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Hilly bike, mixed-surface run and uphill transition. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom2.0
Late June water is likely 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84 °F) and the registration page says wetsuits are likely not allowed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Warm reservoir with limited visibility; temperature is estimated. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.3
A 2022 racer found a rectangular swim; a 2015 collegiate event at the lake saw choppy water in rain. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
Waist-deep start, simple rectangle, sandy exit. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
Reservoir with limited visibility and a sandy exit; few swim accounts. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
Wave starts with a separate novice start; no athlete describes kayak or rescue cover. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.7
A racer reported fresh pavement on some roads and badly broken sections on another. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Police stand at intersections, per a racer; roads appear open to traffic. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
A racer called it a lake-view bike. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind complaints in the one account. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.1
Rolling with a fast descent; road quality varies. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
Two loops with an opening hill, an airport climb and steeper hills. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.1
Two loops of 16.9 km (10.5 mi) with police at intersections. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Not described by athletes. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Not described by athletes. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Lakeside run; little athlete comment. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
Sand, gravel and dike sections in warm humid weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Downhill start, a steep hill and a dike. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.5
Late June in the Carolina Piedmont is hot and humid, about 22 to 32 °C (72 to 90 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Few reports; the lake chopped up in rain at the 2015 collegiate event. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Lake Hartwell setting with a lake-view bike. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Not described by athletes. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 220 m (720 ft) above sea level. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.7
Hotels in Clemson and Seneca. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
College-town rates; not researched in detail. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Grass transition with a 100 to 150 m (330 to 490 ft) uphill run with the bike; parking details not found. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.1
Greenville-Spartanburg airport is 70 km (43 mi) away; Atlanta is 190 km (118 mi). · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
One venue, but packet pickup timing and parking were not found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Clemson is a college town with plenty of food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Seneca, South Carolina, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 20 June 2026
- Organiser
- Clemson triathlon club; South Carolina Triathlon Series; USAT SC State Championship
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1 km (0.6 mi) swim, 33.8 km (21.0 mi) bike, 6 km (3.7 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Hartwell at the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center (275 YMCA Circle) (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 25–29 °C (77–84 °F)
- Swim start
- wave (separate novice start)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Opening hill, a long climb to the airport and two steeper hills per loop; fast quarter-mile descent about 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Air temperature
- 22–32 °C (72–90 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid
- Altitude
- 220 m (720 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP), 70 km (43 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Clemson, Seneca
- Booking
- Hotels in Clemson and Seneca; Atlanta about 190 km (118 mi).
What racers and reviewers say
- WeeViews (Michael Cavanah)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
First-time racer in 2022, the state-championship year. Rectangular Lake Hartwell swim with a waist-deep start, rolling lake-view bike with varying road quality and police at intersections, and a fast, mixed-surface run. Transition on grass uphill is the one drawback; a separate novice start helps beginners.
“The main negative to the race is the transition area.”
- MIT Club Sports (USAT collegiate nationals)Raced 2015 · article · Mixed
Team report from the 2015 collegiate championships on Lake Hartwell at Clemson (not the Clemson Triathlon itself). Rainy conditions and choppy water; a team swimmer posted 20:29 for 1.5 km (0.9 mi). Shows the lake can chop up in weather.
Raced Clemson 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.
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