General Smallwood Triathlon
Marbury, United States · April · Kinetic Multisports
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 25.7 km (16.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (820 yd) one-loop swim, 16 mi (25.7 km) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) one-loop run.
Why people love it
- Late-April date: water ran 17 to 24 °C (62 to 76 °F) in most years; wetsuits were usually legal.
- Time trial start, a nervous-swimmer cap, and kayaks you may hold during the swim.
- Smooth, low-traffic rural roads with wide shoulders; the run is shaded and finishes in the park.
- Parking inside the state park beside transition; packet pickup Friday evening or race morning.
- Olympic and Sprint both run Saturday, 24 April 2027, and the 2026 Olympic sold out.
Watch out for
- Rolling bike: about 262 m (860 ft) of gain for the Olympic and 184 m (605 ft) for the Sprint.
- Bike roads are open to traffic with police presence; no bike aid; park speed limit 40 km (24.9 mi)/h (25 mph).
- Older July reports found murky, weedy water and 41 °C (105 °F) heat, under a different organiser.
- Uphill run from the swim exit to transition; no wetsuit strippers and no pre-swim in the active marina.
- Only one recent athlete report exists, so expect some surprises on the day.
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
The one recent report, 2023 under Kinetic, was glowing and the 2026 race sold out; July reports from the old format were harsh on heat. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
A 2023 racer praised Kinetic's layout, staff and volunteers; the older July races had a different organiser and do not count here. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
One 750 m (820 yd) loop, time trial start, nervous-swimmer cap and a shaded 5 km (3.1 mi) run; the bike still rolls. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Rolling 184 m (605 ft) bike over 25.7 km (16 mi) and a 49 m (160 ft) run; average for a sprint. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.9
Eight of nine April editions were 17 to 24 °C (62 to 76 °F), under the 25.6 °C (78 °F) cap; 2015 was 29 °C (84 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.5
April water is 17 to 24 °C (62 to 76 °F): cool in cold years, such as 17 °C (62 °F) in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
Shallow sheltered tidal creek; the 2023 racer found it not too choppy, and there are no other recent reports. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
One loop, time trial start, buoys every 75 m (82 yd). · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Two summer reports found murky water and weeds; in 2023 an April time trial swim was chilly and uncrowded. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.0
Kayaks to hold, rescue crews in 2023, time trial start and a nervous-swimmer cap; no pre-swim is allowed. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Smooth pavement and wide shoulders per the race page; no racer complained about the surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.2
Roads stay open to traffic with police presence, and the park speed limit of 40 km (24.9 mi)/h (25 mph) is enforced. · High confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Rural countryside south of Washington DC; no athlete commented on the scenery. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Wooded rural roads; no report mentions wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Rolling, smooth low-traffic roads, longer than a standard 20 km (12.4 mi) sprint bike. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
184 m (605 ft) over 25.7 km (16 mi), about 143 m (470 ft) per 20 km (12.4 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
One loop with a short steep exit climb; the sprint and Olympic split at a turn at 8 km (5 mi). · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.1
A 2023 racer found volunteers and spectators energetic; the run uses road shoulders and park roads, and the field is small. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Aid about every 1.6 km (1 mi) with ice water and sports drink; icing helped finishers in 2012. No aid on the bike. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Shaded park roads and a covered bridge near the finish in older reports; no recent comment. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
One shaded loop with aid about every 1.6 km (1 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
49 m (160 ft) of gain over 5 km (3.1 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Late April averages 10 to 22 °C (50 to 71 °F); the 2023 start was cool with light rain. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
April can be cool and rainy; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
State park marina on a wooded tributary of the Potomac with quiet green shores. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Friends line the bulkhead at the swim; run loops return through the park, though the field is small. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 29 m (95 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 availabilityBook early3.4
Charles County has hotels; no racer wrote about lodging, and a 2012 first-timer drove in the same morning. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No price information; suburban outskirts of Washington DC. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Parking is in the park beside transition and the marina swim start. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
About 50 km (31 mi) from Washington Reagan airport; no train or shuttle. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Park-and-walk to a single transition, packet pickup Friday evening or race morning 6:30 to 7:30 am, and a pre-race meeting. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.9
Rural state park with limited food besides a post-race barbecue; La Plata and Waldorf are nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Marbury, Maryland, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 24 April 2027
- Organiser
- Kinetic Multisports
- Field size
- About 193 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 25.7 km (16.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 2.5 h
- Swim venue
- Mattawoman Bay (Mattawoman Creek), General Smallwood State Park marina (bay)
- Water temperature
- 17–24 °C (63–75 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Usually legal in April (8 of 9 recorded editions at or below 78 F / 25.6 C); organiser "expects a wetsuit legal event"
- Swim start
- in-water time trial start off the marina main dock (one at a time); "nervous swimmer" cap offered at packet pickup
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 184 m (605 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Climb out of the park in the first 5 mi (8 km)
- Run climbing
- 49 m (160 ft)
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- heavily shaded in the park (organiser); long unshaded stretches on Chickamuxen Road in older reports
- Air temperature
- 10–22 °C (50–72 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate in April; very humid in summer
- Altitude
- 29 m (95 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Washington Reagan National (DCA), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Waldorf, Indian Head, La Plata
- Booking
- About 30 mi (48 km) from Washington DC; a 2012 first-timer drove 90 minutes from the college town rather than book a hotel. Lodging list on Explore Charles County. Airport distance is an approximate road estimate (31 mi).
What racers and reviewers say
Raced General Smallwood 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.
Training for General Smallwood Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.