Lake Meridian Triathlon
Kent, United States · August · Independent
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 26 km (16.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 0.5 mi swim, 16 mi bike (press says 15.8 to 16.4 mi / 25.4 to 26.4 km), 3.1 mi run; a longer-than-standard bike.
Why people love it
- Choice of Olympic, sprint and 400 m (0.25 mi) super sprint at one lake.
- Wetsuits optional; August water is about 21 to 26 °C (70 to 79 °F).
- Boat rides to the finish are offered to slow swimmers.
- Race-morning packet pickup runs 5:45 to 6:45 am.
- Sea-Tac airport is 22 km (14 mi) away.
Watch out for
- The bike is open to traffic; crossing the centre line means disqualification.
- Sprint bike is about 26 km (16 mi), longer than standard, with a hill near mile 7 (11 km).
- Parking at the park is extremely limited from 5:30 am.
- Steep Soos Creek Trail climb back up near the finish.
- No bike aid on the sprint; Olympic has one station at mile 9 (14.5 km).
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
Local press in 2015 to 2017 was positive and a winner plans to return yearly; only one article quotes racers about the course. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
The organiser guide covers three pickup windows and staffed intersections; no athlete has reported problems or praise. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
A 0.5 mi (0.8 km) swim, but a long 26 km (16 mi) bike on open roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Long sprint bike with rolling hills. · 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
Organiser water: 70s F (21 to 26 °C (79 °F)) in August, near the 25.6 °C (78 °F) USA Triathlon limit in warm years; wetsuits optional. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.0
August lake water about 21 to 26 °C (70 to 79 °F), called warm in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
Sheltered lake with no current; 2017 water described as warm and conditions calm. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
Deep-water start about 50 m (55 yd) from shore, then a clockwise buoy loop. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.5
Urban lake with deep-water waves; no athlete has described clarity or crowding. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
Wave starts, a deep-water start and boat rides for slow swimmers, all from the organiser. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Wide shoulders per the organiser; surface quality is not described by athletes. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.9
Course is open to traffic with police and volunteers at crossings; crossing the centre line means disqualification. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.2
Suburban Kent roads; not documented. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Not documented; lowland Puget Sound in August is usually calm. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
Rolling, one big hill, open roads with crossings. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.3
The same rolling roads over 26 km (16 mi); gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Out and back with a busy Kent-Kangley intersection. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.1
Finish at the park; no spectator reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard2.8
Olympic bike has one aid station at mile 9 (14.5 km); sprint bike has none. Run aid is not published. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.5
Trail and neighbourhood roads. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.3
About 95 percent paved, partly on open-road shoulders, with a steep trail climb back up near the finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
Trail climb near the finish. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Mid-August mornings near 13 °C (55 °F) rising to 26 °C (79 °F); 2017 was described as cool and fast. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.0
Pacific Northwest August is dry; 2016 June date was cloudy. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
Lake with wooded shoreline and houses. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Park and finish area, but parking is very limited and the bike is far out. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
About 110 m (360 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Kent and Covington hotels sit 5 to 12 km (3 to 7 mi) away; most come for the day. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Suburban Seattle rates; not researched in depth. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Transition, swim and finish share the park but parking is extremely limited and may mean a walk. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.5
Sea-Tac 22 km (14 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
One park and race-morning pickup 5:45 to 6:45 am, but parking at the park is extremely limited. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Suburban Kent. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Kent, Washington, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 15 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 520 athletes
- First held
- 2009
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 26 km (16.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Meridian, off Lake Meridian Park (lake)
- Water temperature
- 21–25 °C (70–77 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional (full or sleeveless allowed)
- Swim start
- deep-water start about 50 m (55 yd) from shore, staggered waves
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Hill near mile 7 (Olympic, 11 km); Rolling hills on Lake Holm Road
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Not documented
- Air temperature
- 13–26 °C (55–79 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 110 m (360 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), 22 km (14 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Kent East Hill, Covington
- Booking
- Day-trip race. Kent and Covington hotels 5 to 12 km (3 to 7 mi) away.
What racers and reviewers say
- Kent ReporterRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Eighth edition drew more than 520 individuals and 20 relay teams. Comfortable weather and warm water. The Olympic men's winner, using it as an Ironman tune-up, said conditions were cool and fast but the hill late in the bike was tough; the women's winner said she plans to return every year.
“cool and fast”
- Kent ReporterRaced 2016 · article · Positive
About 380 athletes in 2016 across super sprint, sprint and Olympic on a cool, cloudy June morning (the race then ran in June). Results and photos only, no athlete comments.
- Kent ReporterRaced 2015 · article · Positive
About 350 athletes in the sixth year of the race, with three lengths on offer. Results list only; no course or condition detail.
- Kent ReporterRaced 2010 · article · Positive
Preview of a local first-timer who picked the super sprint as a manageable first triathlon, showing that the short option has long been aimed at beginners. No course detail.
“I thought it would be a little easier for me”
- RunSignup athlete info (organiser page)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Organiser logistics, not athlete opinion but useful: parking at the park is extremely limited, the bike course is open to traffic with police at the busy Kent-Kangley intersection, and packet pickup is available on race morning.
Raced Lake Meridian 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 Lake Meridian Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.