America's Race - Leon's Triathlon
Hammond, United States · June · Independent
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 18.7 km (11.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 500 m / 11.6 mi (18.7 km) / 3.1 mi (5 km) per USAT 2021; another source lists 0.465 mi (750 m) swim and 12.5 mi (20.1 km) bike.
Why people love it
- Flat bike on wide closed highway lanes with room to pass
- Olympic and sprint share one park venue on Wolf Lake
- In 2011 parking was next to transition; packet pickup was the day before
- Race dates to 1983 and has been in Hammond since 1990
- Hosted the military and first responder national championships in 2021
Watch out for
- Treading-water or dock-jump start with no pre-race swim; one racer panicked in 2018.
- Bike length has varied: about 45 km (28 mi) in 2011 and 37.3 km (23.2 mi) in 2021.
- Wolf Lake water quality drew complaints in the past, though a 2021 city test was clean.
- Steel mills and an oil refinery dominate the scenery.
- Most first-hand reports are from 2010 and 2011, so recent 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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Racers praised the closed flat highway and director, with complaints about lake water, an industrial setting and a long 2011 bike. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
The 2011 bike measured about 5.6 km (3.5 mi) long and the director apologised; 2021 distances were shorter than listed. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Shorter swim and flat course; the abrupt open-water start still unsettles some. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Same flat closed highway; the listed 18.7 to 20.1 km (11.6 to 12.5 mi) bike varies by source. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
June lake of about 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) is under the 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit; one cold year, one warm. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
Warm in 2011, cold and windy in another year; estimate 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
Lake open to wind; one cold, windy year and a calm 2011. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Shorter swim of 500 to 750 m (0.31 to 0.47 mi), same start format. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.7
Veterans complained about water quality, steel mills are in view and the start is abrupt; a 2021 city test was clean. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
A 2021 account mentions boats and a boat pulling a panicking swimmer out, but the start is abrupt. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Highway surface; no complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
Closed highway lanes praised by several racers, one saying they had the freeway to themselves. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPlain2.3
Oil refinery and storage tanks line the route. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Open ground near Lake Michigan; light winds one year, no other reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Same wide, flat closed highway. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
A 2010 writeup called it pancake flat; likely under 60 m (200 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.1
Wide, straight highway lanes; the dismount line was unclear in 2011. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Neighbourhood residents sprayed runners with hoses; small field. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Volunteers and the director were praised; little else on aid. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant2.6
Industrial area and neighbourhoods. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.3
Little shade on an open road run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat out and back. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Estimated 14 to 27 °C (57 to 81 °F) at an 8 AM early-June start. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
Cool, windy and warm, calm years both reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant2.9
Park on a lake beside steel mills and a refinery. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Park venue and a closed-highway bike; no spectator reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 180 m (590 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Plenty of Hammond and south Chicago hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Hammond is cheaper than Chicago. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Parking was next to transition in 2011. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
Midway airport is 35 km (22 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One park venue, parking next to transition in 2011, packet pickup the day before. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Hammond casino area; downtown Chicago is about 40 km (25 mi) away. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Hammond, Indiana, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 6 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 500 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $250
- First held
- 1983
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 18.7 km (11.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Wolf Lake, Wolf Lake Memorial Park (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Run shade
- Little
- Air temperature
- 14–27 °C (57–81 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid lakeside
- Altitude
- 180 m (590 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Chicago Midway (MDW), 35 km (22 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Hammond, Munster
- Booking
- Hammond and Chicago south suburbs; a casino hotel nearby.
What racers and reviewers say
- Experience Triathlon: Becoming a SwimmerRaced 2021 · blog · Mixed
Open-water anxiety story: panic at the 2018 start of Leon's, pulled out by a boat about 2 minutes after the horn, then a successful 2021 return. Mentions a long military ceremony and a dock jump with no pre-race swim.
- USA Triathlon (2021 national championships)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
USA Triathlon release on the first Military and First Responders National Championships, with athletes from 25 states at Wolf Lake Memorial Park: sprint 500 m (0.31 mi) swim, 18.7 km (11.6 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run; Olympic 1,500 m (0.93 mi), 37.3 km (23.2 mi), 10 km (6.2 mi).
Raced America's Race - Leon's 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 America's Race - Leon's Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.