March Triathlon Series (Lopez Lake)
Arroyo Grande, United States · March · Cal Poly Triathlon Team (student-run)
Why people love it
- Set in hills around Lopez Lake; local news described a sunny, pleasant race morning.
- Sprint and Olympic distances; the start list runs from age 14 to 85.
- Run by Cal Poly students since the late 1990s; proceeds fund the team.
- Doubles as a West Coast collegiate championship, so the field is fast and lively.
- A 2016 racer called the sprint bike scenic.
Watch out for
- Cold, murky reservoir, likely 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F); wetsuit needed.
- Hilly bike with an early climb; reported lengths vary between sources.
- Freezing fog in 2016 and cold rain in 2019; pack warm layers.
- A 2016 racer reported a chaotic swim start with kicks and lost goggles.
- Few athletes have written about packets, parking or aid; check the race site.
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
Student-run for decades with 350 to 400 starters. Local news is upbeat, but racer reports describe cold, murky water and a rough 2016 swim start. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.3
Run entirely by Cal Poly students. A 2016 racer rode the wrong distance after a flat; otherwise nothing is reported on timing or marshals. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
750 to 800 m (0.47 to 0.5 mi) swim, 19.8 km (12.3 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
Shorter but rolling bike. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.7
Frigid water reported; likely 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F), far under the 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.7
Three club and school reports (2016, 2018, 2019) describe frigid, murky water; likely 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Reservoir with no current reported; sun glare and murk make sighting hard. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.1
Short murky swim. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.8
Poor visibility and cold in two reports, partly offset by a hill-ringed lake setting. · Low confidence
- Swim supportStandard3.3
Wave starts, but a 2016 racer lost his goggles in a kick at the start. No kayak details. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
County park roads; surface not reported. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
County park roads; closure level not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
A 2016 racer called the sprint bike scenic; green hills around Lopez Lake. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Sheltered valley around the lake; no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
Rolling hills; a UCSD team report says the bike began with a hill. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
19.8 km (12.3 mi) with early climb and rollers. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Rollers and a hill; descent details not reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
Students, teams and families; not a big spectator event. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
No aid details; student volunteers. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Lake-edge run on a sunny, pleasant morning per local news. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
5 km (3.1 mi) out and back along the lake. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
Out and back along the lake; elevation not published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
March highs 15 to 24 °C (59 to 76 °F), lows 7 to 12 °C (44 to 53 °F); freezing fog at the 2016 start. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Fog in 2016 and cold rain in 2019, but a sunny, pleasant morning in another year. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Rolling green hills above Lopez Lake, praised by the student organisers and local news. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
Spread-out lake course in a county park. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
About 150 m (490 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 availabilityBook early3.4
Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach lodging; teams camp at the lake. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Central Coast prices; not checked. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Camping at Lopez Lake puts you at the venue; hotels are about 20 minutes away. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
San Luis Obispo airport is about 30 km (19 mi) away; most come by car. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.3
Marina start in a county park; packet pickup unknown; a day-before camping option. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Arroyo Grande, California, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 7 March 2026
- Organiser
- Cal Poly Triathlon Team (student-run)
- Field size
- About 375 athletes
- First held
- 1998
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lopez Lake Marina (reservoir), Lopez Lake Recreation Area (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 12–15 °C (54–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- opening climb per UCSD report
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 7–24 °C (45–75 °F)
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- San Luis Obispo (SBP), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Lopez Lake campground
- Booking
- Teams camp at Lopez Lake the day before.
What racers and reviewers say
- KSBY: Athletes compete in March Triathlon Seriesarticle · Positive
Local news with over 350 competitors from around the country, ages 14 to 85. A Cal Poly student organiser said it doubles as the West Coast Collegiate Championship and funds the team. Sprint 800 m (0.5 mi) / 19.8 km (12.3 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi); Olympic 1,500 m (0.93 mi) / 39.7 km (24.7 mi) / 10 km (6.2 mi).
- KSBY: Hundreds race in longest-running college triathlonarticle · Positive
Over 400 competitors on a sunny, pleasant morning at Lopez Lake. The student advertising coordinator praised the venue and says the race funds the team. Distances in the article look garbled. Year not stated.
“stunning”
- CPS Radar: Triumph for TriathlonRaced 2016 · blog · Mixed
High-school racer's account: freezing foggy morning, murky muddy lake, sun glare on buoys and a chaotic swim start in which he was kicked and lost his goggles. The 20 km (12.4 mi) bike was scenic, a teammate rode the Olympic course by mistake, and the 5 km (3.1 mi) run went well. He urges newcomers to start simply.
- UCSD Sports Clubs: Conference race at Lake LopezRaced 2019 · blog · Mixed
Club team report: frigid air and rain-filled lake water, a bike that began with a hill; the women placed second and the men third.
- UCSD Sports Clubs: MTS conference recapRaced 2024 · blog · Mixed
Club recap asks whether the team would hold up to the hills and rollers on the course.
Raced March Triathlon Series (Lopez Lake)? 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 March Triathlon Series (Lopez Lake)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.