North East Triathlon
North East, United States · August · Kinetic Multisports
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (820 yd) swim, 11 mi (17.7 km) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. A 2022 TriFind listing showed a 16.1 mi bike; current organiser page says 11.0 mi.
Why people love it
- Bay swim with a time-trial start, so little contact.
- Well-paved country roads near Elk Neck State Forest, minutes from I-95.
- Ice water and Gatorade every mile (1.6 km) on the run.
- Waterfront town; park, transition and finish on one site.
Watch out for
- Wetsuits are unlikely: water is mid to upper 70s °F (24 to 26 °C (79 °F)) in late August.
- Olympic bike climbs about 396 m (1,300 ft) and is technical in places.
- Little shade on the run and late-August heat.
- The organiser lists the Olympic bike as 36.7 to 40.9 km (22.8 to 25.4 mi); confirm before racing.
- Few athletes have written about it.
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
A 2018 local paper quoted athletes calling it a great race on a beautiful day. Few written accounts otherwise. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
An athlete says staff call out bike turns and control traffic well, but that testimonial is on the organiser's own page. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
A 750 m (820 yd) swim with a time-trial start and a rolling 17.7 km (11 mi) bike. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
A rolling out and back bike with about 156 m (513 ft) of climbing. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom2.3
The organiser expects water in the mid to upper 70s °F (24 to 26 °C (79 °F)), near the 25.6 °C (78 °F) wetsuit limit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Mid to upper 70s °F (24 to 26 °C (79 °F)) per the organiser, comfortable without a wetsuit. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Sheltered head of the Chesapeake Bay; chop possible but no reports found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
750 m (820 yd) single loop. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
Bay water is typically murky and warm; the time-trial start is a plus. No swim reviews. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.7
Time-trial start, ladders for exit and a sighting buoy every 75 m (82 yd). Safety craft are not documented. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
The organiser describes well-paved country roads. No athlete comment on surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Low-traffic open roads with marshals; the organiser does not claim a closure. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Farmland and bay views near Elk Neck State Forest, per the organiser. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Open terrain near the bay; wind not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
Fast pavement, rolling. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6
About 156 m (513 ft) over 17.7 km (11 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
The organiser says the bike is technical in places. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Out and back run on a road shoulder. Spectators are not mentioned. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Ice water and Gatorade every mile (1.6 km) on the run, per the organiser. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
Roadside out and back; pleasant but not scenic. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.1
Little shade but only 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.3
About 27 m (90 ft) of gain over 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.6
Late-August highs are typically 28 to 31 °C (82 to 88 °F) with humidity; the 7:30 start helps. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Summer thunderstorms are possible; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Waterfront park at the head of the Chesapeake Bay. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.1
Start, transition and finish at the park; bike and run out of sight. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 15 m (50 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 availabilityGood3.6
Small town, but hotels along the I-95 corridor are within 20 minutes. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No pricing evidence found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Park, swim, transition and finish are all at North East Community Park. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
Minutes from I-95; Philadelphia airport is about 89 km (55 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One site and one transition. Packet pickup details are not documented. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Waterfront town with restaurants and parks, per the organiser. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- North East, Maryland, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 22 August 2027
- Organiser
- Kinetic Multisports
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Chesapeake Bay at North East Community Park (head of the bay) (bay)
- Water temperature
- 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Rarely legal (organiser expects mid to upper 70s F in August)
- Swim start
- in-water start; time-trial, two athletes at a time, seeded by swim and overall times
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 156 m (510 ft)
- Run climbing
- 27 m (89 ft)
- Run shade
- little shade (organiser)
- Air temperature
- 20–31 °C (68–88 °F)
- Humidity
- high
- Altitude
- 15 m (49 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Philadelphia (PHL), 89 km (55 mi) away
- Where to stay
- North East town waterfront
- Booking
- Just minutes from I-95, so mostly a day-trip race for Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia athletes. BWI is about 105 km (65 mi). Packet pickup page exists but times not read.
What racers and reviewers say
- TriFind 2022 North East Triathlon FestivalRaced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
Race listing for the 21 Aug 2022 edition with course notes; no reviews, finisher counts or ratings are shown.
- RaceRaves North East Triathlonaggregator · Mixed
Page exists for Olympic and sprint but is dated to 2015 and has no ratings or reviews.
- Kinetic Multisports race page testimonialarticle · Positive
An athlete quoted on the organiser's page says staff do a good job calling out turns on the bike and keeping traffic under control. Organiser-hosted, so treat as promotional.
Raced North East 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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