Pacific Coast Triathlon

Overall score 3.1Good
Thin evidence2 sources#212 of 265 sprint triathlons

Laguna Beach, United States · 0.8 / 19.31 / 4.83 km

Race day Sun 19 Sep 2027

Website (opens in a new tab)

Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 19.3 km (12.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run. Organizer sprint listing: 805 m (0.5 mi) swim, 19.3 km (12 mi) bike, 4.83 km (3 mi) run. Approximate bike-loop wording differs; reconfirm the map.

Is it right for you?

First timer
Doable3.3
PR potential
Fast3.5
Wetsuit swim
Usually3.5
Swim support
Good3.5
Crowds
Strong3.5

Watch out: Prepare for ocean surf and check the final swim briefing. All 3

Held back by race (2.5) and swim (2.8).

Provisional: based on 2 sources. Why

Raced it? Your rating helps.

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Why people love it

  • Ocean sprint: 805 m (0.5 mi) swim, 19.3 km (12 mi) bike, 4.83 km (3 mi) run.
  • The organizer lists two rolling bike laps along PCH.

Watch out for

  • Prepare for ocean surf and check the final swim briefing.
  • Approximate bike-loop copy differs from the listed total; reconfirm the final map.
  • Athlete reports describe older editions and include a shared forum contributor.

Latest or next race

Sun 19 Sep 2027

Official race site(pacificcoasttriathlon.com, opens in a new tab)

Training for Pacific Coast Triathlon?

Moku Coach builds your plan around race day in September and this course.

Start free trial

What racers say

Overall score 3.1 out of 5

2 reviews and race reports

2 reviews

  • mpuncel, HalfSpeed, j2k2dad and scr277

    Raced 2013 · Slowtwitch Forum

    Tone: Mixed

    A first-time finisher loved the race and wanted more. Other participants agreed the swim extended beyond its advertised distance that year because buoys avoided kelp. They described cold water, hard access ramps and rolling cycling. This historical thread counts once; one contributor also appears in the older thread.

    Covers Swim, Bike, Run, Conditions

    Read on forum.slowtwitch.com (Slowtwitch Forum, opens in a new tab)
  • HalfSpeed

    Raced 2005 · Slowtwitch Forum

    Tone: Mixed

    The experienced finisher called this a difficult sprint: shorebreak, rolling bike terrain, beach sand and steep ramps interrupted rhythm. He described navigating rocks and waves along the beach. This historical course account does not establish the final 2027 route; its author also contributes to the 2013 thread.

    Covers Swim, Bike, Run

    Read on forum.slowtwitch.com (Slowtwitch Forum, opens in a new tab)
Raced Pacific Coast Triathlon? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next athlete about the course, conditions and logistics.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Good. 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: Very tough

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.7

    Historical finishers enjoyed the race despite a demanding course and variable swim length. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.5

    Recent athlete accounts do not establish consistent organization. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyDoable3.3

    A first-timer enjoyed it, but surf, ramps and rolling terrain require preparation. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialFast3.5

    Comparable finish-time data are unavailable. · Low confidence

Good. Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalUsually3.5

    Race-day water temperatures and wetsuit decisions are not documented across editions. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureAcceptable3.3

    Historical participants describe unexpectedly cold ocean water. · Low confidence

  • Calm waterMostly calm3.5

    Recent athlete descriptions of water conditions are limited. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeModerate3.3

    Historical athletes describe shorebreak and difficult sighting during an unusually long swim. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat3.5

    Few athletes have described the swim experience. · Low confidence

  • Swim supportGood3.5

    Recent athlete descriptions of swim safety coverage are limited. · Low confidence

Very good. Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceGood3.5

    Recent athlete descriptions of pavement are limited. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresMostly closed3.5

    Current traffic restrictions are not fully verified. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5

    Few athletes have described bike scenery. · Low confidence

  • WindMostly calm3.5

    Typical bike wind conditions remain unverified. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedFast3.5

    Recent athlete accounts do not establish a consistently fast bike course. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessRolling3.3

    The current organizer and historical athletes describe rolling terrain; verified ascent is unavailable. · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5

    Recent athlete descriptions of turns and descents are limited. · Low confidence

Good. Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Crowd supportStrong3.5

    Few athletes have described spectators along the run. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood3.5

    Recent athlete accounts do not establish consistent aid quality. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.5

    Few athletes have described run scenery. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsModerate3.3

    Historical athletes describe sand and steep ramps; the final route needs confirmation. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessMostly flat3.5

    A verified run elevation total is unavailable. · Low confidence

Good. Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Air temperaturePleasant3.5

    Typical race-day temperatures remain unverified. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityReliable3.5

    Too few editions are documented to establish reliable weather. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyLovely3.5

    Few athletes have described the venue. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.5

    Recent spectator experiences are sparsely documented. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeLow3.5

    Race elevation has not been independently verified. · Low confidence

Good. Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood3.5

    Athlete reports do not establish hotel availability. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.5

    Athlete reports do not establish race-week accommodation value. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable3.5

    Parking and walking arrangements are not fully documented. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy3.5

    Airport transfers and travel experiences are sparsely documented. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSimple3.5

    Current pickup and transition arrangements are only partly documented. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodGood3.5

    Athlete reports say little about local dining. · Low confidence

Course

Swim, 0.8 km (0.5 mi)

Crystal Cove State Park, Reef Point

Start
wave
Laps
1 lap

Bike, 19.3 km (12.0 mi)

Laps
2 laps

Run, 4.8 km (3.0 mi)

Surface
mixed

Similar races in North America

Key facts

Location
Laguna Beach, California, United States
Typical month
September
Distances
0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 19.3 km (12.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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