RJA Memorial Mighty Montauk Triathlon
Montauk, United States · June · Independent (race director Merle McDonald-Aaron)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22.5 km (14.0 mi) bike, 5.5 km (3.4 mi) run. 0.5 mi (0.8 km), 14 mi (22.5 km), run 3.4 to 3.9 mi (5.5 to 6.2 km); sources differ.
Why people love it
- Swim is in calm, sheltered salt water in Lake Montauk
- Bike passes Montauk Lighthouse with ocean views
- Running since 1982, one of Long Island's oldest triathlons
- Water stop every 1 mi (1.6 km) on the run
- Sprint is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) swim, 14 mi (22.5 km) bike
Watch out for
- Water is about 13 °C (55 °F) in June; bring a wetsuit
- Hilly bike and run on an exposed, windy peninsula
- Olympic bike is 20 mi (32 km), not 40 km (25 mi); sprint run length varies by source
- No water stops on the bike and no earbuds allowed
- Parking and packet pickup are not published online; ask the organiser first
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 satisfactionLoved3.8
Local press is warm and a five-time winner says it feels like home; no negative reports found, but few racers are quoted. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Running since 1982 with an online course page; athletes did not comment on logistics, and parking and packet pickup are not published. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
0.5 mi (0.8 km) swim, 14 mi (22.5 km) bike; still cold and hilly but shorter. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Shorter; same hills and wind. · 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
Water is about 13 °C (55 °F) in June and the organiser recommends wetsuits; USA Triathlon allows them up to 25.6 °C (78 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.9
About 13 °C (55 °F) in June; the 2024 winner called the swim very cold and bracing. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Calm salt water of a sheltered bay, out and back; tide could add some current (not reported). · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.1
0.5 mi (0.8 km) in sheltered water. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Salt water, scenic start by Star Island Causeway; very cold. · Low confidence
- Swim supportStandard3.3
Swim safety support is not published; the race is USA Triathlon sanctioned, so scored near the middle. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
No athlete comments on surface; coastal roads treated as average. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Closures are not stated; the race uses public Montauk roads under a no-drafting rule. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
The route passes Montauk Lighthouse with ocean views, per the organiser and a 2015 racer. · Medium confidence
- WindWindy2.4
Montauk peninsula; 2024 recap notes a windy, hilly run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.1
Same hills and wind over 14 mi (22.5 km). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Same hilly road, 14 mi (22.5 km); gain unpublished. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Out and back; no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Small-town, family feel; no big crowds described. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Water stop every mile (1.6 km) on the run; none on the bike. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Scenic side of Montauk, per the organiser and a 2015 write-up. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
Shorter run; same terrain. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Hills on a roughly 3.4 to 3.9 mi (5.5 to 6.2 km) run. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Mid June: roughly 14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F); 2026 was hot and sunny, earlier mornings needed jackets. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Coastal fog, wind and rain are possible; the 2026 race day was hot and sunny. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Montauk, the lighthouse and the bay; praised in the local coverage. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Start and finish at Star Island Causeway; bike is spread out. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Montauk fills in summer; the race runs the week before peak season, but athletes did not describe lodging. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
Montauk is a resort town; no athlete cost reports, so expect summer-resort rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Transition is by the Star Island Causeway; parking is not published, so check with the organiser. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.2
Far end of Long Island: MacArthur (ISP) about 130 km (80 mi), New York City about 190 km (120 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
One transition by the lake; packet pickup and parking details are not on the race page. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Montauk is a well-known beach and food town, though athletes wrote little about it. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Montauk, New York, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 12 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (race director Merle McDonald-Aaron)
- Field size
- About 83 athletes
- First held
- 1982
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22.5 km (14.0 mi) bike, 5.5 km (3.4 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Montauk (tidal salt-water bay), start near Star Island Causeway and West Lake Drive (bay)
- Water temperature
- 12–15 °C (54–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Recommended (USAT sanctioned, legal up to 25.6 C / 78 F)
- Swim start
- not published (likely waves)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Run shade
- not reported
- Air temperature
- 14–24 °C (57–75 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate; sea fog possible
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Long Island MacArthur (ISP); small East Hampton (HTO) nearby, 130 km (81 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Montauk, East Hampton
- Booking
- Hotel not researched. Montauk fills in summer; race is run the week before peak season. Official page does not list parking or packet pickup.
What racers and reviewers say
- The East Hampton Star (2026 feature)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Feature on the 45th race: 374 athletes, run by the founder's widow in his memory, with money raised for pancreatic cancer research. Race-day weather was hot and sunny, called the best in five years after cold mornings. The five-time winner says the race feels like home and family.
- East Hampton Press / 27east.com (Drew Budd)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Race recap on 13 June 2026 giving results, the three distance options (Olympic, sprint, aquabike) and the USAT sanction. Swim is in Lake Montauk; sprint listed as 0.5 mi swim, 14 mi bike, 3.4 mi run. Winner's time differs from the other local paper by a minute.
- The East Hampton Star (2024 recap)Raced 2024 · article · Mixed
Recap of the 43rd race with 266 Olympic finishers. The winner found the swim cold and bracing; a local finisher says he could ease off on the windy, hilly run. The sprint, in its second year, drew 83 entrants. A one-mile swim is followed by a 20 mi (32 km) bike on East Lake Drive and a hilly 10 km (6.2 mi) run.
“the swim was very cold, bracing”
- The East Hampton Star (2023 preview)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Preview of the 42nd race, noting a sprint was added at the request of older triathletes. Director expected about 300 starters, up from around 200 the year before and well under the 700 the race once drew. Swim starts near West Lake Drive; the 10 km (6.2 mi) is called rolling.
- East Hampton Press / 27east.com (2024 photo gallery)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Photo gallery from the 43rd race at Lake Montauk showing sunny swim exits and smiling bike and sprint athletes; useful as a sense of mood rather than detail.
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Sources
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