San Diego International Triathlon (SDIT)
San Diego, United States · June · KOZ Events (San Diego Triathlon Series)
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run. 500 m (0.31 mi) / 20 km (12.4 mi) / 5.6 km (3.5 mi); wave start 7:15 a.m. (7:40 a.m. in 2026)
Why people love it
- Bay swim from an easy beach entry, 1 km (0.62 mi) or 500 m (0.31 mi)
- Run passes Shelter Island and Harbor Island to a Seaport Village finish
- Bike goes out to Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma, with harbor and skyline views
- Free shuttle from finish to start, and Saturday packet pickup
- San Diego airport is about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the start
Watch out for
- International is 1 / 30 / 10 km (0.62 / 18.6 / 6.2 mi), shorter than an Olympic
- No parking on Harbor Drive. Use Liberty Station lots and the footbridge; lots open at 5:15 a.m.
- Start and finish are about 8 km (5 mi) apart. Plan the shuttle back to your car and gear.
- Bike climbs toward Cabrillo, and you must start loop two by 8:30 a.m.
- Water is 18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F). Bring a wetsuit. Few racers have written about this event.
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
One independent review (4 of 5 in 2018, scenic run, well produced) plus 40 years of history. Few racers have written about it. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
A 2018 reviewer praised the production, Saturday bike drop and air-conditioned buses. Two-site logistics and no-parking rules add friction. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
500 m (0.31 mi) bay swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike and 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Same hills over 20 km (12.4 mi). · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.4
Water is 18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F), well under the USA Triathlon limit of 25.6 °C (78 °F). Wetsuits recommended. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F) is just under the ideal 19 to 23 °C (66 to 73 °F). Based on organiser figures. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
Protected bay with a beach entry, and the organiser calls it calm. No race-day chop reports found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.3
500 m (0.31 mi) from a beach entry. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Bay swim with downtown views in a plain harbor setting. Little first-hand detail. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Wave starts and a protected bay with a beach entry. Kayak and lifeguard numbers not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
City and Point Loma roads. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
The Cabrillo National Monument stays open to visitors. Closure details are not published. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Point Loma peninsula with harbor and skyline views. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Historical average wind is about 16 km (9.9 mi)/h (10 mph), a sea breeze. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
Point Loma inclines. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Hilly per listings. Climbing not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Two loops with a climb and descent at Cabrillo and some turns near the monument. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Tourist areas on Harbor Island and the Embarcadero, and a finish at Seaport Village. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Not documented. Standard sprint-level aid assumed. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the skyline and a Seaport finish. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.1
Mild temperatures. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat run. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Historical race-morning average is 23 °C (74 °F) with 66% humidity. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.0
Late June in San Diego is stable, though an overcast marine layer is common. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.2
Bay, skyline and Point Loma. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Start and finish are about 8 km (5 mi) apart. A shuttle runs from 7:30 a.m. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 5 m (16 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 availabilityBook early3.4
Large city on a summer weekend. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.6
Downtown San Diego summer rates. No race-specific data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Start and finish are separate. Park at Liberty Station, then walk or ride the footbridge. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.8
The airport is about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the start. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.8
Point-to-point with shuttles, no parking on Harbor Drive, Friday or Saturday pickup and a 5:15 a.m. lot opening. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Downtown, Seaport Village and Little Italy. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- San Diego, California, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 27 June 2027
- Organiser
- KOZ Events (San Diego Triathlon Series)
- Field size
- About 1,100 athletes
- First held
- 1983
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 8:15 a.m., Bike 9:30 a.m.
- Swim venue
- San Diego Bay at Spanish Landing Park (bay)
- Water temperature
- 18–20 °C (64–68 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Recommended; USA Triathlon rule applies (legal up to 25.6 C / 78 F)
- Swim start
- wave starts (elite then age-group waves) from a beach entry
- Swim laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Cabrillo National Monument approach on Point Loma
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- limited, mostly open waterfront
- Air temperature
- 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Humidity
- about 66% on race morning (historical average)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- San Diego International (SAN), 3 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown / Seaport, Point Loma, Little Italy
- Booking
- Downtown San Diego hotels, summer rates. Race-day parking is NOT allowed on Harbor Drive (cars towed); two free lots at Liberty Station then walk or ride across the foot bridge. Packet pickup Friday 3 to 6 p.m. at Road Runner Sports (5553 Copley Drive) or Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ruocco Park; $10 late fee on race morning.
What racers and reviewers say
- SDIT official site (course, schedule, parking, event details)Raced 2027 · organiser · Positive
Organiser pages for the 45th edition on 27 June 2027. International 1 km (0.6 mi) swim, 30 km (18.6 mi) bike and 10 km (6.2 mi) run; sprint 500 m (1,640 ft), 20 km (12.4 mi), 5.6 km (3.5 mi). Two-loop bike toward Cabrillo, Friday and Saturday packet pickup, a point-to-point course with free shuttles, and free parking only at Liberty Station. This is marketing and logistics, not independent opinion.
- RaceRaves: San Diego International TriathlonRaced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
Fast swim with an easy beach entry to the bay, a bike with a few real inclines, and a scenic run past Shelter Island. Well produced and competitive, with a Seaport Village finish, air-conditioned buses from finish to T1 and a Saturday bike drop. Little free swag.
“Nice beach entry into the bay.”
- Times of San Diego: 33rd annual SDITRaced 2015 · article · Positive
Short news item on the 2015 race: International 1 km (0.6 mi) swim, 30 km (18.6 mi) bike to Point Loma and back, run onto Harbor Island and finish at Seaport Village; sprint 500 m (1,640 ft), 20 km (12.4 mi), 6 km (3.7 mi). Raises funds for Father Joe's Villages. No problems reported.
- Port of San Diego CEQA noticeRaced 2014 · other · Positive
Official notice for the 32nd edition confirming the point-to-point layout: start at the west end of Spanish Landing Park, finish at Embarcadero Marina Park North behind Seaport Village. Not a review, but it pins down the course.
Raced San Diego International Triathlon (SDIT)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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