Sylvania Triathlon

Sylvania, United States · August · Independent (Sylvania Triathlon, Olander Park)

Same event, olympic distance: see its rating

Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (0.25 mi), 12.45 mi (20 km), 3.1 mi (5 km), per RunSignup 2026.

Sylvania Triathlon: toledo skyline on the maumee river at dusk (regional, not the lake venue) — Toledo skyline on the Maumee River at dusk (regional, not the lake venue). Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

3.3

Good

overall, out of 5

Bottom 41%#117 of 191

Ahead of 40% of the 191 races.

2345

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

What does this score mean?

Based on 1 review. Treat this score as provisional. Why

What held it back

Held back by swim (2.1) and run (2.7). See the breakdown below.

Best for

Is it right for you?

First timer: 4.3 Friendly
PR potential: 4.2 Fast
Wetsuit swim: 1.4 Rarely
Swim support: 3.4 Standard
Crowds: 3.2 Decent

Flat, fast bike and run on suburban and rural roads
Lake is warm, about 27 °C (81 °F), so wetsuits are rarely legal

Race
3.5
Swim
2.1
Bike
3.2
Run
2.7
Conditions
3.3
Stay and travel
4.0

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

Pick up to 3 races to compare side by side

Why people love it

Flat, fast bike and run on suburban and rural roads
Calm lake swim in waves from a beach start at Olander Park
Ohio State Championship race, with beer at the finish
One venue: park at Olander and walk to transition and finish

Watch out for

Lake is warm, about 27 °C (81 °F), so wetsuits are rarely legal
A 2010 racer faced a 16 km (9.9 mi)/h (10 mph) headwind on the bike; 2011 was rained on all race
Olympic swim loops nearly the whole lake and can feel long
Few racers have written about it; the two race reports are from 2010 and 2011
Olympic entry was limited to Athena and Clydesdale athletes in a 2024 listing; check current rules

Race

3.5Very 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: Moderate

Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Two warm racer blogs from 2010 and 2011 and a newspaper gallery; nothing recent, so the score stays modest. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run4.0
A 2010 racer praised set-up the day before; a 2011 racer found a slick transition after a crash and bikes racked carelessly. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
Short 400 m (0.25 mi) lake swim, flat course, wave starts, a listing tags it beginner friendly. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

PR potentialFast4.2
Flat bike and run over 20 km (12.45 mi) and 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence

Swim

2.1Below par

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

Wetsuit legalRarely1.4
Water averages 27 °C (81 °F), above the USA Triathlon 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit; 29 °C (84 °F) in 2010. · Medium confidence
Water temperatureUncomfortable2.4
About 27 to 29 °C (81 to 84 °F); warm enough that racers stood in it to stay warm in 2010. · Medium confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Small lake, reported calm. · Medium confidence
Swim easeVery easy4.5
400 m (0.25 mi) in a small calm lake. · Low confidence
Swim experienceFine3.3
Beach start, waves, warm water; crowded start noted in 2011. · Low confidence
Swim supportStandard3.4
Age and sex waves from the beach; lifeguards and kayaks not confirmed. · Low confidence

Bike

3.2Good

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

Road surfaceMixed3.4
Not described. · Low confidence
Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Rural and suburban roads; closure status not found and no traffic complaints. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Rural and suburban roads; no one describes the scenery. · Low confidence
WindSome wind3.2
10 mph (16 km/h) headwind in 2010. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Bike speedFast4.2
Flat and fast per race listings. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessPancake flat4.6
Flat rural roads, 20 km (12.45 mi), gain unpublished. · Low confidence
Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Flat, suburban and rural roads. · Low confidence

Run

2.7Good

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

Crowd supportDecent3.2
Local event with a park finish; not described. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.5
More than 300 volunteers per the organiser. · Low confidence
Run sceneryPleasant3.1
Suburban streets. · Low confidence
Run conditionsEasy3.7
Flat and short; warm summer weather. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Run flatnessFlat4.6
Flat 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence

Conditions

3.3Good

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

Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Average 19 to 28 °C (67 to 83 °F). · Medium confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Sunny in 2010, rain all race in 2011. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely3.5
Park with a calm lake and beach. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Park venue with a beach start and finish at Olander Park; no spectator reports. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

Low altitudeLow4.0
About 200 m (655 ft). · High confidence

Stay and travel

4.0Very good

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

Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Suburban Toledo has hotels in Sylvania and Maumee; no race-week reports. · Low confidence
Hotel valueGood3.8
No reports on prices around the race. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Single park venue. · Low confidence
Travel easeEasy3.5
Toledo Express is about 30 km (19 mi) away, with Detroit Metro farther for more flights. · Low confidence
LogisticsSimple4.1
One venue, one transition, parking and pickup not published. · Low confidence
Town and foodGood3.6
Sylvania and Toledo suburbs. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location: Sylvania, Ohio, United States
Typical month: August
Latest or next date: 2 August 2026
Organiser: Independent (Sylvania Triathlon, Olander Park)
Distances (non-standard): 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
Swim venue: Olander Lake, Olander Park (Tam-O-Shanter Sports Complex) (lake)
Water temperature: 27–29 °C (81–84 °F)
Wetsuit: Rarely legal (water about 81 F / 27 C; a 2010 report measured 84 F / 29 C)
Swim start: wave (colour-coded caps by age and sex; start from Olander Park beach)
Swim laps: 1
Run shade: not reported
Air temperature: 19–28 °C (66–82 °F)
Humidity: moderate to high; summer Ohio
Altitude: 200 m (655 ft)
Nearest airport: Toledo Express (TOL); Detroit Metro (DTW) for more flights, 30 km (19 mi) away
Where to stay: Sylvania, Toledo
Booking: Suburban Toledo; hotels in Sylvania and Maumee. Most athletes are local. Parking and packet pickup details are not published on the pages found.

Official race website (runsignup.com)

What racers and reviewers say

Toledo Blade photo gallery: Sylvania Triathlon (2013)Raced 2013 · article · Positive
Newspaper photo set of the 2013 race showing a beach start at Olander Park with different coloured caps by category and sprint swim waves for over-40 men. Confirms wave starts and a beach start in the lake.

Raced Sylvania 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.

Training for Sylvania Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.