Tri for Jimmy
Westfield, United States · May · Tater Racing (organiser; USA Triathlon sanctioned); benefits the Jimmy Fund
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 20.9 km (13.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run. 0.3 mi (480 m) / 13 mi (20.9 km) / 3 mi (4.8 km); Super Sprint 300 yd (274 m) / 6.3 mi (10.1 km) / 1 mi (1.6 km)
Why people love it
- Super sprint option: 274 m (300 yd) swim, 10.1 km (6.3 mi) bike, 1.6 km (1 mi) run.
- Free intro clinic the week before covers transitions, drafting and nutrition.
- Raises money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber; survivors race alongside everyone.
- Short pond swim at Hampton Ponds State Park, about 40 km (25 mi) from Hartford.
Watch out for
- Water temperature and wetsuit rule are not published; May ponds can be cold.
- Bike terrain, road closures and elevation could not be found.
- Sprint swim is 480 m (0.3 mi) in press and about 550 m (600 yd) on a listing.
- Little first-hand feedback exists; one TV piece quotes racers.
- The 2027 date is not confirmed; the 2026 edition was held.
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 satisfactionLoved3.8
TV coverage quotes a visiting athlete calling the atmosphere amazing. Little else was written by racers. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Organiser runs a free clinic and a long-running race, but no athlete has described race-day organisation. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
Super sprint option, a free clinic the week before and a short pond swim; evidence is mostly organiser and press. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Terrain and closures are unknown; the 13 mi (20.9 km) bike is a normal sprint length. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.0
Water temperature and wetsuit rule are not published; USA Triathlon rules apply to this May event. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.9
Early-season pond with no temperature published; it is likely cold in May. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.8
Sheltered pond; no one reports chop. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Short swim of 480 to 550 m (0.3 mi) in a pond. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
No athlete describes the swim itself. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Pond swim at a state park with a super sprint for newcomers; safety craft are not described. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.1
Road condition is not described. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Closure level is not documented anywhere. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
No one has described the bike scenery. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind information. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
No terrain or speed information for the 13 mi (20.9 km) bike. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
Terrain is not documented; Westfield is in hilly western Massachusetts. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
No course description beyond distance. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
TV coverage points to a welcoming community, but there are no crowd reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Aid is not documented. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
No one has described the run. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Short 3 mi (4.8 km) run; surface not described. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.3
Terrain is not documented. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Late spring in western Massachusetts, around 8 to 20 °C (46 to 68 °F), cool for the swim. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
May weather in New England is changeable; no race-day reports. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.6
Pond at a state park; nobody writes about the view. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
State park venue with a charity crowd, per local coverage. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 70 m (230 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Springfield and Westfield hotels within about 20 km (12 mi). · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Moderate regional prices; most athletes come from nearby. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
One park venue; layout not described. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
About 40 km (25 mi) from Bradley Airport and near I-90. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
One park, free clinic the week before; packet pickup rules were not found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Small city; no food details found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Westfield, Massachusetts, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Organiser
- Tater Racing (organiser; USA Triathlon sanctioned); benefits the Jimmy Fund
- Field size
- About 300 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 20.9 km (13.0 mi) bike, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Pequot Pond, Hampton Ponds State Park (lake)
- Swim start
- unknown
- Air temperature
- 8–20 °C (46–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate (estimate)
- Altitude
- 70 m (230 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bradley International (BDL), 40 km (25 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Westfield, Springfield
- Booking
- Day trip for western Massachusetts and Connecticut athletes; free intro clinic a week earlier.
What racers and reviewers say
- WWLP 22News coveragearticle · Positive
Local TV coverage of the third running at Hampton Ponds. A cancer survivor says the event helps people stay healthy after physical changes, and a visiting New Hampshire athlete calls the atmosphere amazing and the community welcoming. Race director says survivors race beside everyone else.
“amazing atmosphere”
- The Reminder, Wave Triathlon previewRaced 2015 · article · Positive
Preview of the predecessor Wave Triathlon at the same park: sprint with a 0.3 mi (480 m) swim, 13 mi (20.9 km) bike, 3 mi (4.8 km) run, plus a super sprint billed as a perfect first race. About 300 competitors the previous year. Preview, no athlete comments.
- Westfield News listing (clinic and history)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
Event listing: free introductory clinic the week before covers swim, transitions, drafting rules and nutrition; over 200 competitors in the last edition. Organiser-sourced, so counted as thin evidence of beginner support.
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Sources
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