Electrolit TriWaco Triathlon
Waco, United States · June · Greater Waco Chamber
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 25.7 km (16.0 mi) bike, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run. 400 m (0.25 mi) swim, 16 mi (25.7 km) bike per 2024 and 2025 listings (older reports said 12 mi / 19 km), 3.5 mi (5.6 km) run to the bridge. A Try a Tri option is 400 m, 8 mi (12.9 km), 2 mi (3.2 km).
Why people love it
- Finish on the historic Waco Suspension Bridge, downtown.
- Fast, mostly flat bike; sprint and Try a Tri are good entry points.
- Paratriathletes start first and are cheered from shore.
- Chamber adds ice, water and cold towels for the heat.
Watch out for
- Late June heat: 27 °C (80 °F) at the start in 2023, afternoons near 36 °C (97 °F).
- Cameron Park run hills of about 60 to 75 m (200 to 250 ft) per loop catch Olympic racers out.
- Murky Brazos swim with some current; do not plan on a wetsuit.
- Course distances changed between years; confirm bike length before booking.
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
Racers say 'NOT easy, but worth it' and 'I already want to come back'; praise for swag, medals and the bridge finish. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Chamber staff added ice, water and over 3,000 cold towels in the heat; storms cut two athletes' races short in 2021. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
400 m (0.25 mi) swim and a Try a Tri option; a club VP says no fancy gear needed. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Fast bike, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run to the bridge with some hills. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.4
Brazos River water is likely about 27 to 29 °C (81 to 84 °F) in late June; wetsuit rule not published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.9
Estimated 27 to 29 °C (81 to 84 °F) river water; no published reading. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Slowtwitch racers saw no real current, but a paratriathlete found the Brazos current hard in 2021. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
400 m (0.25 mi) river swim with little reported current. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.0
Racers describe a dirty, murky river, though paratriathletes were cheered from shore. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.7
Wave starts, paratriathletes start first and are cheered from shore; short 400 m (0.25 mi) sprint swim. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No athlete comments on pavement quality. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
No athlete says whether roads are closed or only marshalled. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.1
Roads north and west of Waco; few scenic descriptions. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Open Texas roads; wind not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.3
Fast, mostly flat bike of 25.7 km (16 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.2
Mostly flat per racers; no elevation figures published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Straightforward roads past McLane Stadium; no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Spectators cheer from shore and the finish is on the Waco Suspension Bridge. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Chamber staff boosted ice, water and cold towels after heat in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Run through Cameron Park along the Brazos to a downtown bridge finish. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.7
Short run but hilly and hot. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
5.6 km (3.5 mi) through Cameron Park to the bridge, with some hills. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh1.9
Late June starts near 27 °C (80 °F) with afternoon highs near 36 °C (97 °F); 2022 was extreme heat. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Heat every year and storms cut two athletes' races short in 2021. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Historic Waco Suspension Bridge finish and a river park setting. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Swim is visible from shore and the finish is a downtown bridge. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 125 m (410 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 availabilityGood4.0
Waco has plenty of hotels; a past reviewer stayed across from the start. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
No reports of high prices. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
A past reviewer had hotels across from the venue. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Regional airport at Waco; most athletes drive in from Texas. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Point-to-point swim with a separate finish at the bridge. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Downtown Waco; few athlete comments. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Waco, Texas, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 27 June 2027
- Organiser
- Greater Waco Chamber
- Field size
- About 740 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $100
- First held
- 2009
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 25.7 km (16.0 mi) bike, 5.6 km (3.5 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Brazos River, Indian Spring Park (point-to-point) (river)
- Water temperature
- 27–29 °C (81–84 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Unlikely
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 23–36 °C (73–97 °F)
- Altitude
- 125 m (410 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Waco Regional (ACT, limited); Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), 170 km (106 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Waco
- Booking
- A 2013 reviewer reported hotels across the street from the finish.
What racers and reviewers say
- KXXV 25 News: TriWaco heatRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
More than 740 triathletes faced extreme heat. Chamber staff increased the ice order, added water and bought over 3,000 cold towels. A New Zealand resident came home to race. Year unstated; it follows COVID.
- KXXV 25 News: paratriathletesRaced 2021 · article · Mixed
About 700 racers returned after COVID. Paratriathletes started first and were cheered from shore; one found the Brazos current hard. A line of storms cut two athletes' races short.
“I already want to come back next year.”
- KWTX: Time to Tri previewRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Waco Tri Club's vice president pitches the sprint as an easy first race: no fancy gear needed, a mountain bike and running shoes will do. Describes the 400 m (0.25 mi) river swim, bike past McLane Stadium and run over the Suspension Bridge.
- KWTX: mother and daughter first triRaced 2025 · article · Positive
A 54-year-old who never learned to swim as a child and her 21-year-old daughter did the Try a Tri together: 400 m (0.25 mi) swim, 12.9 km (8 mi) bike, 3.2 km (2 mi) run. The run was the daughter's hardest leg. No problems reported.
- Waco Tribune-HeraldRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Photo and video gallery for the 14th edition: hundreds raced in high heat, 80 °F (27 °C) at the start, and finishers crossed the Suspension Bridge for the first time since 2019 after construction.
Raced Electrolit TriWaco Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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