Wisconsin Women's Triathlon

Pleasant Prairie, United States · August · Independent (Village of Pleasant Prairie RecPlex); formerly Iron Girl and Trek Women's Triathlon

Latest edition: Formerly Iron Girl and Trek Women's Triathlon. 2025 edition 2025-08-10, 2026 edition 2026-08-09, 2027 edition 2027-08-15. Women only, age 13+. Sprint only.

Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 0.5 mi / 800 m swim, 11 mi / 17.7 km bike (2026 listing, preliminary; 12 mi / 19.3 km in 2024), 3.1 mi / 5 km run

Wisconsin Women's Triathlon: lake andrea with the pleasant prairie recplex behindPhoto is not from race dayGarrison Point, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Andrea with the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex behind. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Women-only sprint with a sand-beach start in a clean spring-fed lake
  • Flat bike on long straight roads, about 17.7 km (11 mi) per the 2026 listing
  • Past racers called it a good first triathlon
  • On-site parking is included with entry

Watch out for

  • Water can be warm: 27.8 °C (82 °F) was reported, so wetsuits may be banned
  • Wetsuit rules changed several times in one past year
  • Most athlete reports date from the Iron Girl and Trek years; recent accounts are few
  • One reviewer reported no aid on the bike course
  • Bike distance varies by year, 17.7 to 19.3 km (11 to 12 mi)

Race

2.7Good

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

    Only older reports from the Trek and Iron Girl years: warm lake, flat bike, pretty run, a few complaints. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationAdequate3.3

    Past racers reported wetsuit rules changing several times in one year and no bike aid; nothing recent is documented. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyFriendly4.3

    Women-only sprint with a sand-beach start, warm lake and flat bike; older reviewers called it a good first triathlon. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialFast3.9

    Flat bike on long straight roads; a 2009 racer averaged 31 km (19.3 mi)/h (19.3 mph). · Low confidence

Swim

3.4Good

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

  • Wetsuit legalCoin flip2.8

    Water was 27.8 °C (82 °F) one year, above the 25.6 °C (78 °F) USA Triathlon limit, and 22 °C (72 °F) in another. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureAcceptable3.3

    Warm: 22 °C (72 °F) in 2009 and 27.8 °C (82 °F) in another year; comfortable to hot. · Low confidence

  • Calm waterMostly calm4.2

    Sheltered spring-fed lake of about 40 ha (100 acres); no chop reported. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeEasy4.1

    Short swim, beach start and a sheltered lake. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat4.0

    Clean spring-fed water; a cap colour mix-up kept one family from spotting their swimmer. · Low confidence

  • Swim supportGood3.9

    Wave starts and a shallow sand-beach start suit beginners; kayak numbers are not documented. · Low confidence

Bike

2.8Good

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

  • Road surfaceGood3.5

    Concrete and asphalt village roads; no condition reports. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresPartly closed3.0

    Village roads, closure policy not documented. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryPleasant2.8

    Suburban village roads, no scenery praise. · Low confidence

  • WindSome wind3.0

    Open prairie; no wind data. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedFast4.2

    Long straightaways with few turns on flat roads. · Medium confidence

  • Bike flatnessPancake flat4.6

    Two sources call the roads flat; likely under 75 m (250 ft) of climbing over 17.7 km (11 mi). · Medium confidence

  • Bike simplicityMostly simple4.3

    Long straightaways and few turns. · Medium confidence

Run

2.6Good

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

  • Crowd supportDecent3.0

    The event once drew about 2,500 finishers (2009); the current field size is unknown. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsStandard2.9

    One reviewer reported no aid on the bike; run aid is not documented. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.7

    One reviewer called the run around the water pretty. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsEasy3.9

    Flat, mixed paved and gravel path; summer heat is possible. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessMostly flat4.4

    One 2009 report calls the park run flat and fast. · Low confidence

Conditions

3.0Good

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

  • Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4

    August runs 18 to 28 °C (64 to 82 °F) and can be humid; the warm water points to heat. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable3.4

    Midwest August thunderstorms possible; no cancellation data. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyPleasant3.4

    Park and lake beside the RecPlex building, pleasant not dramatic. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.8

    Compact park venue with beach start; no reports. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeSea level4.6

    About 190 m (620 ft). · High confidence

Stay and travel

4.2Very good

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

  • Hotel availabilityGood4.2

    Many hotels along I-94 and Kenosha. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.8

    Suburban hotels; no data. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable4.0

    Lake, RecPlex and park together; on-site parking. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy4.0

    Milwaukee airport 55 km (34 mi), Chicago O'Hare 90 km (56 mi). · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSimple4.0

    One park, on-site parking included; packet pickup details not found. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodFine3.3

    Suburban; Kenosha lakefront nearby. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Pleasant Prairie, WI, United States
Typical month
August
Latest or next date
15 August 2027
Organiser
Independent (Village of Pleasant Prairie RecPlex); formerly Iron Girl and Trek Women's Triathlon
Entry fee
About $100
Distances (non-standard)
0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
Swim venue
Lake Andrea, Prairie Springs Park (lake)
Water temperature
22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
Wetsuit
Varies; reported 82 F (27.8 C) in one year with a wetsuit rule flip-flop, 72 F (22 C) in 2009 without wetsuit
Swim start
wave (swim start from a sand beach)
Run shade
open park
Air temperature
18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
Humidity
moderate to high in August
Altitude
190 m (625 ft)
Nearest airport
Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE), 55 km (34 mi) away
Where to stay
Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha
Booking
Hotels along I-94 in Pleasant Prairie and Kenosha; Chicago O'Hare about 90 km (56 mi).

Official race website (runsignup.com)

What racers and reviewers say

  • Knowledge Problem (Trek Women's Triathlon report)Raced 2009 · blog · Positive

    A returning cyclist raced the Trek-era sprint with about 2,500 finishers. Lake water was 22 °C (72 °F) with no wetsuit, the bike was flat and enjoyable at 31 km (19.3 mi)/h (19.3 mph), and the run around the water was fast. She found the event welcoming to first-timers.

  • BibRave Iron Girl Sprint reviewsaggregator · Positive

    Three reviews in the aggregator. One praised warm water, a flat bike and a pretty run but cited reversed wetsuit rules and no bike aid. Another first-timer had a good time in 27.8 °C (82 °F) water but a cap mix-up hid her from family.

Raced Wisconsin Women's 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 Wisconsin Women's Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.