Woodhall Spa Sprint Triathlon

Woodhall Spa, United Kingdom · September · Independent (Curly's Athletes)

Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 24 km (14.9 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m / 24 km / 5 km (440 yd / 14.9 / 3.1 mi) per organiser.

Woodhall Spa Sprint Triathlon: jubilee park rose garden, woodhall spaPhoto is not from race dayJonathan Hutchins (geograph), CC BY-SA 2.0
Jubilee Park rose garden, Woodhall Spa. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Heated 33 m (36 yd) outdoor pool: no open-water nerves
  • Flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run
  • Aid stations and marshals praised by reviewers
  • Pool, transition and finish in one park
  • 400 m (440 yd) swim, 24 km (15 mi) bike: a gentle first sprint

Watch out for

  • Narrow pool lanes make passing hard
  • Second half of the 24 km (15 mi) bike can face a headwind
  • Paid car park filled in 2017 and spilled onto the run route
  • Some rough road surface and close passes by cars on the bike
  • Start is 07:30 in September; expect cool, sometimes wet weather

Race

4.1Very 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 satisfactionLoved4.0

    Racecheck shows 4.5/5 from 11 reviews, with staff and marshalling at 4.91/5; that site skews positive. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run4.2

    Reviewers call it really well organised with accurate information; one 2017 parking problem spilled onto the run route. · Medium confidence

  • First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.5

    400 m (440 yd) heated pool, mostly flat 24 km (15 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run: a classic first sprint. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialFast3.9

    Flat run and gentle bike, but narrow lanes slow the pool and a wind is reported on the bike. · Low confidence

Swim

4.5Very good

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

  • Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a

    Pool swim, so wetsuit rules do not apply. · Medium confidence

  • Water temperatureComfortable4.4

    Heated pool, so water temperature is comfortable. · Medium confidence

  • Calm waterRoughn/a

    Pool swim, so open-water calm does not apply. · Medium confidence

  • Swim easeEasy4.3

    Pool lanes: no sighting or current, but narrow lanes make passing tight per a 2019 reviewer. · Medium confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat3.7

    Outdoor heated pool, pleasant but lane-bound; one 2023 reviewer described a lake, so reports are mixed. · Low confidence

  • Swim supportAbundant4.6

    Heated 33 m (36 yd) outdoor pool with lifeguards at poolside; pool lanes keep everyone close to the wall. · Medium confidence

Bike

2.6Good

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

  • Road surfaceMixed3.1

    A 2023 reviewer calls surface dodgy in places. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresMostly open2.3

    Quiet country roads with marshals but open to traffic; a 2023 reviewer reports close passes. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6

    Reviewers praise the views; Lincolnshire farmland and woods. · Low confidence

  • WindSome wind3.2

    A 2019 reviewer noted a second-half headwind. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedFast3.7

    Organiser lists a flat course; reviewers say rolling with a main climb early and a headwind later. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6

    Gain not published; the organiser says flat, older reports say undulating, over 24 km (15 mi). · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0

    Country roads, signposted and marshalled per a 2016 reviewer. · Low confidence

Run

4.9Excellent

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

  • Crowd supportStrong3.8

    Locals cheer; residents have used hosepipes to cool runners. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood4.4

    A 2023 reviewer called the aid the most supportive and enthusiastic; extra water was added after 2016. · Medium confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful3.8

    Around Jubilee Park and the village. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsEasy4.4

    Flat park and village roads; one single-track section clogged by parked cars in 2017. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessFlat4.8

    Reviewers describe the 5 km (3.1 mi) as flat as a pancake. · Medium confidence

Conditions

3.5Very good

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

  • Air temperaturePleasant4.1

    September highs about 14 to 18 °C (57 to 64 °F), with occasional rain and a cool wind. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable3.2

    Mixed showers reported in an earlier edition; no cancellations found. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyLovely3.5

    Jubilee Park rose gardens and pool in a small spa town. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy4.0

    Compact park venue with pool, transition and finish together. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeSea level4.9

    About 10 m (33 ft) above sea level, on the edge of the Lincolnshire fens. · High confidence

Stay and travel

3.9Very good

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

  • Hotel availabilityGood3.8

    Woodhall Spa has hotels and B&Bs; no sell-out reports. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.5

    No pricing data; small-town rates assumed. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilityWalkable4.4

    Pool, transition and finish are in Jubilee Park; paid car park, with parking issues reported in 2017. · Medium confidence

  • Travel easeAwkward2.2

    East Midlands Airport is about 105 km (65 mi) away; drive-in race. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSimple4.4

    One venue, pool swim, single transition; the run route was changed to out-and-back to ease car park access. · Medium confidence

  • Town and foodGood3.7

    Woodhall Spa town has cafes and a golf-resort crowd. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Typical month
September
Latest or next date
20 September 2026
Organiser
Independent (Curly's Athletes)
Field size
About 400 athletes
Distances (non-standard)
0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 24 km (14.9 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
Swim venue
Heated 33 m (36 yd) outdoor pool, Jubilee Park (pool)
Wetsuit
Not applicable
Swim start
time-trial pool
Bike laps
1
Run laps
1
Air temperature
10–17 °C (50–63 °F)
Altitude
10 m (33 ft)
Nearest airport
East Midlands (EMA), 105 km (65 mi) away
Where to stay
Woodhall Spa
Booking
Hotels and guesthouses in Woodhall Spa.

Official race website (etchrock.com)

What racers and reviewers say

  • RacecheckRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive

    Eleven reviews averaging 4.5/5 from 2016 to 2023. Reviewers agree the organisation and marshalling are excellent, the run is flat and the aid stations enthusiastic. Complaints are narrow pool lanes that make passing hard, a rolling bike with a headwind and some poor road surface, and a 2017 car park that pushed parking onto the run course.

    “Really well organised.”

    Racecheck reviewers (Carl H., Abby W., Amanda W., Emily P., Mike H., Angus S. and others)
  • Spalding VoiceRaced 2014 · article · Positive

    Club report on the 2014 race: 400 m (440 yd) swim in an outdoor pool, an undulating 15 mile (24 km) bike and a flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Six club members raced in rain showers and a cool wind; finish times ran from about 1:07 to 2:07.

Raced Woodhall Spa Sprint 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.

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