YWCA Minneapolis Women's Triathlon
Minneapolis, United States · August · YWCA Minneapolis
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 24.9 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 500 yd (457 m) swim, 15.5 mi (24.9 km) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Super sprint: 200 yd (183 m), 7.3 mi (11.7 km), 1 mi (1.6 km).
Why people love it
- About 35 percent are first-timers; volunteer noodle swimmers and a novice swim cap help nervous swimmers.
- 457 m (500 yd) swim, 24.9 km (15.5 mi) bike, then a flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
- Super sprint option: 183 m (200 yd) swim, 11.7 km (7.3 mi) bike, 1.6 km (1 mi) run.
- Loud crowd with cowbells; more than 3,500 spectators expected in 2017.
- Women only, ages 14 and up for the sprint and 11 and up for the super sprint.
Watch out for
- Women only; there is no men's or mixed start.
- Packets are collected before race day, at a Wednesday party or Saturday expo.
- Bike elevation gain is not published; the route follows river bluffs.
- Mid-August can be humid, 17 to 27 °C (63 to 81 °F).
- Few racers have written about aid, parking or road closures, so check the athlete guide.
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 satisfactionLoved4.4
Readers voted it Race of the Year in 2012 and 2019, and every racer account found is warm. Few detailed complaints exist either way. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
About 1,500 women start in waves with 75-plus volunteers. No one has written about timing or logistics, so this stays near average. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.8
Roughly 35 percent are first-timers. Novice cap, noodle swimmers, a 183 m (200 yd) super sprint and racers of all ages and body types. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Short 457 m (500 yd) swim and 24.9 km (15.5 mi) parkway bike. Course record is 1:03:16; no elevation data, so only average. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
Wetsuits are allowed below 28.9 °C (84 °F) per the organiser. Mid-August lake water is often warm, so check on the morning. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.6
City lake in mid-August, likely 22 to 27 °C (72 to 81 °F). No racer has described the water temperature. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
Sheltered city lake with wave starts; no chop or current complaints found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeVery easy4.5
Only 457 m (500 yd) with wave starts and volunteer noodle swimmers. One racer called her swim slow, not hard. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.5
Beach-style lake swim in front of a big crowd. No racer has written about water clarity. · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.7
Volunteer noodle swimmers, a novice cap and ability waves in a short swim. Flotation devices are not allowed. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
City park parkways. Nobody has reported on surface quality. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Large event on city parkways with a 6 m (20 ft) drafting gap. How fully roads are closed is not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Riverside bluff parkways, described warmly in university and TV coverage. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Partly sheltered by trees in the river valley, open near the lake; no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
24.9 km (15.5 mi) on river-bluff parkways. One racer called the bike her favourite leg; no speed data. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6
Parkways along the river bluffs; elevation gain is not published, so assumed gently rolling over 24.9 km (15.5 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Parkway route with no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportElectric4.5
More than 3,500 spectators expected in 2017, cowbells and blowhorns, and racers say everyone along the course is rooting for you. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
75-plus volunteers line the course. No one has described aid stations. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Lakeside loop in a city park. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.2
Flat path run; August heat is the main variable. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.6
5 km (3.1 mi) on paths around Lake Nokomis; the event listing calls it flat. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Mid-August 8 AM start, typically 17 to 27 °C (63 to 81 °F) and humid. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Midwest summer storms are possible. No cancellations turned up in the reports read. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Tree-lined urban lake and beach. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
Lake, run loop and finish share one park, and thousands of spectators have turned out. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 255 m (840 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
Large metro area 8 km (5 mi) from the airport; race-weekend availability not checked. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Normal big-city rates in August; not checked for race weekend. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Park once at Lake Nokomis; swim, transition and run loop share the park. Lodging is not within walking distance. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
Minneapolis-St. Paul airport is about 8 km (5 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
One venue and one transition, but packets are collected at a Wednesday party or Saturday expo; only chip pickup on race morning. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Minneapolis has a large restaurant scene; nothing specific reported for race weekend. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 9 August 2026
- Organiser
- YWCA Minneapolis
- Field size
- About 1,400 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $105
- First held
- 2008
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 24.9 km (15.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Nokomis (city lake, Minneapolis) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 17–27 °C (63–81 °F)
- Humidity
- humid
- Altitude
- 255 m (835 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), 8 km (5 mi) away
- Where to stay
- South Minneapolis, Downtown
- Booking
- Large metro; race weekend lodging not checked.
What racers and reviewers say
- Minnesota Multisport: Race of the YearRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Reader vote named the race Triathletes' Choice Race of the Year for 2019 (also 2012). It took 338 votes, the most in the award's 20 years, against 91 for the runner-up. 1,553 finished. No athlete comments, only the vote.
- Minnesota Multisport: 2014 race coverageRaced 2014 · article · Positive
Report from the seventh edition: at least 1,050 finishers including 374 first-timers and 243 women aged 50 and older. Heather Lendway broke the course record in 1:03:16. Coverage stresses emotional family and friend finishes and a 72-year-old first-timer winning her age group.
- sweetsweatlife blog (via Minnesota Multisport)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
A returning racer after five years away. Her 457 m (500 yd) swim was slow from lack of training, the bike was her favourite leg, and the 5 km (3.1 mi) run felt long. Surprised to win overall; mainly a fitness report.
- St. Kate's University: 10th YWCA Women's TriRaced 2017 · article · Positive
A 79-year-old who has done all ten editions encourages newcomers. Field over 1,500 with 3,500 spectators expected. Describes an 8 AM start, 457 m (500 yd) swim, 24.9 km (15.5 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) lake run, and a welcoming mix of ages and body types.
“It's so much more fun participating in something than watching.”
- St. Kate's University: Team KatieRaced 2019 · article · Positive
A university group of nearly 90 to 100 describes the race as supportive and approachable, with a seventh-time racer praising the people cheering along the course. Nearly 1,500 racers; no problems mentioned.
“Everywhere you go, people are rooting for you.”
Show 3 more
- WCCO: 79-year-old racerRaced 2017 · article · Positive
TV segment on the 10th edition with more than 1,500 women, the largest all-women race in the state. Racers cite a wide age range, encouragement from other competitors and a network of support for new participants.
- WCCO: YWCA hosts triathlonRaced 2015 · article · Positive
Over 1,200 women raced, ages 11 to 78. A winning sister described a fun environment with all the women. Basic course description only; no problems reported.
- KSTP: 1,400 women competearticle · Positive
Reports 1,400 competitors, billed as the largest women-only triathlon in the US, with a loud crowd of cowbells and blowhorns at Lake Nokomis. Proceeds fund YWCA childcare and programmes. Year not stated.
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Sources
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