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Race Reports for Cincinnati Triathlon - Olympic Course

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a unique race, which I'm glad I have now completed. Even though it’s a newer race, it does a good job of getting the sport into the mainstream vocabulary in Cincinnati. I'm not sure if I will do it again though. Swimming in the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati is an adventure but always seems to be questionable about the safety of it. The “Great Ohio River Swim” which was scheduled for the day before was cancelled due to high bacteria. They said the bacterial was fine by Sunday which I’m sure it was, but the risk of cancelling the swim is always there – which would be very disappointing. Also, this race is expensive! $110 for an Olympic Triathlon? That is by far the most expensive Olympic Triathlon price in the area (unless you count the Giant Eagle Tri in Columbus, which is in a completely different class of professionalism). I realize it does take a lot of people to put it on because of the dangers of the River and closing downtown streets and Columbia parkway.
[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The crowd support was AMAZING and all the volunteers were so nice. They joked with me the whole time, which got me through. My goal was to finish and stay out of the hospital, and I did both. The results seem to be a little off (though my bike and run times line up with my garmin.) I know for a fact that I was last out of the swim, but the results say the girl who I caught up to on the bike (meaning she HAD to start before me, right?) was three minutes behind me on the swim and 5 behind me in transition. She was in my wave. Also, there's one other person who finished behind me but got left out of the results entirely - not sure how that happened. She was in my wave too. So technically, my results should be out of 128!
[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Tucson Racing did a nice job with the event. It was well organized, safe, and events ran on time. There were enough aid station and they were well stocked. There were plenty of volunteers. They did a great job with the necessities. Other races and companies offer more frills, but this is a well run race in a great venue. You don't get the opportunity very often to race in this setting. It was entirely urban, through downtown streets of a big city, past landmark sports venues, with the swim taking place in a major river and a fast swim. I highly recommend the race as a unique experience. With a very fast swim, and fairly flat course, it is also a course where PRs can be set. On a more personal note, the race meant a lot to me. It was an opportunity to go back to my home town to race in front of my family close to my Mother's birthday, set a PR and reach a goal that has eluded me in five years of doing triathlons. It was a great day all the way around.
[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?No

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Small, young race. Just 2nd year and swim was a no-go previous year. But a really nice venue and course--great potential. Was a low priority race for me mainly just to practice swimming in the Ohio, but ended up being a very good day. Pacing, transitions, nutrition, etc. executed about perfectly. Not bad considering heavy week including 94 mile bike/4 mile run previous Thursday. Then again, maybe it was just an average race result that seems better because of the fast swim.
[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I found several flaws with this race to the point that I likely wouldn't do it again next year. They changed the run course about two weeks prior to the race without explanation. It was supposed to go up into downtown for one lap. Instead it just stayed in the park and went up those steep crappy stairs twice. It was also fairly expensive at $85 for early signup. I expected better for the price.
[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Because of the nature of NATURE and the ever changing water quality of the OHIO RIVER, I don't know if this event will last. Good intentions, but this river is just way to unpredictable, especially during THIS time of year.
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