Rocketts Landing Triathlon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Coleybear H.
Virginia Beach, VA

  (08-19-2010)

"This was a really well run race despite the heat. I was very impressed by both the course which was well laid out and fair, as well as the organization as a whole which was superb from registration all the way to the finish line. There are not many races I've done that I've really enjoyed enough to consider doing again, but this one would be on my list to repeat (and cross my fingers that it's only 95 degrees with a light wind from the north!). Really the only complaints I have are minimal...lack of porta potties at the start, maybe a bit more non-slip surface put on the swim exit dock and the stairs which were inevitable but since I'm not from Richmond I wasn't quite expecting them."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Pam K.
Richmond, VA

  (08-19-2010)

"I wanted to thank the Race Director and staff for a great event despite the heat. I had my doubts leading up to the race about registering due to the heat. I waited until race week to sign up and then registered for the wrong event. The staff quickly responded to my email and made the change for me with no problems. They even followed up with me to let me know they had received the additional payment I had mailed for the difference in registration fee. I unfortunately was unable to participate in any of the pre-swims, but I think that is a great benefit that is provided to athletes even if you do not have a fear of swimming in open water. Prior to the race starting on Sunday morning, I had mentioned to my biggest supporter, my husband, it would be great if they would have cold sponges on the course. At mile 2 my wish was answered, and I believe that small sponge gave me willpower, energy, and a great cool down – Thank you!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Gavin M.
Moseley, VA

  (08-06-2010)

"This is a GREAT course that has you completing a 1500m river swim then biking out into some beautiful countryside and then running through Richmond along the Flood Wall. It is a fun, scenic course that is still challenging. The only problem in 2010 was the HEAT!!!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2010

Jessica L.
Norfolk, VA

  (08-04-2010)

"This was my first time doing this race and absolutely loved it! Beautiful course, very smooth roads for the bike, nice swim in the James River. The run course was nice and made a bit more interesting with the stairs, I thought it was a good challenge after a difficult race. The heat was intense but the course was well equipped with icy sponges, aid stations and cheering, helpful volunteers. Definately plan on racing it again next year. My only suggestion is more port-a-potties."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Nicole C.
Virginia Beach, VA

  (08-03-2010)

"Very hot, but that is to be expected... it\'s summer. Great race. I don\'t do open water swims due to anxiety issues but I did the duathlon. Great bike ride with awsome roads, very little traffic, and nice fun hills. Run course was quite interesting... like I have never seen before, but it was fun. Laurie seems to organize things well and is good at communication. I had to call her cell twice prior to the race with specific questions. She was very nice to talk to and happy to answer my questions. She is very personable. Also, I would like to mention that she is very cool to provide options for everyone. If it were not for the duathlon, I would not have been able to race, unless I wanted to get pulled out of the James River in a kayak due to a full blown panic attack. Run, bike, run, have fun!!!!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Mel S.
Bethesda, MD

  (07-30-2010)

"I won the entry into this race and was very excited about it. I was only going to need to drive from DC to Richmond. However, in the week prior to the race, I was watching the forecast day by day and the temps were forecast to be in the 100s.
Based on the several triathlons I've done (sprint and olympic), the organizer have been annoying -- in a good way -- about sending emails daily in the week prior to the race about logistics, from racking the bike to water temps to air temp. There was nothing about this via email OR and very little about weather (considering the extreme circumstances) on the website.
Considering new USAT regulations about wetsuits and that it was going to be over 100 degrees, more attention could have been paid to letting participants know what was happening. I reached out to them personally and didn't hear back until after the race.
I opted not to do the race because of health reasons (not feeling well racing in 95 degree weather). Glad many people did the race, just wish there had been more communication from Richmond Multisport."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Jason P.
Stafford, VA

  (07-26-2010)

"In a word - HOT HOT HOT - Rocketts Landing Triathlon. I actually won this entry from Racevine - an participant's review site for road races and triathlons which is excellent and should be on your favorites bar when decided which races are in your future. When I won the race I didn't know that it would be 104 degrees in Richmond. I was very excited about this race because it is run in Downtown Richmond. Most triathlons are in the middle of nowhere but this one starts just 2 miles South of the city center on the James River. Rocketts Landing is a boat dock and new hip development just South of the James River Rapids. This part of the James is tidal so there is little or no current in the river. The bike course was in the Richmond Battlefield and the run course was along the Richmond Flood Wall - all very interesting. The Race was sponsored by 3 Sports, a triathlon store in Richmond. That's right an entire store dedicated just to triathlons - heaven. When I picked up my race packet I also purchased a couple of inner tubes for the bike, I wanted fresh tires for the race. The goody bag came with a nice Head Sweats visor cap and Shot Bloks. But the race t-shirt was a thin cotton shirt - not good. All triathlon t-shirts should be a tech running shirt. I will never wear my Rocket Landing Triathlon shirt and that is to bad because when I were my other shirts they are always a conversation piece - Hey you ran the Patriots last year, how was it? Race day started with a two mile ride to the transition area from our hotel. I made there in plenty of time and and was completely set up with an hour before start time. The event only had 8 porta-johns - not enough for racers making sure they don't carry an extra weight on the course. The swim was a water start out and back swim. This was different, most swims are large triangles or rectangles but this one was swim up one side of the river and back down the other. No wetsuits - water temp was 87 at the start - the water was just plain hot. I was in the first wave and right at 7:00 A.M. the race horn sounded. The swim was good but I knew I was slower without my supersuit. Here is a first for my triathlons - I swam into a log. Yes a floating tree was in the river and I swam right into it - Bonk. I hit the half way point and then turned around for home. Transition was in an upper parking lot so the run from the water to the bikes included two flights of stairs. I was ready for bike because this would be my first race with my new cranks. The course headed East from Richmond into the Richmond Battlefield Park. Right away I could feel the speed of the bike and the smoothness. The bike is so very quiet now - no clicking during every rotation. I felt very good on the bike but I could also feel the temps rising. I hit the turn around with most of my 2 quarts of water gone. I stayed in areo position for the entire 40k and I know that I'm ready to tackle 1/2 Iron bike distance. Finished the bike and now for the run. Temps at the beginning of the run were in the 90's and rising. I started off at a good pace but by mile 1 I knew that the heat was going to take a toll on me. The event staff had water at every mile with sponges full of ice water - excellent. I hit the turn around and knew that I would not be walking today. The course ran along the Richmond Canal Path and along the top of the Richmond Flood Wall. This made for a very pretty run course. I made it back to the finish line knowing that my time was over 3 hours but when I saw it was 3:20 I was shocked. I would of guessed 3:10. The heat was more of a factor than I imaged. Full times have not been released yet. I would run this course again. Positive - excellent swim course selections and great Head Sweats Visor. Negative - No Tech T-shirt and needed more porta-johns.
Rocketts Landing by the Numbers
Swim 35:36
T1 4:13
Bike 1:28:32
T2 2:26
Run 1:09:41
Total 3:20:26 "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Gavin M.
Moseley, VA

  (09-29-2009)

"This would have been a GREAT Olympic distance tri if mother nature had cooperated. Unfortunatley there was squall blowing across the river just as we were getting ready to start the swim. Nonetheless, the horn sounded and I dove in and navigated a challenging shortened swim and fought the current all the way back to the pier. When I got out I found out that the swim had been cancelled and that we were going to proceed with a duathlon. So I actually got to complete a 400 meter swim, 2 mile run, 40k bike, and 10k run.

After a 20 minute break from the failed swim portion we started the duathlon. The rain stopped for the bike and the weather was very cool. I finished 3rd in my age group so I was happy!

The venue at Rocketts Landing is great for a triathlon and hopefully the weather will cooperate next year. I would certainly recommend this race, but not for first time triathletes."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009