Litchfield Hills Triathlon: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Litchfield Hills Triathlon is an Olympic-distance race at West Hill Lake in New Hartford, Connecticut: 1,500 metres in the clear lake, a hilly bike loop of just under 40 kilometres and 10 kilometres of running on quiet back roads. The start is at 7:30 am, and there are no cut-offs.
Course & Elevation
The swim is two laps of a counter-clockwise 750 m triangle with a short beach run between them; starts are in-water waves, and wetsuits are allowed but not required. After the swim comes a run of about 400 metres uphill to bike transition, for which the organiser recommends shoes.
The bike first descends for a long way and finishes with a noticeable climb back to the lake. The closing run is rolling and shaded. The event is small and friendly, organised by Wilson Endurance Sports, with paratriathletes and relays in the field and a barbecue at the finish.
Pacing Strategy
What sets this race apart are the transitions: the beach run between swim laps and the climb from the lake to transition. Both lift your heart rate before the bike has even begun. Swim evenly and take the path up to transition briskly, but not at a sprint.
The race is decided in the last quarter of the bike and the first third of the run. Use the long opening descent to recover and ride the closing climb under control, and you will run the rollers steadily afterwards. Overcook the valley and you lose more on the run than you gained on the bike.
Training plan for Litchfield Hills Triathlon: 12-week build
For most athletes the Olympic distance here takes two and a half to three and a half hours, a mostly aerobic effort in the upper endurance range with two hard phases at the end of the bike and the run.
Open-water swims of 1,500 metres, ideally with an exit and re-entry halfway, belong in the plan, as do bike sessions of 60 to 90 minutes with a late, longer climb.
Brick runs of 20 to 40 minutes on rolling terrain and a few transition drills with a short uphill run complete the preparation. Carry your own fuel on the bike, because the course has no aid station.
Bike course
39.91 km · +489mCourse Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 1.7 | 0.3 km | 4.2% | 6.9% | +12m | — |
| KM 3.0 | 0.5 km | 5.1% | 9.1% | +27m | — |
| KM 20.5 | 0.4 km | 4.2% | 5.9% | +17m | — |
| KM 23.5 | 1.6 km | 4.3% | 6.9% | +70m | — |
| KM 29.0 | 0.3 km | 3.4% | 5.7% | +11m | — |
| KM 34.5 | 1.9 km | 5.1% | 11.1% | +96m | Cat. 4 |
| KM 36.6 | 0.7 km | 6.3% | 12.6% | +42m | — |
| KM 37.8 | 0.6 km | 5.7% | 8.0% | +31m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Course as GPX
Download the Olympic Triathlon — Bike course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Run course
10 km · +132mCourse Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 0.5 | 0.5 km | 3.4% | 4.2% | +18m | — |
| KM 3.9 | 1.2 km | 3.3% | 6.6% | +39m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Course as GPX
Download the Olympic Triathlon — Run course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Adaptive race preparation
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Litchfield Hills Triathlon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Litchfield Hills Triathlon?
Litchfield Hills Triathlon is 51.41 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Litchfield Hills Triathlon have?
Litchfield Hills Triathlon has around 621 m of elevation gain over 51.41 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the profile of the bike course at Litchfield Hills Triathlon?
The bike course at Litchfield Hills Triathlon is classified as Rolling, averaging 12.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 32% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the bike course at Litchfield Hills Triathlon have?
The hardest climb on the bike course at Litchfield Hills Triathlon starts at kilometre 34.5, runs for 1.9 km at an average of 5.1% and gains 96 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is there a GPX file for the Litchfield Hills Triathlon course?
Yes. Each leg of Litchfield Hills Triathlon is on this page as its own free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Litchfield Hills Triathlon?
Preparation for Litchfield Hills Triathlon should account for 51.41 km, 621 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Litchfield Hills Triathlon?
The pacing strategy for Litchfield Hills Triathlon should reflect 51.41 km, 621 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Litchfield Hills Triathlon take place?
Litchfield Hills Triathlon takes place on July 10, 2027.
Where does Litchfield Hills Triathlon take place?
Litchfield Hills Triathlon takes place in New Hartford, CT, United States.
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