IRONMAN 70.3 Omaha

Omaha, United States · June · IRONMAN 70.3

IRONMAN 70.3 Omaha: bob kerrey pedestrian bridge over the missouri river, on the run coursePhoto is not from race dayAntony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River, on the run course. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Missouri River run over the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Iowa and back
  • Point-to-point bike finishing downtown
  • Big-city hotels and an airport 6 km (4 mi) from downtown
  • Confirmed through 2028

Watch out for

  • Hilly for a half: 890 m (2,921 ft) of bike gain
  • Split locations: swim and T1 at Lake Cunningham, finish downtown
  • First-year race with few athlete reports
  • Early-June heat and storms: past race-date highs of 24-32 °C (75-90 °F)

Race

2.7Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.5

    Only the 2026 debut so far and no athlete reports found. Local press was warm about it. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.5

    Strong host-city support and a spectator shuttle plan, but a first-year race with no athlete feedback found. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyDoable3.0

    Hilly bike with 890 m (2,921 ft) of climbing and a point-to-point format that complicates logistics. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialAverage2.9

    890 m (2,921 ft) of bike gain is more than a fast half, and early-June heat and Plains wind are possible. · Low confidence

  • Course easeTough2.6

    Considerable bike climbing plus early-summer heat. · Low confidence

Swim

3.3Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.3

    Water temperature is not documented. Early-June reservoir water may be near the wetsuit cutoff. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureAcceptable3.4

    Temperature unknown. Early June in a Midwest lake is likely mild. · Low confidence

  • Calm waterMostly calm3.7

    Inland reservoir. Wind chop is possible but none was reported. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeEasy4.0

    Single loop with a rolling start. No navigation complaints found. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceFine3.2

    City park reservoir. Clarity and scenery are unknown. · Low confidence

Bike

2.9Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceMixed3.3

    Mix of rural and city roads. No surface reports. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresMostly closed3.5

    The county issued traffic-impact notices, but how much of the route is closed is unclear. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5

    Rolling farmland and a city entry. · Low confidence

  • WindSome wind2.9

    Open Plains farmland, though no wind reports exist. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedAverage3.0

    Rolling hills with fast descents are offset by the point-to-point route. No finish data found. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessRolling2.8

    890 m (2,921 ft) over 90 km (56 mi) is on the hilly side for a half, per the organiser's figure. · Medium confidence

  • Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2

    Fast descents and a city entry. No technical details reported. · Low confidence

Run

3.4Good

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

  • Crowd supportStrong3.6

    Two-lap run in the riverfront area. Local reports described thousands of spectators at the debut. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsGood3.5

    Standard Ironman aid. No feedback found. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful4.0

    Missouri River trails and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Iowa. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsModerate3.2

    Paved trails. Sun exposure on the route is unknown. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessRolling3.4

    Paved trail described as rolling, with the Bob Kerrey bridge climbed twice. Elevation is unpublished. · Low confidence

Conditions

2.9Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Air temperaturePleasant3.5

    Past early-June highs ranged 24-32 °C (75-90 °F). Warm but manageable. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.9

    Early-June Plains storms are a risk. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyPleasant3.3

    Riverfront downtown, with a reservoir for the swim. · Low confidence

  • Spectator friendlyEasy3.5

    Finish, village and two-lap run are in one area, but the swim start is reachable only by shuttle. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeLow4.2

    About 320 m (1,050 ft). · High confidence

Stay and travel

3.7Very good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityGood4.2

    Large metro with plenty of hotels. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.7

    Midwest pricing, though no race-week evidence. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilitySome driving3.2

    Swim start is at a lake in northwest Omaha and the finish is downtown. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeEasy4.2

    Omaha airport is about 6 km (4 mi) from downtown. · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSome complexity2.5

    Swim and T1 at Lake Cunningham, a point-to-point bike and a downtown finish. · Medium confidence

  • Town and foodGood4.0

    Old Market dining district in a city of about 480,000. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Typical month
June
Latest or next date
6 June 2027
Organiser
IRONMAN 70.3
Field size
About 2,000 athletes
First held
2026
Distances
1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
Cutoffs
Finish 8:30
Swim venue
Lake Cunningham (reservoir)
Swim start
rolling
Swim laps
1
Bike climbing
890 m (2,920 ft)
Bike laps
1
Run laps
2
Air temperature
17–29 °C (63–84 °F)
Humidity
Humid early summer
Altitude
320 m (1,050 ft)
Nearest airport
Omaha Eppley (OMA), 6 km (4 mi) away
Where to stay
Downtown / Old Market, Riverfront
Booking
Large metro; plenty of hotels downtown and near the Gallup riverfront.

Official race website (ironman.com)

What racers and reviewers say

  • Grow OmahaRaced 2026 · article · Positive

    Recap of the inaugural race: thousands of athletes and spectators, a lake swim, Douglas County bike and a Missouri River run crossing into Iowa; stresses local economic impact. Event secured through 2028.

  • Visit OmahaRaced 2026 · article · Mixed

    Official guide: 2,921 ft (890 m (2,920 ft)) bike gain, 8:30 cutoff, 7 a.m. rolling start, and a free spectator shuttle from Northwest High School because the lake has no parking.

  • RaceRavesRaced 2027 · aggregator · Mixed

    No reviews posted. Lists a Lake Cunningham swim, a rolling bike and a two-lap trail run over the Bob Kerrey bridge; forecast high 84 F (29 C).

  • Sports Destination ManagementRaced 2025 · article · Positive

    Announcement of Nebraska's first IRONMAN-branded race and the host-city deal.

  • Endurance.bizRaced 2025 · article · Positive

    Industry announcement describing rolling hills and fast descents on the bike.

Show 1 more
  • WOWTRaced 2026 · article · Mixed

    Local TV traffic advisory for northern Douglas County race day road impacts.

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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