IRONMAN 70.3 Omaha
Omaha, United States · June · IRONMAN 70.3
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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- 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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