Mountain Man Long Course Triathlon
Flagstaff (Upper Lake Mary), United States · August · Mountain Man Events
Why people love it
- Long-running local event, held since 1984, at Upper Lake Mary about 16 km (10 mi) south of Flagstaff
- Out-and-back bike with few turns and views of the San Francisco Peaks
- Largest bike climb about 120 m (395 ft) in the 2019 listing
- Mostly flat paved run along the lake with one hill of about 117 m (385 ft)
Watch out for
- Altitude of about 2,100 m (6,900 ft) means harder breathing and slower times
- Bike cutoff was 5 hours in the 2019 listing; check current rules
- No long-course race reports found; course detail comes from a 2011 report and a 2019 listing
- August follows monsoon season, so afternoon storms are possible
- The venue is 16 km (10 mi) from Flagstaff, so plan on driving
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.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
The only athlete account is a positive 2011 Olympic-distance report; the long course has no race reports. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
A small family-run event since 1984 with no reports of problems or praise. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.4
A 113 km (70.3 mi) day at about 2,100 m (6,900 ft) altitude with a 5 hour bike cutoff in the 2019 listing. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.1
Thin air slows effort; the 2011 racer cut his heart-rate target in the first few hundred metres of the swim. · 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
A high-altitude August reservoir; temperature and wetsuit rules are not documented. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.6
The 2011 racer called the water perfect, but no temperatures are given. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.6
A reservoir swim with no chop reports. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
Breathing is harder at altitude, and the 2011 swim may have run long. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
A pine-lined reservoir where a 2011 racer enjoyed the water. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
A 2011 racer reported a good road surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
Closures are not documented, and Lake Mary Road is a public road. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Views of the San Francisco Peaks and Lake Mary. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Wind is not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Few turns and good roads, but thin air and a 120 m (395 ft) largest climb; no field times found. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
The Olympic course had about 230 m (750 ft) of climbing and the largest long-course climb is 120 m (395 ft); total not found. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.2
An out-and-back with few turns and no technical corners, per the 2011 report. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse2.0
A small local event, with no spectator reports and an out-and-back layout. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Water about every 2.4 km (1.5 mi) on the run, per a 2019 listing. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Lake Mary and forest roads. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
Paved out-and-back at altitude; shade and heat are not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.7
Mostly flat, with one hill of about 117 m (385 ft). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Mid-August at about 2,100 m (6,900 ft) is typically mild; no race-day temperatures found. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
Held just after monsoon season, so afternoon thunderstorms are possible. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Pines, Upper Lake Mary and views of the San Francisco Peaks. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
Out-and-back roads give few places to watch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeHigh altitude1.2
About 2,100 m (6,900 ft), well above the 1,500 m (4,900 ft) mark where altitude clearly bites. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Flagstaff is a large tourist town, but August is busy; no race-week data. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
No pricing data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.0
The venue is about 16 km (10 mi) south of Flagstaff, so you need a car. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Flagstaff airport is 25 km (15 mi) away; Phoenix is about 230 km (145 mi). · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
A single venue at the Upper Lake Mary docks. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Flagstaff has plenty of restaurants and breweries. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Flagstaff (Upper Lake Mary), Arizona, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 16 August 2026
- Organiser
- Mountain Man Events
- First held
- 1984
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Bike 5:00 (2019 listing)
- Swim venue
- Upper Lake Mary, City of Flagstaff reservoir (reservoir)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Largest climb about 120 m (395 ft)
- Run laps
- 1
- Altitude
- 2,100 m (6,890 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG); Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) for most flights, 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Flagstaff
- Booking
- Venue is about 16 km (10 mi) south of Flagstaff; stay in Flagstaff.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch: Mountain Man Olympic ReportRaced 2011 · forum · Positive
Olympic-distance report from the same venue. Felt the altitude of about 2,100 m (7,000 ft) in the first few hundred metres of the swim and cut his target heart rate. Bike was an out-and-back with few turns, good road surface and roughly 230 m (750 ft) of climbing. Run had a short hill near the start.
“Water was perfect”
- Slowtwitch calendar: Mountain Man August Olympic TriathlonRaced 2019 · article · Positive
2019 organizer description: long-course bike is out-and-back past the Discovery Telescope, largest climb about 120 m (395 ft), 5:00 bike cutoff, run out-and-back along Lake Mary with one 117 m (385 ft) hill and water every 2.4 km (1.5 mi).
- RaceCenter: Mountain Man TriathlonRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Listing describes a local, family-run event founded in 1984 at the Upper Lake Mary boat docks about 16 km (10 mi) south of Flagstaff, with views of the San Francisco Peaks and medals for all finishers. No athlete reviews.
- Active.com: Mountain Man Long Course 2026Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Listing shows long-course entry of $280 (early $260), 16 Aug 2026. No athlete feedback.
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Sources
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