Cornhusker State Games Triathlon
Valley, United States · July · Nebraska Sports Council (Cornhusker State Games)
Why people love it
- More than 250 racers in 2026, a mid-sized local sprint
- Part of the Cornhusker State Games, which run on volunteers
- A first-time triathlete said he loved it and a friend stayed with him
- Valley is about 40 km (25 mi) west of Omaha airport
Watch out for
- Swim, bike and run distances are not published
- Swim venue type and wetsuit rule unknown
- Only two news reports; no athlete race reports yet
- Mid-July heat of 20 to 32 °C (68 to 90 °F) is likely
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Two TV reports, 2025 and 2026, with warm racer quotes and no complaints. No athlete race reports or rating pages exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Run within a volunteer-powered state games programme with 250-plus racers in 2026. No reports on timing, parking or course marking. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
A first-time triathlete said he loved it and a friend stayed with him; the organiser stressed safety. No beginner support details found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Distances and elevation unknown; eastern Nebraska terrain suggests gentle relief, so average among sprints. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.0
Water temperature unknown; mid-July lake water is probably above the 25.6 °C (78 °F) wetsuit limit, so a wetsuit may not be allowed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
No water reading found; mid-July Midwest lake water is often warm, around 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.5
Venue called Mallard Landing; open-water conditions not reported. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
Swim distance not published; sprint swims are typically 400 to 750 m (0.25 to 0.47 mi). · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.3
No description of the swim venue or start found. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
No safety detail found beyond the organiser saying safety was a priority for all competitors. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Rural county roads; surface not reported. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
Closure level not published; rural roads are likely marshalled, possibly open to traffic. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Farmland setting; no one has commented on the scenery. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Open farmland near the Great Plains edge can be windy, but nobody has reported wind at this race. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
Eastern Nebraska farm roads are usually fast, but the route is not described. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
Platte valley farmland has low relief, but the route and climbing are not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Rural grid roads are usually straightforward; no technical sections reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Families and finish-line cheering mentioned in news; no course crowd detail. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Volunteer-run Games with nearly 1,000 volunteers across all sports in 2025; triathlon aid not described. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
Not described. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
Mid-July heat of 20 to 32 °C (68 to 90 °F) is the main factor. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.6
Run route not described; the area has gentle relief. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.9
Mid-July in eastern Nebraska is typically 20 to 32 °C (68 to 90 °F) and humid, so expect heat on the run. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Summer thunderstorms are common in Nebraska; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.3
Named Mallard Landing; no description found. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Families watched and cheered per news; layout unknown. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 350 m (1,150 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Omaha metro 40 km (25 mi) away has plentiful hotels; Valley itself has few. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Omaha-area prices; not checked. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Layout unknown; most will drive in from Omaha or Elkhorn. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
About 40 km (25 mi) from Omaha airport (OMA) by interstate. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Parking and packet pickup not published; a single venue near Valley suggests simple logistics. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Small town; Omaha food within 40 km (25 mi). · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Valley, Nebraska, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 12 July 2026
- Organiser
- Nebraska Sports Council (Cornhusker State Games)
- Field size
- About 250 athletes
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Mallard Landing, near Valley, NE
- Air temperature
- 20–32 °C (68–90 °F)
- Humidity
- humid
- Altitude
- 350 m (1,150 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Eppley Airfield (OMA), 40 km (25 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Omaha (west), Elkhorn
- Booking
- Valley is a small town west of Omaha; most visitors would stay in the Omaha area.
What racers and reviewers say
- WOWT: Triathlon in Valley honors college student killed in 2020 bike accidentRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Omaha TV report on the 2026 event: more than 250 competitors, organised by the mother of a student killed in a 2020 bike accident, in the sixth year of the memorial race. A first-time triathlete who is deaf said he loved it and that a friend stayed with him throughout. The organiser said safety was a priority. No course details and no complaints.
“I love it”
- WOWT / KTIV: Iowa man celebrates weight loss by completing triathlon at Cornhusker State GamesRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Two TV outlets ran the same 2025 story from Mallard Landing. A third-time triathlete from Sioux City, Iowa finished the sprint and plans more; a local father said his daughter placed third in her age group. The race itself is not described and no problems were reported.
Raced Cornhusker State Games Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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