Los Alamos Triathlon turns 52, shifts to virtual format for 2026

Los Alamos County kept one of its longest-running recreation traditions alive this spring, even as a $1,503,973.76 replastering project at the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center pushed the 52nd annual Los Alamos Triathlon into a virtual format. The shift preserves the race’s place in the county calendar while the Olympic pool undergoes work that officials say was needed because its plaster shell is original to the late 1980s facility.

The virtual triathlon runs from April 6 through July 17, with all times due by 5 p.m. on July 17. Participants can complete the sprint-format event on their own schedule, with county-listed distances of a 20K bike, a 400-meter swim and a 5K run. Los Alamos County Recreation Division officials are offering individual divisions for ages 15-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-69 and 70-plus, along with team entries for all male, all female and coed squads. Elite divisions and Clydesdale/Athena categories are also listed.

The format change is tied directly to the Aquatic Center project, which is scheduled from March through October 2026 and is being handled by Lee-sure Pools. County pool notices say the Olympic and Therapy pools closed on Feb. 22 for the work, while the Leisure Lagoon is scheduled to remain open. That matters for more than race logistics. The triathlon depends on the county’s recreation infrastructure, and this year’s version is being shaped by a capital project that keeps a major public facility in service for the long term.

Los Alamos has framed the race for years as one of the oldest continuously running triathlons, and its appeal has always rested on more than simple participation. The county’s 2025 race page noted the event is held at an elevation of about 7,400 feet, a detail that helps explain why the sprint attracts both newer athletes and experienced competitors. The county has also moved the triathlon into a virtual format before, including in 2020, showing that officials are willing to adapt the event rather than let the tradition fade when facilities are unavailable.