2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic
- Date
- Saturday, September 11, 2027
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Durango, Colorado
- Entry fee
- From $85 · goes up to $95 on May 1, 2027
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Check registration status on RunSignup.
Likely to sell out. 56 finished the Olympic Triathlon in 2026, and this year's cap is 56.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Olympic | Olympic TriathlonSwim 1,500 m · Bike 24.9 mi · Run 6.2 miOpen water swim | Sep 11, 20278:30 AM | $115$125 after May 1, 2027 | 56 |
| Individual Sprint | Sprint TriathlonSwim 750 m · Bike 12.4 mi · Run 3.1 miOpen water swim | Sep 11, 20278:30 AM | $85$95 after May 1, 2027 | 63 |
| Sprint Relay - Coed | Sprint TriathlonSwim 750 m · Bike 12.4 mi · Run 3.1 miRelay or teamOpen water swim | Sep 11, 20278:30 AM | $130$140 after May 1, 2027 | 9 |
| Sprint Relay - Female | Sprint TriathlonSwim 750 m · Bike 12.4 mi · Run 3.1 miRelay or teamOpen water swim | Sep 11, 20278:30 AM | $130$140 after May 1, 2027 | 9 |
| Sprint Relay - Male | Sprint TriathlonSwim 750 m · Bike 12.4 mi · Run 3.1 miRelay or teamOpen water swim | Sep 11, 20278:30 AM | $130$140 after May 1, 2027 | 9 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Individual Olympic: $115 until May 1, then $125 until Aug 1, then $135 until Sep 10.
- Individual Sprint: $85 until May 1, then $95 until Aug 1, then $105 until Sep 10.
- Sprint Relay - Coed and Sprint Relay - Female and Sprint Relay - Male: $130 until May 1, then $140 until Aug 1, then $150 until Sep 10.
Online registration closes Sep 10, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:48 AM, and the Individual Olympic starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 7,960 feet above sea level, high enough that most athletes from lower ground race noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
1795 CR 210, Durango, CO 81301
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2026 results
All results (5 years)Individual Sprint
Individual Olympic
Sprint Relay - Male
Aggregated from official results (Rocky Mountain Timing) for 2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at 2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic?
At the 2026 Individual Sprint, the fastest tenth finished in 1:31:35 or better, the top quarter in 1:36:59, and half the field in 1:49:06; the last tenth came in after 2:16:44.
At the 2026 Individual Olympic, the fastest tenth finished in 2:43:11 or better, the top quarter in 2:57:12, and half the field in 3:15:59; the last tenth came in after 4:08:19.
At the 2026 Sprint Relay - Male, the fastest tenth finished in 1:12:01 or better, the top quarter in 1:14:12, and half the field in 1:17:51; the last tenth came in after 1:25:04.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 1:40:36 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 1:53:50 | n/a |
| 40-49 | 1:34:12 | n/a |
| 50-59 | n/a | 1:46:14 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Swim, bike and run splits at 2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic
At the 2026 Individual Sprint, the bike decided the most: the middle of the field lost about 7:15 to the top quarter there, 44% of the gap across the three legs.
Compared with a typical sprint triathlon in the US, the median swim here was 5:50 slower and the bike 2:35 slower (swim lengths differ from race to race).
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 14:15 | 15:25 | 18:00 | 21:35+ |
| T1 | 3:52 | 4:43 | 5:44 | 6:37+ |
| Bike | 41:01 | 43:26 | 48:20 | 53:09+ |
| T2 | 3:26 | 3:47 | 4:06 | 4:20+ |
| Run | 25:18 | 26:35 | 28:55 | 35:10+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
At the 2026 Individual Olympic, the bike decided the most: the middle of the field lost about 15:35 to the top quarter there, 49% of the gap across the three legs.
Compared with a typical olympic triathlon in the US, the median bike here was 6:23 slower and the run 5:32 slower.
| Leg | Top 10% | Top 25% | Median | Slowest 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 26:13 | 28:55 | 32:50 | 39:31+ |
| T1 | 4:25 | 4:57 | 5:50 | 6:31+ |
| Bike | 1:10:38 | 1:20:01 | 1:28:05 | 1:41:44+ |
| T2 | 3:34 | 4:00 | 4:12 | 4:45+ |
| Run | 50:03 | 54:35 | 1:01:56 | 1:16:57+ |
Each column ranks finishers on that leg alone, from the race's published results. T1 and T2 are transitions.
Finishers by year
Up 130 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic Sprint Triathlon year by year
From 2021 to 2026, the field went from 53 to 60 finishers, and the median time rose from 29:24 to 1:49:06.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 60 (-18%) | 1:49:06 | under 1:31:35 | 1:18:16 |
| 2025 | 73 (+52%) | 1:48:24 | under 1:29:33 | 1:14:35 |
| 2023 | 48 (-24%) | 37:36 | under 8:10 | 2:40 |
| 2022 | 63 (+19%) | 37:36 | under 12:15 | 1:16 |
| 2021 | 53 | 29:24 | under 6:38 | 0:37 |
From each year's official results for the Sprint Triathlon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most US sprint triathlons
The fastest quarter of the 2026 sprint triathlon field finished under 1:36:59, against 1:24:09 in a typical US sprint triathlon, so times here run 15 percent slower.
- Olympic Triathlon: Slower than most US olympic triathlons. The fastest quarter of the 2026 olympic triathlon field finished under 2:57:12, against 2:43:48 in a typical US olympic triathlon, so times here run 8 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around September 11 the day usually runs from 40°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 27% of days. Cold snaps dip to 35°F and hot years reach 73°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 1795 CR 210, Durango, CO 81301Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 7,960 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Sprint Triathlon, Olympic Triathlon
- Editions
- 2027 (Sep 11, 2027), 2026 (Sep 12, 2026), 2025 (Sep 6, 2025), 2024 (Sep 7, 2024), 2023 (Sep 9, 2023), 2022 (Sep 10, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Quick answers
- When is 2027 Lake Nighthorse Triathlon - Sprint and Olympic?
- Saturday, September 11, 2027, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $85 before processing fees, and rises to $95 on May 1, 2027.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Sep 10, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Do athletes get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances are offered?
- Sprint Triathlon, Olympic Triathlon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 60 athletes finished the Individual Sprint; the median finish was 1:49:06 and the winner finished in 1:18:16.
- Does it sell out?
- It can. 56 athletes finished the Olympic Triathlon in 2026, close to this year's cap of 56, so register early.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2026 sprint triathlon field finished under 1:36:59, against 1:24:09 in a typical US sprint triathlon, so times here run 15 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 1795 CR 210, Durango, CO 81301.
From the organizers
Come race with us at beautiful Lake Nighthorse in Durango, Colorado. The Swim takes place in this gorgeous lake. The Bike course includes some challenging climbs, while the Run course is rolling on mostly natural dirt/gravel surface with spectacular views of the lake. The Olympic course is two laps of the Sprint course for all disciplines.
Register before 8/16/2027 to guarantee a race day give-away tee.
REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 1, 2027