Alaska Triathlon Club

Registration for the 2026 Hammerman Triathlon and Duathlon is now OPEN! Join us for the 25th anniversary of this great race. It's time to get DIRTY!

25th Hammerman Triathlons & Duathlon The 25th Hammerman Triathlons & Duathlon is on Saturday July 11, 2026. It includes the following events: Hammerman Triathlon - LONG SOLO, Hammerman Triathlon - LONG TEAM, Hammerman Duathlon - SPRINT SOLO, and Hammerman Triathlon - SPRINT SOLO.

Lavaman Tips and Tricks - Run Leg Edition

Okay, so you have made it through the swim and the bike. Now for the run.

- Make sure to grab you running bib number, hat/visor, any anything else you want on the run before leaving transition. Keep in mind that there are aid stations about every mile, so you don't necessarily need to bring much for yourself if you don't want to.
- Start off smooth and controlled. The first section goes through a small lava field that has a lot of cobbles and loose sand/gravel. Pushing hard through this won't gain you much time, but it will wear you out and risk twisting an ankle. Use this time to get your legs under you and into your running rhythm.
- The first portion of the run course has some shade. This is a good time to take advantage of the first couple of aid stations to get some fluids onboard. Once you get past the 2nd aid station, you are much more out in the open and exposed to the sun, so you don't want to be dehydrated by this point.
- Don't think of the run as a whole. Think of it in sections and work to get through each section itself. A half-mile at a time is a lot easier to stomach than all 6 miles at once.
- The open sections of the course in the first 4 miles are the smoothest to run and where you can take advantage of a higher tempo if you are feeling it. Once you hit about 4 miles, and the rest of the way to the finish, there is likely a lot more traffic and tricky surfaces to run, so you will have a hard time going fast.
- Once you turn into the resort, you will want to keep your head up and watch for traffic. There is often lots of tourists walking along the paths that you will need to avoid. Look ahead and try to plan out your route (which side is the easiest to pass on? Do I need to speed up to pass them before a certain pinch-point? Where does the course go when the trail splits?).
- When you get onto the shorline section, watch your ankles. Just like the start of the race, pushing through this section is more likely to wear you out than gain you time. Save the hard push for when you get to the sand at the end. Going smooth and efficient will benefit you the most. Once you hit the sand, GO FOR IT! You are just about there. Consider running down along the water where the sand is more firm. When in the softer sand, stay forward on your feet so you are pushing off of your toes (think like a track runner pushing off of the starting blocks). This will push your body forward rather than auger you in on your heels.
- Soak up the love and support from the crowd. You did it and now you get to party!

If you have any other questions or your own tips, feel free to add them below. Good luck to all the racers and we always love to hear about your experience after.

Lavaman Tips and Tricks - Bike Edition

Okay, so we covered the swim and T1, it's time to talk about the bike leg. Here are some things to think about for the 2nd discipline of the race.

Before the race:
- Preview the portion of the course between Transition and the highway. This is the section that is the busiest and also has the most potential for problems. Take note of things like the speed bumps. Ride over them a few times to know what to expect when on your bike in the race. Take a look at the raised reflective markers on the corner to and from transition. These can be tricky if you aren't paying attention and/or in traffic.
- Make sure you are in a good gear to start riding when you set up your bike.
- Make sure any nutrition you want on the bike is where you can easily get to it (I like to use electrical tape to tape a Gu right behind my stem on the top tube for easy access).

In the race:
- Make sure to fully secure your helmet before you grab your bike to leave transition.
- DO NOT get on your bike in transition. Walk or run your bike until you are past the "mount line" at the exit of transition.
- Try to hold off on eating or drinking until you get out at least to the main road in the resort, but more ideally until you get out on the highway. The first section can be pretty busy and it is a good time to have both hands on the bars and your eyes focused on watching the road and the other rides. Once you get on the highway, things thin out and it is easier to do other things.
- Use the first portion as a time to get your legs warmed up. You don't want to go 100% from the start line and be cooked by the time you get to the big hill about 5 miles in.
- Stay to the right as much as you can SAFELY. If there is debris or other hazards along the far right edge, you can move to the left to stay out of that, but just don't hang out by the white line and block other racers. When you pass other racers, make sure to move back to the right as soon as possible in case others are gaining on you and want to pass.
- Do not draft. You can be behind someone momentarily as you catch them to pass them, but you can't sit right behind them and draft off of them. If you are going about the same speed, drop by a little distance to stay out of that draft or pull ahead. Do not ride beside them as you may be blocking other racers from behind.
- Let people know if/when you are passing them. "On your left" is a very accepted statement when passing.
- If there is a cross wind as there often is, give other rides plenty of space. Not everyone is used to riding in the wind and it can really move people around the road. Also, pay attention to any vehicles passing, especially large trucks. They can either create more wind or block the wind that you are feeling.
- As you come back through the resort, watch for those speed bumps and raised reflectors.
- Slow down and dismount BEFORE the dismount line, then walk/job your bike back to your transition spot. DO NOT remove your helmet until you have racked your bike.
- Just like T1, be methodical. Make sure to get your shoes changed, put on socks if you plan to, grab your hat/glasses/running bib, etc... and then head out to the "run out" which is the same as where you came in from the swim.

Just one more leg of the race to go! Stay tuned for the Run Leg tips and tricks.

If you have any other questions/comments, post them below.

Send a message to learn more

Lavaman Tips and Tricks - Swim Edition

For those doing Lavaman for the first time or just looking for some tips and tricks for the swim leg, here you go:

- Get to transition with plenty of time to get your spot set up. This is Waikoloa, wind happens. Make sure things are secure enough that if a breeze kicks up before you get back to your bike, your stuff won't end up blowing all over transition.
- Walk through transition a couple times just how you would go in the race so it isn't a surprise when you are foggy-headed after the swim. Know where the bike exit is and where the mount line is so you aren't looking for it in a panic.
- Have a plan for your timing chip. If you are wearing a wetsuit, make sure you can get it off over the timing chip, or, if you can't, have a plan to remove the chip to get the wetsuit off and then put it back on. Having this plan in your head before you need to do it will help make sure you go through that step correctly when it happens in the race. Personally, I found it was easier and faster for me to take the chip off briefly to get the wetsuit off and then put the chip back on. It seems like a pain, but if you plan to do it and know what it takes, it can be done quickly and efficiently.
- Get down to the beach with enough time to look over the layout. A lot changes from when you might have been out there Saturday to race morning.
- Self seeding - know your estimate swim time so you can put yourself in a good position for the start. This is important so you don't either have to swim over/around a bunch of others or get swam over/around by others.
- Sighting - Before the swim starts, make sure you know what buoys you are looking for at the turns. It can be difficult to find them sometimes when you are in a sea of swim caps that look a lot like buoys at water level. When you sight where you want to go above the surface, take a look at the bottom of the bay as you put your head back down and draw an imaginary line along the bottom. You can often use landmarks along the bottom to keep you on track and won't have to sight as often. On the last leg of the swim, look for something big to sight on because it can be really hard to see small things since you are looking directly into the sun.
- Relax and swim your swim. Don't feel like you need to get out of anyone's way. If they are catching up behind you, they are responsible for going around you. You don't need to move. On that note, if you are uncomfortable with people touching you in the swim, try to stick more to the outside of the course to reduce the chance that someone will come in contact with you.
- Don't go too far right on the last leg. There is a lot of coral over on the right side that is best to avoid.
- Kiddy pools - If you want to rinse your feet off in the kiddy pools if they have them, CAUTION! They can be slick when you step into them. People fall every year, either slipping in them or tripping over the edges. The run back to T1 is long enough that most sand will fall off on its own, so I have never felt the need to rinse along the way.
- Be methodical in transition. Slow is fast. It's better to take an extra second or two to make sure you are doing things right than losing 30 seconds or more because you put on your running shoe instead of your bike shoe by mistake and had to go back or forgot to grab your helmet.

Stay tuned for the Lavaman Bike Leg Tips and Tricks edition. If you have your own tips or tricks, post them below.

Send a message to learn more

See below for IMPORTANT race updates for the 2026 Tri-Flake Winter Triathlon.

2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon The 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is on Saturday January 17, 2026. It includes the following events: 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon and 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon - Teams.

❄️ We are still looking for VOLUNTEERS for the upcoming The Tri-Flake Winter Triathlon. You can sign up at this link
https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon

If you can't help, please consider sharing to spread the word! :)

THANK YOU!

2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon The 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is on Saturday January 17, 2026. It includes the following events: 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon and 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon - Teams.

❄️ Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is coming up - CALLING FOR A HEAT WAVE... cause all our athletes and volunteers are soooo HOT ☀️☀️☀️ ❄️
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Volunteer/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon

We are still looking for 19 helpers... can you help? Are you racing and have a family member that can help? Can you share this with others that can help?

It’s been DAMN COOLLLDDDD for weeks… and you know Race Director Rebecca will be on site, so naturally I went ahead and ordered better weather for race day I mean at least 15 degrees ABOVE ZERO... But let's be honest with ourselves here, if you know Rebecca, you know... we like to say IYKRYK... Right?

Also, Alaska delivery timelines are… unpredictable.... I mean most of us are still waiting for Christmas packages that were ordered last year to arrive! (get it, last year?)

What is guaranteed? Great volunteers, suffering athletes, a pre-race meeting in freezing temps that never ends... they all help make this event happen.

BUT WE CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE GREAT VOLUNTEERS... If you like being part of something uniquely Alaskan, don’t mind bundling up, and enjoy supporting athletes doing slightly wild things in winter — we’d love to have you out there with us.

📍 Fun Swag for all Volunteers
🧤 Good excuse to try out that cold weather gear you own
💙 Big appreciation, good vibes, and a front-row seat to a very cool event.. .(see what I did there?)

FOLLOW THIS LINK and pick what you want to do and for how long you want to do it for!! WE APPREICATE YOU!!!

https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon

2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon The 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is on Saturday January 17, 2026. It includes the following events: 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon and 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon - Teams.

❄️ Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is coming up - CALLING FOR A HEAT WAVE... cause all our athletes and volunteers are soooo HOT ☀️☀️☀️ ❄️
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Volunteer/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon

It’s been DAMN COOLLLDDDD for weeks… and you know Race Director Rebecca will be on site, so naturally I went ahead and ordered better weather for race day I mean at least 15 degrees ABOVE ZERO... But let's be honest with ourselves here, if you know Rebecca, you know... we like to say IYKRYK... Right?

Also, Alaska delivery timelines are… unpredictable.... I mean most of us are still waiting for Christmas packages that were ordered last year to arrive! (get it, last year?)

What is guaranteed? Great volunteers, suffering athletes, a pre-race meeting in freezing temps that never ends... they all help make this event happen.

BUT WE CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE GREAT VOLUNTEERS... If you like being part of something uniquely Alaskan, don’t mind bundling up, and enjoy supporting athletes doing slightly wild things in winter — we’d love to have you out there with us.

📍 Fun Swag for all Volunteers
🧤 Good excuse to try out that cold weather gear you own
💙 Big appreciation, good vibes, and a front-row seat to a very cool event.. .(see what I did there?)

FOLLOW THIS LINK and pick what you want to do and for how long you want to do it for!! WE APPREICATE YOU!!!
https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Volunteer/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon

2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon The 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is on Saturday January 17, 2026. It includes the following events: 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon and 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon - Teams.

Please consider volunteering if you can. These events are 100% volunteer supported and can’t happen without the help of people like you.

2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon The 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon is on Saturday January 17, 2026. It includes the following events: 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon and 2026 Tri Flake Winter Triathlon - Teams.

If you are looking for an awesome winter event, a winter triathlon is just what you need! We host the longest-running winter triathlon in the country right here in our back yard, the Tri-Flake Winter Triathlon in Kincaid Park.

This year's race is on January 17, 2026. Come out and join us for a great day on the trails. Run-Bike-Ski. Race it solo or find some friends to make a relay team. Sign up at the link below:

https://runsignup.com/Race/AK/Anchorage/TriFlakeWinterTriathlon?utm_source=platform_find_a_race&utm_medium=referral

A Guide to Winter Triathlon: What It Is, Why It’s Awesome, and Where to Race When the temperature drops and the roads get icy, many triathletes head indoors. But winter doesn’t have to mean stepping away from competition — not when winter triathlon exists! Winter triathlon is the run–bike–ski cousin of swim–bike–run. Athle...

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE 12.16.25

On the 12th Day of Christmas my Triathlon Club Gave to me...

A CHRISTMAS GATHERING AT THE DOME!

PLEASE JOIN US: December 16, 2025
AT THE DOME: 6:00pm to 8:15pm
WHAT: We will be hosting a GROUP FUN RUN from 6pm to 7pm THEN: We will be gathering in the lounge upstairs at the DOME to snack, mingle and castch up on all the jingle....
WHO: EVERYONE IS WELCOMED -- MEMBERS ARE FREE!!

Small print details: You will need to pay for a pass to the Dome ($13.00) if you aren't a member. You can **RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AT THE PARTY**

On the 12th Day of Christmas my Triathlon Club Gave to me...

A CHRISTMAS GATHERING AT THE DOME!

PLEASE JOIN US: December 16, 2025
AT THE DOME: 6:00pm to 8:15pm
WHAT: We will be hosting a GROUP FUN RUN from 6pm to 7pm THEN: We will be gathering in the lounge upstairs at the DOME to snack, mingle and castch up on all the jingle....
WHO: EVERYONE IS WELCOMED -- MEMBERS ARE FREE!!

Small print details: You will need to pay for a pass to the Dome ($13.00) if you aren't a member. We will post a renewal link / membership link for the Tri Club in the next week!

We hope to see you there!