2026 Aukeman Triathlon: Embracing Inclusivity with New Race Formats

What if you could participate in a multi-sport endurance event without mastering all three traditional disciplines? For years, athletes with injuries, non-swimmers, or those who prefer to keep their feet dry have been left on the sidelines. But in 2026, Juneau's cherished Aukeman Triathlon is rewriting the script, making it the most inclusive version yet.

On Sunday, August 2, 2026, the Aukeman returns to the University of Alaska Southeast Plaza, offering not two, but six different race formats. This includes two brand-new event types designed to welcome athletes who previously had no multi-sport options tailored for them. Whether you're a seasoned triathlete aiming for a spot at the USA Triathlon Nationals or a newcomer eager to dip your toes into the world of multi-sport, there's an Aukeman event for you.

Why Aukeman Expanded in 2026

Bridging the Inclusivity Gap

The traditional triathlon—swim, bike, run—is a demanding yet rewarding sport. However, it inadvertently excludes athletes like the runner recovering from a shoulder injury, the cyclist who never learned to swim, or those needing to protect their knees from running. For these individuals, multi-sport competition has often been out of reach.

Co-race director Jenna Wiersma aims to change that. "We want to be more inclusive of people who want to participate in a multi-sport event but have one of the three sports that they cannot do for whatever reason," she explained. "This allows for more people to enjoy the multi-sport events even with limitations."

What's New and What's Changed

The 2026 expansion introduces two new formats—aquabike (swim + bike, no running) and duathlon (run + bike + run, no swimming)—available in both sprint and Olympic distances. This brings the total event count to six, up from the traditional two.

Notably, the long-distance 70.3 race won't return in 2026 due to declining participation. However, the race directors remain open to its future inclusion if community interest resurges. For now, the focus is on creating a broader, more accessible event.

The philosophy is straightforward yet profound: inclusivity doesn't mean compromising competitive integrity. You can expand participation without diluting the essence of racing.

Your Complete Guide to All 6 Events

The Classic Triathlons

The Aukeman's traditional distances remain the event's core, both sanctioned by USA Triathlon, allowing top finishers to qualify for nationals.

Sprint Triathlon

• 🏊 Swim: 750 meters (0.47 miles)
• 🚴 Bike: 14.8 miles
• 🏃 Run: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)
• Men's course record: 1:15:13 — Jason Soza (2024)
• Women's course record: 1:16:26 — Pacific Ricke (2024)

Olympic Triathlon

• 🏊 Swim: 1,500 meters
• 🚴 Bike: 25 miles
• 🏃 Run: 10 kilometers
• Men's course record: 2:44:03 — Scott Gresham (2024)
• Women's course record: 2:36:49 — Isabella Lang (2024)

Both records were set in 2024 under excellent race conditions, reminding us that ambitious competitors are always welcome at Aukeman.

New Event #1 — Aquabike

Perfect for strong swimmers and cyclists who are sidelined from running due to injury or preference.

Sprint Aquabike

• 🏊 Swim: 750 meters
• 🚴 Bike: 14.8 miles
• No run component
• Best for: Runners with leg injuries, cyclists exploring multi-sport, water enthusiasts

Olympic Aquabike

• 🏊 Swim: 1,500 meters
• 🚴 Bike: 25 miles
• No run component
• Best for: Serious cyclists and swimmers seeking a full-distance endurance challenge

🏆 Course record opportunity: As aquabike is new at Aukeman, the first-place finisher in each distance will set the inaugural course record. Your name could be the first on that board.

New Event #2 — Duathlon

For those who prefer to stay dry, the duathlon replaces the swim with an additional run leg.

Sprint Duathlon

• 🏃 Run 1: 2.5 kilometers
• 🚴 Bike: 14.8 miles
• 🏃 Run 2: 5 kilometers
• Best for: Non-swimmers, water-anxious athletes, runners who love biking

Olympic Duathlon

• 🏃 Run 1: 5 kilometers
• 🚴 Bike: 25 miles
• 🏃 Run 2: 10 kilometers (includes a short trail run on Karl Reishus Boulevard)
• Best for: Competitive runners looking for a serious multi-sport challenge

🏆 Course record opportunity: Like aquabike, every inaugural course record in both duathlon distances is up for grabs on race day.

Relay Options

Prefer to share the work? Sprint and Olympic relay teams are an Aukeman tradition. Last year's sprint relay record of 1:31:30 was set by Emily Haskell, Camille Jones, and Chelsea Steffy. The Olympic relay record of 2:47:11 belongs to Caitlin Sanders and J. Wiersma (2025). Relays are a great way to get a team of friends into multi-sport competition together—and they make excellent training-day motivation.

The Course: What to Expect

Swim (Triathlon & Aquabike Only)

All swimmers start at the University of Alaska Southeast dock and finish at the Auke Lake ramp. Olympic distance is marked with white buoys; sprint distance with blue. Swimmers receive color-coded caps corresponding to their race distance. Transition areas are located in the UAS parking lot.

Bike (All Events)

Every bike portion travels out via Glacier Highway toward Tee Harbor, with sprint distances turning around near Tee Harbor and Olympic distances continuing to Amalga Harbor for the turnaround.

Note: The traditional route past the Mendenhall Glacier has been removed for 2026. Co-race director Daniel Wiersma explained: "We have had to adjust the course due to HESCO barrier closures and for the time relative to the suicide basin filling forecast." This adjustment was necessary due to the timing uncertainty of a jökulhlaup—a glacial lake outburst flood—a very Juneau-specific challenge that required careful planning. Full details are available in the updated 2026 Aukeman Athlete Guide "Jökulhlaup Edition".

Run

For triathlon and aquabike: The run starts at the Auke Lake boat ramp parking lot, heads onto Auke Lake Trail in a lap system (one lap for sprint, two for Olympic), goes up and around Goat Hill, then returns to UAS on the road.

For duathlon (first run leg): An out-and-back along Glacier Highway toward Karl Reishus Boulevard. Sprint distance turns around at the top of Auke Lake hill (about ¾ mile from UAS); Olympic distance extends to Karl Reishus Boulevard and includes a short trail section.

For duathlon (second run leg): Same route as the triathlon run.

Race Day Logistics

Start Times — Sunday, August 2, 2026

Event	Start Time
Olympic Triathlon & Olympic Aquabike	7:00 AM
Sprint & Olympic Duathlon	7:07 AM
Sprint Triathlon & Sprint Aquabike	7:15 AM

Transition area opens at 6:00 AM. The staggered starts reduce crowding and help ensure a smoother, safer race morning for all athletes.

Pre-Race Requirements

All athletes must:

1. Pick up race packets on Saturday, August 1 (9:00 AM–noon or 1:00–2:00 PM) at UAS Plaza
2. Attend the mandatory pre-race briefing — Saturday, noon–1:00 PM, UAS Lecture Hall, Egan Building

The briefing is mandatory for good reason: the 2026 course has important changes, new event formats, and updated safety protocols that every athlete needs to hear directly from the directors.

Registration

Deadline: Noon, Saturday, August 1

Early bird pricing: Entry fee increases $25 at midnight Friday, July 31

Register online: RaceEntry.com

Competitive Opportunities & The "Beat The Board" Challenge

USA Triathlon Nationals Qualifying

Both the Olympic and sprint triathlon distances are USA Triathlon sanctioned races. The top 20% of finishers in each age group earn national qualifying status—a significant achievement that opens the door to the 2026 USA Triathlon Nationals, August 7–9 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Here's the advantage that makes Aukeman particularly attractive for competitive athletes: as a smaller local event, your odds of finishing in the top 20% of your age group are realistically better than at a large regional race with hundreds of competitors in your category. Juneau's community-scale event offers a genuine path to national competition.

The "Beat The Board" Challenge

This may be the most fun wrinkle in the entire 2026 lineup. Any individual competitor or relay team racing the Olympic distance triathlon who beats the Aukeman board member relay team—Charlie Waters (swim), Daniel Wiersma (bike), and Jenna Wiersma (run)—will receive a "special award" presented at the post-race ceremony.

The prize itself remains dramatically unnamed, described only as "a substantial spoil of victory." The real win, though, is the spirit behind it.

"We thought it would be a really fun way for all of us to enjoy the race and still be able to fulfill director responsibilities on race day," Jenna Wiersma said, "because we all love the Aukeman and have raced it for many years, and it is important for us to give others that same opportunity."

Awards & Recognition

Every single finisher receives something meaningful:

• All participants: Custom wood medals, handcrafted by Nick Orsi
• Top 3 women and men overall in each race: Custom Aukeman pint glasses
• Top finisher in each age group: Custom Aukeman pint glasses
• Top relay team: Custom Aukeman pint glasses
• Red Lantern Award: Honors the final finisher—celebrated, not mocked

That last award says a lot about what Aukeman is really about.

The Aukeman Community: More Than a Race

One Director's Journey from First-Timer to Course Record Chaser

Co-race director Charlie Waters still remembers his first Aukeman in 2019—the year the event first offered both sprint and Olympic distances. He came in with two prior triathlons on his resume, both from 2017. His swim fitness was shaky at best.

"The swim was definitely a struggle since I had only swum two to three times in the preceding year," Waters recalled. "But I swam slowly and steadily and made it. The bike and run were comparatively much easier so I finished well. It was such a fun experience and I have been involved in Aukeman ever since."

Waters went on to compete in long-distance triathlons and multiple long-distance national races. But that path started right here, in Juneau, at a race that met him where he was. Not every first-timer will follow that trajectory—and that's completely fine. The point is that Aukeman can be a starting line for something bigger, if you want it to be.

A Community-First Philosophy

The race directors are clear about how they define success. "To us, a successful Aukeman is a fun event that goes as smoothly as possible, and the participants and supporters enjoy a fun day around multi-sport," Jenna Wiersma said. "We want each participant, volunteer, sponsor and supporter to feel involved and included and part of our multi-sport community."

That philosophy extends to first-timers who may be intimidated by the course records or the sight of experienced athletes in full kit. Aukeman is known for its sportsmanship culture—experienced athletes offering advice, encouraging newer participants, and treating every finisher as a legitimate competitor.

A Message for Athletes on the Fence

If you've been considering your first multi-sport event but keep finding reasons not to sign up, Jenna Wiersma has a direct message for you:

"If you are considering doing Aukeman but have any hesitations, find an event that feels like it can be successful and fun for you. It doesn't have to be the sprint or Olympic triathlon; consider a relay or aquabike or duathlon. We have an event that is inclusive, even if you do only one of the three disciplines."

That's the whole point of expanding to six formats. There's genuinely something here for almost every athlete—regardless of injury history, swimming ability, or experience level.

Can't Race? Volunteer

The Aukeman's success depends on an incredible volunteer network. Spots are still available, and this year every volunteer receives a custom Aukeman hat as a thank-you. Key volunteer partners include Juneau Bone and Joint Center (the race's new title sponsor), Bartlett Regional Hospital, and Glacier Swim Club.

Sign up at aukemantri.com/volunteers/—and be part of making this race happen.

Your Action Plan: Race Day in 5 Steps

1. Choose your event. Review all six formats and pick the one that fits your current abilities and goals—not what you think you "should" do.
2. Register now at RaceEntry.com before the fee increases $25 at midnight Friday, July 31. Final deadline is noon Saturday, August 1.
3. Pick up your race packet Saturday, August 1 (9:00 AM–noon or 1:00–2:00 PM) at UAS Plaza.
4. Attend the mandatory pre-race briefing Saturday noon–1:00 PM at the UAS Lecture Hall, Egan Building.
5. Arrive at the transition area by 6:00 AM Sunday, August 2—race morning starts early.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 Aukeman Triathlon isn't just adding new events. It's expanding who gets to call themselves a multi-sport athlete. Six race formats, brand-new course records waiting to be set, a genuine path to nationals qualification, and a community culture that celebrates every finisher—from the first across the line to the last.

For athletes in Juneau and across Southeast Alaska, this is your invitation. The question isn't whether multi-sport is for you. It's which event is right for you, right now.

Ready to race? Register at RaceEntry.com before noon on Saturday, August 1. And if you're gearing up for your first multi-sport adventure, explore triathlon suits and swim goggles to arrive prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: juneauindependent.com