Onion Man Triathlon.
The Onion Man Triathlon in Walla Walla is a grassroots early-season Olympic-distance race: a swim in Bennington Lake, a rolling bike course at the foot of the Blue Mountains and a run over trails and the Mill Creek path. The field is capped at 300 starters.
Onion Man Triathlon 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The race starts at Bennington Lake in waves two minutes apart, fastest athletes first. The 1.5 kilometres are swum as two clockwise laps around large buoys; wetsuits are recommended and compulsory at a water temperature of 60.6 °F or below. Transition, start and finish all sit at the lake, and the access road is closed while the bike is on.
The 40 kilometre bike heads into the hills east of town with Five Mile Hill and a long return from Russell Creek Road. The run then leaves the parking area on singletrack, takes a short gravel stretch and joins the paved path along Mill Creek, run as an out-and-back. The section around Rooks Park was recently rerouted around construction.
This is the 33rd Onion Man. It is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and positions itself as an affordable, low-key race for beginners and competitive athletes alike. A post-race meal and a beer garden with local beer wait at the finish.
+392 m
Bike course
40 km · +392 m| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 8.3 | 1.7 km | 4.4 % | 6.2 % | +75 m | — |
| km 25.5 | 1 km | 3.6 % | 4 % | +37 m | — |
| km 38.5 | 0.4 km | 3.2 % | 3.7 % | +14 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Onion Man Triathlon.
Settle into the race
This race is paced on the bike. The swim in a calm lake is short enough to take under control, and the wave start takes the pressure off the first buoy. The bike carries almost 400 metres of climbing, and the long climb back from Russell Creek Road in the second half decides how fresh you reach T2.
Spread the effort
The run opens on uneven trail and only settles once it reaches the paved Mill Creek path. Run the trail part easy and by feel, find your rhythm on the path and keep something for the return to the lake.
Finish strong
The biggest trap is an overcooked first quarter on the bike: Five Mile Hill comes early, right after transition, and pushing it costs far more on the way back and on the run.
Training plan for Onion Man Triathlon: 12-week build
Build all three disciplines
Age-group athletes usually need between 2:20 and 3:30 for Onion Man. It is a continuous aerobic effort just below threshold, with a rolling bike leg that keeps asking for climbs of several minutes.
Brick sessions
The race turns on Five Mile Hill soon after transition and the long return on the bike, then on the switch to the lakeside trails. Build in hill threshold intervals and regular brick runs, ideally with the first run kilometre on unpaved ground.
Practise transitions
Held the weekend before Memorial Day, Onion Man comes when the lake is still cool. Get used to open water in a wetsuit during spring, and practise the deep-water start and getting the suit off in T1.
Arrive fresh
Plan the season so the long rides and bricks do not start in May; a race this early rewards a winter of consistent base training.
Courses
Download the Onion Man Triathlon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Onion Man Triathlon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Onion Man Triathlon.
How long is Onion Man Triathlon?
Onion Man Triathlon is 51.5 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
What is the profile of the bike course at Onion Man Triathlon?
The bike course at Onion Man Triathlon is classified as Rolling, averaging 9.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 24% of the route is flat, 37% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the bike course at Onion Man Triathlon have?
The hardest climb on the bike course at Onion Man Triathlon starts at kilometre 8.3, runs for 1.7 km at an average of 4.4% and gains 75 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is there a GPX file for the Onion Man Triathlon course?
Yes. The Onion Man Triathlon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Onion Man Triathlon?
Preparation for Onion Man Triathlon should account for 51.5 km, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Onion Man Triathlon?
The pacing strategy for Onion Man Triathlon should reflect 51.5 km and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Onion Man Triathlon take place?
Onion Man Triathlon takes place on May 22, 2027.
Where does Onion Man Triathlon take place?
Onion Man Triathlon takes place in Walla Walla, United States.
Which distances does Onion Man Triathlon offer?
Onion Man Triathlon offers 3 distances — Onion Man Olympic Triathlon: 51.5 km; Onion Man Olympic Relay (2 or 3 person): 51.5 km; Onion Man Aquabike: 41.5 km.
How do I register for Onion Man Triathlon?
Registration runs through the organiser: wwmultisports.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
