Thunder in the Valley

USAT CERTIFIED EVENT

USAT membership will be required at registration or you can opt for a 1Day USAT race license.  

Thunder in the Valley Triathlon is 41 years old in 2026. Athletes will also get top notch swag with custom die cast finisher medals and awards, swim caps, and a super cool Thunder in the Valley t-shirt.

Sprint Triathlon Distances 500Μ SWIM  20K BIKE  5K RUN

Duathlon Distances 1.6K RUN  20K BIKE  5K RUN

This triathlon will begin at 8am with a 500 meter swim in the calm Hawthorn Lake.   After a quick lakeside transition athletes will head out for a smooth, fast 20k bike course with rolling hills that brings them back to the transition area.   Athletes will then run on a shaded, flat out and back 5k course before returning to the finish line. This race is the perfect race for the new triathlete looking for their first triathlon, or the seasoned athlete looking for their first race of the season. For 41 years, Thunder has been the race to kick-off triathlon season!

The Duathlon will begin with a 1 mile out and back run to transition before heading out on the 20k bike course. This race is held around and within beautiful Hawthorn Park with great competition for beginners and experienced athletes.   Awards and post race refreshments following the race.

The guarantee t-shirt cutoff is April 23rd at 11:59pm. If you sign up after this date, there is not a guarantee you will get a shirt, even though we will order some extras.

USAT rules state that competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower. 
USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.1 – 83.9 degrees, competitors may wear wetsuits but will not be eligible for awards or USAT ranking points.
USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is 84 degrees or higher, wetsuits may not be worn.

The Thunder in the Valley brings an exciting 24.1K to Terre Haute, Indiana on May 9, 2026. Don't miss this beautiful event!