Ironman to launch New Mexico race weekend in 2026

Ironman announced the addition of a new event on Wednesday, dropping the news that New Mexico will see its first Ironman-branded event starting next summer. The main race will be Ironman 70.3 Ruidoso New Mexico, but the event will be a weekend festival of triathlon, with a 5150 (olympic distance) and sprint races offered as well. The inaugural race weekend is slated for July 11 and 12, 2026.

 

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“When assessing potential host locations for a new IRONMAN 70.3 event, we quickly learned that Ruidoso would offer athletes an amazing destination to experience triathlon racing,” said Judy Stowers, Ironman’s regional director. “Ruidoso’s welcoming community and stunning scenery make for the perfect place to bring our popular Ironman 70.3 triathlon and 5150 and sprint triathlons to create a festival weekend.”

Stowers added that “the addition of multiple distances” will help to attract more athletes, not just those looking for long-course racing. “We cannot wait to showcase this area through our sport,” she said. The races will traverse Ruidoso’s varying terrain, and athletes and spectators will be treated to amazing views of the Sierra Blanca.

The news of the addition of 70.3 Ruidoso comes ahead of the final running of Ironman 70.3 St. George, which is slated for May 10. While St. George and Ruidoso are quite a distance apart and offer athletes extremely different racing environments, Ironman has been able to replace one southwestern race with another.

Registration for 70.3 Ruidoso New Mexico opens on April 23.