Giant Acorn Triathlon
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Event overview
The Giant Acorn Triathlon Festival takes place on September 26-27, 2026 at Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania, Virginia (6800 Lawyers Road). The festival is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event and hosts the Virginia State Championships for both the Sprint and Olympic distances. State championship qualifying is awarded to the top 35% or the top five finishers in an age group, whichever is greater. The venue includes park amenities such as miles of trails, a playground, a swimming beach and a visitors center. Race registration is non-refundable; options for race insurance and a one-time deferral are mentioned by the organizer.
Race formats and course details
Distances offered include:
- Olympic: 1.5K swim, 24.6 mile bike, 10K run
- Sprint: 750 m swim, 15.5 mile bike, 5K run Both Olympic and Sprint races include individual triathlon and aquabike divisions, plus relay team options and multiple award categories (age group, masters, military, Clydesdale, Athena, collegiate and relay teams).
Swim: both courses start from the park beach in a time trial format. The rectangular swim has two right turns and sighting buoys about every 75 meters. Water temperature in this section of the lake typically averages in the low 70s; readings are posted before race weekend. The organizer monitors harmful algal blooms and will cancel the swim if water quality is unsafe.
Bike and run: bike courses are lollipop-style on rolling rural roads; published elevation gains are provided for each route. The run course stays entirely within the state park on asphalt, is heavily shaded and includes a climb out of transition and a downhill toward the finish. Packet pickup requires each athlete to collect their own packet and present photo identification. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
