Participant Info
Below are pre-race instructions, bike map, run map & Common USAT Violations. Volunteers and Police will be assisting but drivers don't always heed signs, volunteers & Police - please be careful. COURSES ARE OPEN TO TRAFFIC.
PACKET PICKUP & LATE REGISTRATION- PICTURE ID REQUIRED Saturday, Oct. 1st - 5:30 PM - 7 PM at race site - see race location below. Sunday - Race morning from 6 AM to 7:15 AM - at race site. Registration is open race morning! Relays MUST come together to pick-up packets - no exceptions. Bring USAT card & photo ID.
Weather / Water: Welcome to October! Chilly mornings and warm afternoons. Water temperature will be posted Sunday, Sept. 25th - temps will go down over the week as lake levels are lowered & expect wetsuits to be legal. USAT officials will provide the official water temperature each race morning. Forecast for Oct. 3rd now shows clear weather with a high of 75 & low near 54. Let's hope that holds true.
Finishers Awards: Races will have custom finisher medal & custom finisher towel. Please make sure you get your awards as you finish!
Lodging / Food: A list of area hotels and restaurants are at the bottom of this e-mail. Most are within 5 - 6 miles of the park entrance.
Showers: the bath house right at the swim area has showers with hot water, courtesy of the solar panels on the roof.
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RACE LOCATION - The TVA Melton Hill Recreation Area is located outside Lenoir City , TN just off Hwy 321/95. The race site is about 30 miles West of Knoxville. From I-40 exit #364 towards Oak Ridge approximately 1/2 mile to park entrance on your RIGHT Look for Endurance Sports Management / Toughman banners! GPS location: Melton Hill Dam Campground, Lenoir City , TN 37771 - IMPORTANT - PARKING: Lower lots below dam - walk up hill to transition. Boat ramp OK for gear / bike drop-off OK but no parking.
USAT Info: ALL USAT RULES APPLY- Remember to stay to the far right unless you are passing someone. Helmets must be buckled at ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE BIKE . This includes warm up and after the event! No warnings! Please do not ruin your day by not wearing your helmet! Photo ID is required at packet pickup for all participants. Bring your USAT card to registration or be prepared to pay the $15 one-day fee. Link to 10 Common USAT Violations
Course Map Links - Swim (2 loops) - Bike (2 loops) - Run (2 loops)
Timing - Regular Triathlon Timing Strap w/chips attached will be used. STRAP WILL BE PLACED ON LEFT ANKLE. Times are recorded as you cross SWIM ENTRY MAT and all subsequent timing locations. Make sure you cross SWIM ENTRY MAT before entering water.
SWIM START INFORMATION-The swim is a wave start from just outside the swim area at the dam end. The course will be a two-loop rectangular course all outside swim area, finishing on the beach of the swim area after second loop - NO EXIT LOOP 1. Keep buoys to your Right. Follow flagging/markings to transition area. Provided swim cap MUST BE WORN. See waves noted in timeline below.
BIKE TRANSITION AND COURSE - All competitors will be going through the entire transition area. NO RIDING ON GRASS. Bike will be mounted in the boat ramp lot and dismounted in the upper lot by the bath house. NOTE: Hwy 95 has paved WIDE SHOULDERS most of the route - Cyclists are to ride to the RIGHT OF THE WHITE LINE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
Half Iron Bike consists of 2 – 28 miles loops = 56 miles as follows: Transition 1.5 miles to park Exit to Hwy. 95 Right - continue straight on 95 over 2 Cry Baby Hills & continue toward Kingston bearing LEFT on Cloverleaf to Oak Ridge Turnpike (ORTP)- Right onto Blair Road approx. 4 miles to turnaround & back to ORTP - NOTE DANGER: RR tracks each way will have heavy rubber mats - slow & go over mats to avoid wreck - right on ORTP to right on access to Bear Creek - LEFT at bottom of access road - follow Bear Creek to right on 95 - over 2 Cry Baby Hills back to left into park – HALF WAY POINT TURN-AROUND IS AT BASE OF DAM AT END OF PARKING LOTS – bathroom is available just to left – begin second bike loop same as first – BOTTLE EXCHANGES AT BEAR CREEK APPROX. MILE 18 & 44. 700 ml. Deere Park water bottles at exchanges – upon return to park, continue into campground to dismount in UPPER LOT PAST BATH HOUSE - not boat ramp.
*We will have course Marshals on the Bike Course as well as our Staff out driving the roads for anyone needing assistance.
Run Course - the run is scenic, rolling route to the rear exit of TVA park, right on Woodlawn Road to left on Buttermilk, (Stay near cones to avoid cars) . Follow to left on Davis Road to turnaround .2 miles past Rocky Top Road. Return back same route to first loop turnaround just inside park. Runners will pass 14 aid stations on the two-loop course. Each will be ready with Base Performance, oranges, pretzels, water and ice - Gels at certain stations. Timing mat at turn-around on Rocky Top passed twice for course verification. Porta-pottie at rear park exit.
POST RACE FOOD AND AWARDS - Beverages / food will be available after the race. Splits will be available at result kiosks under pavilion & posted on-line after final finisher.
Awards are set for 3 PM or 7 1/2 hours from start. This is based on past years finish times. Please notify staff if you cannot stay to get your award. LIVE RESULTS - via RunSignUp.com will be available & results posted on our site approx. 4 PM.
RACE SCHEDULE - SATURDAY Oct. 1st - 5:30 - 7 PM
Registration & Packet Pickup @ TVA Melton Hill Dam, 201 Campground Road, Lenoir City, TN 37771
*Bring Photo ID * & USAT Membership Card
SUNDAY - Oct. 2nd - Race Day !
6:00 am - 7:00 am EST - Packet pick-up & body marking.
Pick-up timing chip. - * Bring Photo ID *
Parking: Please follow signs and park in lots on left before dam hill. Walk your bike and gear to the transition.
Swim Verification - Please pass between streamer flagging to get to swim start for an accounting of all who enter water. This is a USAT requirement & good idea!
Waves:
7:15 am EST - Bikes must be in the transition area -
7:30 am EST - National Anthem - Wave swim starts begin at 3-minute intervals.
7:30 - Males & Clydesdale
7:33 - Female & Athena
7:36 - Relays & Aqua Bike
Noon - Food & drink await your finish!
3 PM -Awards ceremony
Lenoir City Hotels
Inn of Lenoir Motor Lodge (865) 986-8043 503
Hampton Inn (865) 988-2000 - www.hamptoninn.hilton.com
King's Inn Motel (865) 986-9091
Crossroads Inn (865) 986-6454
Days Inn (865) 986-2011- www.days.com
Econo Lodge (865) 986-0295
Comfort Inn (865) 988-8880 - www.choicehotels.com
Ramada Inn Limited (865) 986-9000
Holiday Inn Express (877) 863-4780
Knoxville Hotels Nearby - Econo Lodge - (865) 288-3641 Concord, TN
Holiday Inn Express W-Campbell Stat. RD - (800) 718-8466 Knoxville, TN
See you all soon. Cheers, Atomic Team
